Benjamin's Field

Forward written by retired astronaut Jay Apt, PhD, veteran of four space shuttle missions.

Benjamin's Field: Rescue has been awarded a five-star review by the literary site 'Reader's Favorite' (readersfavorite.com).

The year is 1918 and the world is mired in the 'Great War.' Benjamin Kyner, a poor farmer from rural Pennsylvania who is reeling from a father's worst nightmare, discovers his son's fiancé, Eleanor, has given birth to their disabled child and has been disowned by her parents. Amid the turmoil of war and a world ravaged by the worst epidemic since the Black Plague, Benjamin finds himself crippled by his own self-doubt as he struggles with the overwhelming implications of accepting Eleanor and his disabled grandchild. If he fails, he will lose his last remaining chance at happiness. Fighting for Eleanor are Father James Templeman, who, torn between his humanity and his Church, is struggling with a tragic secret, and Randy Bridgewater, a playboy-turned-fighter pilot, who is sinking into the depths of alcoholism as he fights his own demons of guilt. In the background is Hiram Bolt, Benjamin's gentle farmhand, descended from slaves, who strives to hold them all together in a world that has seen far too much pain and suffering.

The "Benjamin's Field" trilogy follows a family over the course of 60 years through war, peace, triumph, tragedy, heartbreak, and final happiness from the viewpoint of its youngest member, Jeremy Kyner. More a philosophical treatment of the human condition than a mere fictional story, the "Benjamin's Field" trilogy is an interwoven tapestry of parables that explore various aspects of human existence, such as the role of family loyalty versus individual need, personal liberty and how it relates to society's demands, religious prejudice, racism, intolerance, the role of charity, and the overwhelming need for humans to forgive one another.