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Poetry As A Literary Vehicle
Send Down the Master in Person: Reflections on Adolf Eichmann is a tribute to the generation of people who fought for the Allies against evil. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I wanted to write this eBook for several reasons. I wanted to dedicate this book to my parents, family, and their contemporaries who sacrificed so much by fighting and participating in the war effort of World War II. I was raised by this generation and believe that they were remarkable and exceptional people to have waged war victoriously against the evil and might of the Axis powers. I think it is critically and vitally important that their service to the nation and to the world be memorialized.
I wanted to chronicle the evil perpetrated by the Nazis and the subjugation of peoples Eichmann committed to further the aims of Aryan superiority and Hitler’s agenda of cleansing the world to establish the one thousand years Reich.
I also wanted to inform people about the Holocaust and the toll it has taken on humanity then and now. I wanted to use narrative poetry as a literary vehicle to tell the story of Eichmann’s capture by the Mossad as a pivot point in portraying what he savagely committed in the Final Solution.
What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?
I am surprised by people saying that the poem is easy to read and understand. I am pleased to know that it has a decided impact on younger generations who have read the poem and end notes and who did not realize the extent of horror Eichmann wreaked through Europe.
Is there any moral or idea that you hope readers take away from the story?
The major moral understanding and/or idea I hope people take away from reading this work is to be aware of the dangers of meta-narratives that crush the human spirit and the human condition. It is important to be aware of our history so that it does not repeat itself, and to be empathetic to the suffering bigotry, intolerance, and hatred can cause to others.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am hoping to launch the fourth book, the Pilgrim – Part I, in my series, The Immortality Wars, between this Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am writing a planned, nine-book science fiction, fantasy, and spiritual thriller that is based on Christian themes. The first trilogy, the Penitent, was published in August 2019.
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The perspective of the poem is from a fictitious Mossad agent who takes part in capturing Eichmann on 11 May 1960 in San Fernando, a suburb of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
It is ironic that the face of evil seems often clothed in plain sight. Send Down the Master in Person: Reflections on Adolf Eichmann is dedicated to all those who suffer from such wicked bigotry, hatred, and intolerance.
Send Down the Master in Person
Send Down the Master in Person: Reflections on Adolf Eichmann is a poem written by A. Keith Carreiro. The first pages contain the poem entitled “Send Down the Master.” This poem is a great read that describes the details of Nazi Germany, as well as the actions of Adolf Eichmann. It delves into the great sacrifice that was made by the Allies who were involved. It is told from the point of view of an agent who worked to capture Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi who played a large role in the Holocaust. The poem at the beginning of the book is one long annotated poem. It is accompanied by end notes that help reveal the terms and references made in the poem, as well as provide more information and background about the time, environment, and people portrayed in this reflection on Eichmann.
This is an engrossing read from start to finish. The poem is enjoyable and I appreciated the descriptions of Adolf Eichmann. Send Down the Master in Person is a thought-provoking work that explores the horrors of war, as well as the courageousness of the ‘good guys’.
I found this book to be captivating due to the descriptions of the actions of the characters. This poem reads just like a novel and is easy to understand. I point this out because some poetry can be abstract, and this book does a fantastic job of ensuring readers are fully engaged with what’s happening. It starts with a description of Adolf Eichmann, and how he looks just like a normal person as the agent looks for him. I found this compelling; such an evil man looking so pedestrian. It then shifts into the role he played in the horrors of Nazi Germany.
I enjoyed the unique way that this poem reads much like a story. This makes it simple for people who aren’t necessarily fans of poetry to read it. As a result, I think Send Down the Master in Person would be perfect for fans of war fiction, poetry or history.
Pages: 72 | ASIN: B0B5254RLV
The Story’s Search For Truth
The Penitent: Part III continues to follow Pall Warren on his quest where he must fight off malign forces to maintain humanity. Were you able to bring the trilogy to a close or do you feel you have more stories to tell in this world?
Yes, I believe that I was able to bring the trilogy to a close. However, like a Matryoshka or Russian doll [a doll within a doll within a doll], the story continues. I hope to create a trilogy of trilogies for The Immortality Wars series. Each trilogy represents a specific reality. The first trilogy, the Penitent, has a medieval setting. The characters, and reader, despite hints given throughout this trilogy to the contrary, believe they are in a time period similar to the Middle Ages.
