Longinus

By Steven Maines

Lonignus: Book I Of The Merlin Factor tells the story of Gaius Cassius Longinus, the battle-hardened centurion of Rome who is assigned to guard the crucified Jesus. But while guarding Jesus, Longinus... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0977320030
• ISBN13: 9780977320035
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Purple Haze Press
• Length: 241 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A fine spiritual fantasy

I greatly enjoyed this fantasy about the man Longinus and his mystical spear. It's an entertaining tale with an interesting plot, a real page turner for the most part. There was one section that stalled out a little for me, but other than that it was enthralling. The spiritual insights are well developed and fit seamlessly into the story. These insights do not follow traditional Christian beliefs. The ancient religion of the druids is explored, as is the concept of reincarnation. There is a bit of graphic violence and gruesome carnage in the book. I believe the descriptions to be historically acurate, but they are not for the faint of heart. I'm looking forward to books II and III! Entertainment: 4.5 stars Enlightenment: 5 stars

A thought provoking read

I found Longinus to be a fascinating read. As long as one understands this is not a factual book you can enjoy it for what it is. Steven Maines gives an insightful look into the life of the Roman soldier after Longinus, killed Christ on the cross. The sword had a life of its own afterwards and if one looks at history there is some truth to this. I truly enjoyed reading the book and highly recommend it as a different outlook and perspective to a part of history. I found I had trouble putting the book down once I started it.

Literary Heroin

A friend told me I absolutely had to read this book. Even though the subject matter appeared not very interesting to me, I picked it up and started reading. One page, and I was immediately hooked. I could not put this book down. The only problem is that now I have to wait for Book II to find out what happens.

Nearly impossible to put down.

Film and television industry veteran Steven Maines presents Longinus: Book I of the Merlin Factor, a novel about the Roman Centurion Longinus who stabbed Jesus Christ as He hung from the cross, inadvertently enshrouding himself and his spear in Biblical legend. Longinus: Book I of the Merlin Factor follows Longinus as he flees Rome, barely escaping the priests who seek to claim the power of the Lance of Longinus for themselves; his love for the prostitute Irena; his mystic studies with the Druids of Gaul; and most fascinating of all, his spiritual awakening through his Druidic studies and the voice of Jesus Christ that he hears from the spear. Told in first person from Longinus' point of view, Longinus: Book I of the Merlin Factor is an unforgettable glimpse of what life and spiritual discovery in the time of Christ could have been like, and nearly impossible to put down.

Ancient religious history comes to life

Reviewed by Linda Benninghoff for Reader Views (12/06) Who was Longinus, the battle-toughened Roman Centurion who stabbed Jesus with his spear while he was being crucified, who thereby insured that Jesus die on the cross? Some legends say he went on to walk the earth indefinitely, never dying. Other legends tell he became a healer and holy man. This novel purports to relate the story of what happened to Longinus after he stabbed Jesus. While on one level it is a fast-reading, action-packed adventure story, on another level it deals with spiritual awakening. The average person can identify with the concerns of this novel. Often the individual is deaf to inner callings and the workings of the soul. He or she turns his back on the divine and the spiritual that is interwoven in everyday life. Longinus hears Jesus talking to him through his blood-stained spear. He becomes a wiser, more compassionate man as a result, whereas, like the rest of us, he once was oblivious to the divine voice. Longinus watches as a mare that has broken its ankle has to be killed to be put out of its misery. He feels saddened. "Some would say that I was attaching too much value to the horse. It was, after all, simply an animal. But I had come to believe all life was sacred." The novel traces Longinus' transformation from a coarse, hardened man to a person with compassion. As Longinus journeys to safety and searches for a true home, he is accompanied by people of various backgrounds, including a Jewish rabbi who has seen Christ, an Egyptian and a Celt. There is some depiction in the novel of other religions, including ancient Druidism, and a sense develops that all religions are one. "Longinus: Book 1 of the Merlin Factor" will be of interest to those who want to delve into ancient religious history but also to others who may have experienced spiritual transformations. There are sections in the beginning of the book dealing with ancient Rome that contain graphic violence and sexuality, but as the book goes on, these passages disappear, and it is worth getting through them to find out what happens.