The second trilogy, the Pilgrim, is currently being written. It occurs in another time period, which is actually the “present” within the time frame of the series. The manuscript was started in early July of 2021. I am excited about the story line and how it is unfolding. Pall has a long journey ahead of him…
What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
I created this story as a thought experiment. I wondered what humanity would be like 500 years from now. We have the capacity to do incredible deeds for evil and for good. War and peace tug unceasingly at one another. Add in the trajectory of our scientific development and our insatiable desire to acquire power, I wanted to explore where this thirst for control would lead us. What will happen to faith? Will democracy still be a vital source for liberty and freedom? What will we be able to do? Will Earth be left behind in poor condition as the galaxy is explored? What happens between humans and AI?
Also, I thought it would be interesting if I could combine the voices of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Lew Wallace, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Lee Child together and see if I could create a unique, epic story with a 21st-century sensibility.
Can faith, reason, and, above all, love survive against a sustained onslaught of evil?
What was your favorite character to write for and why?
That is a tough question for me to answer because I so much enjoyed writing about many of the characters, protagonists and antagonists, alike. Pall Warren, John Savage, Matthew Greatworth, and Evangel (protagonists) are variations on a theme of human goodness, strength, fragility, faith, and loss in the face of suffering. Kosem Mungadai, Ünger, and Commander Gregor Mordant (antagonists) represent our desire for power, as well as our ability to exploit our circumstances and those around us as tools for satisfying our desire for control. Writing about these characters was a blast because they helped fulfill the story’s search for truth.
With this trilogy over, what is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am hoping to complete the first rough draft of book four by next May or June (2022). Perhaps it will be ready for release later on in the fall of that year. I will continue writing books five and six as well.
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The Penitent: Part III
The Immortality Wars The Penitent Part III is the epic conclusion of The Penitent Trilogy. In a battle between good and evil, Pall Warren is in the middle of it all, fighting evil demons to save humanity from the tyranny of an occult priest. Set in a world reminiscent of the Middle Ages with a fantasy spin, Pall continues on his quest to reconnect with his friend, John Savage, and find his place in the world.
The story begins with Pall helping Tom in the aftermath of the Ünger attack. He travels with Tom and his daughter to their new home in Gullswater. While in Gullswater, Pall puts feelers out to see where he can find the bowman, aka Savage. Leading Pall on a quest to Seascale, where he joins forces with Mercer, an ex-member of Gregor Mordant’s Marauders.
Once in Seascale, Pall and Mercer begin their mission to track down Savage and quickly find themselves deep in battle. Meanwhile, Savage works with his boss, Peredurus, the King’s Minister of Affairs, to update him on West Fündländ. Savage also alerts Peredurus to his views that Mordant is a traitor to the King. Peredurus begins his mission to validate Savage’s belief. All parties start to build the forces up for the impending war.
What I loved most was the multiple POVs, especially during the battle. I love when authors utilize this writing style as it gives me a better insight into the motives of the characters. A. Keith Carreiro is a strong writer, at times his style is more formal to help set the tone and add depth to the characters personality. I benefited from learning multiple new words as he has an expansive vocabulary.
The Penitent by A. Keith Carreiro is a thrilling adventure novel written for fans of fantasy and science fiction. The author is skilled at world-building and excels at keeping the reader engaged. Overall a strong finish to this riveting trilogy. Readers will enjoy finding out how Carreiro wraps up things.
Pages: 292 | ASIN: B07WCHGRKC
The Penitent: Part I – Book Trailer
A baby is born and placed in his dead mother’s arms. When the funeral shroud is cast over her, his father decides to name his son Pall. It will soon become a name that strikes a shiver into the hearts of those who hear it in combat. A lone survivor on a battlefield many years later, Pall dazedly recovers from the wounds of war. Despite the dead cast about him, everything he looks upon is unfamiliar to him. Wandering away from this scene of carnage, he encounters John Savage, a giant of a man who puts Pall within the sight of Savage’s seven-foot, nocked longbow. What ensues from this deadly encounter is an elusive journey for truth. Yet, it is haunted not just by a ravening demon that is out to destroy Pall and John, but by the vision of a startling beautiful young woman protecting Pall from afar.
The Penitent: Part I
![The Penitent: Part I by [A. Keith Carreiro, Hollis Machala, Jamie Forgetta]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41KX6RtfkcL.jpg)
The Penitent: Part I by Keith Carreiro is a sprawling sci-fi fantasy novel. It also has a healthy dash of horror, war, and tragedy. Needless to say, it is a little bit intense but it is a satisfying and well-told story. It is about Pall Warren, an ostracized young man who does not know why he is doomed to live on the outskirts of life. Yet he makes peace with this and continues his difficult existence. Slowly, his background is revealed to us, and Pall finds meaning in his journey to find the truth. He pairs up with a mysterious archer, John Savage and the two form an uneasy but loyal partnership.
Pall lives a tough life and it was difficult to read about his daily pain and struggle, almost as terrible as his past. He has a lot of grit and moral strength, and manages to navigate life with his head held high. John is, as they say, a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. I found his parts very entertaining as he was a droll and captivating character- probably my favorite. Towards the end, Evangel is also briefly mentioned- I’m very interested to know what part she plays in Pall’s life.
The story starts off slow and doesn’t shy away from laying out the atrocities and horror of Pall’s life. Some parts are gruesome, violent, and downright depressing but I think those parts were important in forming Pall. They may seem gratuitous, but as the story developed, I could see that this is what made Pall a consistent and strong character. The author brilliantly displays the psychology of people amidst war. The ruthlessness, and ultimately, pointlessness of political struggles seemed to be the root of evil to me.
The Penitent: Part I is an emotional rollercoaster of a story that looks at both sides of life. It shows how hope and despair can easily be a part of one’s fate when one has little control. Ultimately, it is about digging to find the truth and to have an unflinching moral code against one’s enemies. That’s what makes the characters and this story so likable. The nail-biting ending was superb and I nearly wanted to scream at the suspense. A thrilling beginning to a riveting epic fantasy series.
Pages: 293 | ASIN: B07W9F44LK
The Penitent: Part II (The Immortality Wars) – Book Trailer
The next novel in The Immortality Wars series continues . . . Her parents are viciously murdered by a band of killers. Hidden in the bottom of a roadside ditch as a baby in swaddling clothes, Evangel is only steps away from them. An old hermit, Matthew Greatworth, finds her the day after this tragedy unfolds.She is touched by a rare spiritual power and raised by Matthew in the heart of a sylvan wilderness. Evangel grows up in the quaint hermitage Matthew built years ago.In her 17th year, outlaws terrorize Matthew while she is away. The young girl reaches him just as his eyes are carved out of their sockets and placed on a stump before him.The miracles and struggles against those seeking to kill her, as well as those disbelieving the power of her presence, all come together in a battle of good versus evil. In a vision of clarity and prescience amidst her struggle for survival and meaning, she finds her future soul mate, Pall Warren, on a battlefield of death, and casts a prayer of protection around him. Evangel’s remarkable journey to save herself, her newfound friends and then those who believe in her, brings to the reader a hauntingly beautiful and startling tale of wonder.
Immortality Wars
The Penitent: Part II follows Evangel who is struggling to cope with her abilities while evading those who seek to hurt her. What was the inspiration for the setup to this exciting novel?
I wanted to see if I could stir the writing cauldron some more and contribute a 21st century flavor to sci-fi/ fantasy storytelling with an added sprinkling of faith–based Christian themes, especially in terms of the heroes being on a spiritual adventure as well.
Could I gather together the sensibilities of these inspirational sources and could I create a brand new and seminal story for our time?
The inspiration for the second book of the Penitent comes from a variety of sources. One of them is my love of fantasy and science fiction, which partly influences the creation of The Immortality Wars series. The first and third books, deal directly with the young warrior Pall Warren and his quest for understanding what is happening to him and to those around him. I wanted to have him fall in love with someone who could match him, not only in terms of strength of character, but also provide him with a source of support for faith and belief in God. Evangel surrounds him with prayer for protection against those who try to destroy Pall and his world.
A second influence is my love for the stories and poems about the medieval ages regarding Great Britain and France. I wanted to see if I could write a 21st century story that has an epic sweep to it similar to the works of older writers like Sir Thomas Malory, Chrétien de Troyes, and modern writers represented by T. H. White, Stephen Lawhead, Parke Godwin and Marion-Zimmer Bradley.
I also love the storytelling of science fiction authors like Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert, Orson Scott Card as well as those of fantasy authors, such as J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Ursula K. Le Guinn, which is the third wellspring of inspiration for Part II of the Penitent.
My fourth source of inspiration is from storytelling about the Bible that were created by writers and by the cinema. Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ, written by General Lew Wallace (1880), and the 1959 movie; Lloyd C. Douglas’ (1942) The Robe, and the 1953 movie; and the work of the Scottish author George MacDonald, are examples of inspiration that fueled my hopes of writing something similar, yet unique for our contemporary age.
With these above influences, I wanted to see what could be created if I put together the voices of Tolkien, Lewis, MacDonald, Stephen King, Dean Kuntz and Lee Child.
Evangel is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind her character development?
I wanted to have a strong and compelling young woman as a major protagonist in the first trilogy. I thought she should share some of the attributes and personal history that Joan of Arc experienced in her life. I also wanted a complex individual with other characteristics and traits. As a boy, I was very much influenced by reading the poem “Evangeline”, which was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1847. This influence helped deepen Evangel’s personality as well as her spiritual understanding and perspective. She wants to live a quiet life with her adopted grandfather, Matthew, but swirling forces are around her and The Refuge where they live battling for supremacy of power. Like Heidi in Johanna Spyri’s (1881) novel with the same name, Evangel is an orphan and grows up in the wilderness. I hoped to create a woman whose innocence is deepened by the power of God. The core of this innocence will be tested by hell itself. Yet, she has the ability to keep her mental and moral balance. I wanted her to be wise as well, but in this part of her story, she’s growing into such wisdom. She becomes a major ally of one of the other main characters, Pall Warren, in the Penitent. Indeed, they fall in love from afar with one another.
I enjoyed the world you’ve created in your series. What were some themes you wanted to focus on while crafting your world?
It is difficult for me to answer your question as I don’t want to spoil the plot and overall background context of the series. I am hoping to write a trilogy of trilogies, or an ennealogy. It is partly based on the concept of a Russian doll, one in which there is a doll within a doll, within a doll. The three trilogies represent three different sets of realities stacked over one another. The first trilogy is the smallest one. The second, the Pilgrim, and the third trilogy, the Prophet, set up a thought experiment about what the nature of life will be like in the 26th century. The present time of the story is 2562, but despite hints through the Penitent, the characters and readers of the story are witnessing a tale seemingly out of the Middle Ages. However, all is not what it seems.
What will the role of science and technology play in our lives five hundred years from now? Will there still be believers in God? What tension will exist between faith, science and technology? Besides being a sci-fi, fantasy saga this series is also a spiritual adventure offering a glimpse of the future where heroes, demons, blessed and cursed battle over an elusively sought potion for everlasting life. For the majority of those alive in 2562, science offers a Jacob’s ladder to immortality. Faint echoes from religion barely register in the awareness of those living in this era.
“The end of suffering. The demise of death. Life unchained. Time conquered. The elixir of life found. The jewel of forever in the palm of life’s grasp…”
This is book two in your Immortality Wars series. What can readers expect in book three?
Book three is a return to Pall’s quest to meet again with John Savage after being separated from him in a dreadful battle that occurs at the beginning of book one against marauders and a demon named Ünger, who simply tears apart any human being it can find. Pall continues his quest not only to reconnect with John Savage but also to summon the strength and courage to continue his search for meaning. The role he must play by determining who he is forms an integral part in the destiny of everyone around him.
Pall’s journey is reached at the port city of Seascale where he soon discovers that the realm of West Fundlund is also imperiled and under attack by the renegade priest Kosem Mungadai, a thaumaturge of the 13th level in the occult arts.
Will Evangel’s prayer of protection still surround and preserve Pall from wickedness? Are courage, strength of arms and the blessings of love capable of enduring and overcoming the corrupting power of malign forces seeking the utter ruin of his world?
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LITERARY TITAN 