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Celestial Chess
David Fairchild, an American scholar, comes to England to investigate the mysterious Westchurch Manuscript, which has lain inexplicably neglected in the library of a Cambridge college. Expecting little more than a pleasant year abroad, Fairchild stumbles on facts that could make his reputation in his field - or cost him his life. For what he discovers is the connection between the medieval manuscript and a contemporary Satanist cult, a connection that is also inextricably intertwined with the family secrets of a distinguished Cambridge colleague and the colleague's strangely driven daughter Stephany.
As the startling meaning and bloody history of the Manuscript slowly unfold themselves to Fairchild, we watch, in flashbacks, scenes from the life of the manuscript's author, Geoffrey Gervaise, a twelfth-century priest who mastered both the fine and forbidden arts at the great universities of his day. Poet as well as priest, scholar, disciple of the legendary Becket, master at the game of chess, Gervaise dared to turn his back on the established church to enter a Faustian pact with the Devil; and only by understanding the terms of that pact can Fairchild hope to free Stephany from the curse that haunts her.
An unusual blend of historical romance, supernatural suspense and literary detection, Celestial Chess uses its two-tiered plot to present a rich gallery of characters from modern England and the Middle Ages caught in the timeless struggle between forces of Darkness and Light.
As the startling meaning and bloody history of the Manuscript slowly unfold themselves to Fairchild, we watch, in flashbacks, scenes from the life of the manuscript's author, Geoffrey Gervaise, a twelfth-century priest who mastered both the fine and forbidden arts at the great universities of his day. Poet as well as priest, scholar, disciple of the legendary Becket, master at the game of chess, Gervaise dared to turn his back on the established church to enter a Faustian pact with the Devil; and only by understanding the terms of that pact can Fairchild hope to free Stephany from the curse that haunts her.
An unusual blend of historical romance, supernatural suspense and literary detection, Celestial Chess uses its two-tiered plot to present a rich gallery of characters from modern England and the Middle Ages caught in the timeless struggle between forces of Darkness and Light.
263 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 10, 2024
Though labeled “mystery” on the spine, this is equally an MR Jamesian tale of ghostly terror, and quite an effective one at that. It’s very much a slow burn, jumping back and forth between early 1960s Cambridge, England — where youngish American scholar David is visiting in an attempt to decipher an ancient poem that’s become known as “The Westchurch Manuscript” — and the 12th century in the same area of England, the time when the poem was written. David begins experiencing inexplicable apparitions and moments of fear once he starts studying the papers, and discovers that everyone who’s ever had anything to do with the manuscript has met an unfortunate end. Could the monk-like shadowy being he catches glimpses of be the same person who wrote the poem, and whom David believes was burnt at the stake for witchcraft? Is something demonic at work? And what does it all have to do with chess?
I’ll leave that for you to discover, as it’s an intriguing mystery all the way through, despite the somewhat glacial pace, with a number of chilling moments. The shifting back and forth through time was a compelling way to tell the tale, as we the reader get sort of an inside view into the origins of the manuscript, and how it connects with the modern day hauntings, and as David learns more through hints and references in his research, we get to see it play out in “reality.” The only downside was that every time I’d start to get into an aspect of the story, it would suddenly jump 800 years backwards or forwards. Then I’d get back to being entirely enveloped only to have the rug pulled again. But each time period ended up being equally engrossing, imo, and my only real disappointment was discovering that this was Thomas Bontly’s sole foray into supernatural fiction.
But I’ll likely be reading more of his work regardless, as his writing style is engaging and he certainly knows his way around building and unraveling layers of puzzles as well as creating enigmatic characters you want to learn more about, all with eerie, unsettling atmosphere and the smell of dusty old libraries. This was definitely worth the cool $1.50 I paid while out book-hunting last week, and knowing what I know now I would have paid substantially more.
I’ll leave that for you to discover, as it’s an intriguing mystery all the way through, despite the somewhat glacial pace, with a number of chilling moments. The shifting back and forth through time was a compelling way to tell the tale, as we the reader get sort of an inside view into the origins of the manuscript, and how it connects with the modern day hauntings, and as David learns more through hints and references in his research, we get to see it play out in “reality.” The only downside was that every time I’d start to get into an aspect of the story, it would suddenly jump 800 years backwards or forwards. Then I’d get back to being entirely enveloped only to have the rug pulled again. But each time period ended up being equally engrossing, imo, and my only real disappointment was discovering that this was Thomas Bontly’s sole foray into supernatural fiction.
But I’ll likely be reading more of his work regardless, as his writing style is engaging and he certainly knows his way around building and unraveling layers of puzzles as well as creating enigmatic characters you want to learn more about, all with eerie, unsettling atmosphere and the smell of dusty old libraries. This was definitely worth the cool $1.50 I paid while out book-hunting last week, and knowing what I know now I would have paid substantially more.
June 4, 2011
A supernatural conspiracy tale involving secrets contained in medieval manuscripts that could unravel the modern world? So, you ask yourself, when did this guy jump on the Dan Brown bandwagon and if so, how quickly can I put the book down?
Not so fast Those-Who-Have-Tried-To-Tear-Your-Eyes-Out-After-Reading-One-Horrible-Sentence-By-Dan-Brown! This guy can write AND has the ability to keep a somewhat believable plot going on with characters that actually have depth! Oh, and he did this about 2 or 3 decades before Mr. Da Vinci Code.
I won't reveal the plot - but the action involves Americans in England, Aristocracy, Haunted Castles, Academia, Medieval Manuscripts and Monks, Thomas a Becket (!), Astronomy, Chess, and a stunning performance by a Shakespeare Concordance. What's not to like?
Not so fast Those-Who-Have-Tried-To-Tear-Your-Eyes-Out-After-Reading-One-Horrible-Sentence-By-Dan-Brown! This guy can write AND has the ability to keep a somewhat believable plot going on with characters that actually have depth! Oh, and he did this about 2 or 3 decades before Mr. Da Vinci Code.
I won't reveal the plot - but the action involves Americans in England, Aristocracy, Haunted Castles, Academia, Medieval Manuscripts and Monks, Thomas a Becket (!), Astronomy, Chess, and a stunning performance by a Shakespeare Concordance. What's not to like?
May 20, 2020
Thomas Bontly's _Celestial Chess_ receives four stars from me, good premise interesting mix of mystery and ghost story.
This is the second reading of this book. I read it more than 30 years ago, and I've wanted to reread it but couldn't find a copy. This is a new 40th anniversary addition. I had forgotten all about it, but remembered really liking it. This reading, I didn't really like it at first. I felt as if there was too much slow moving plot. However, in the end I found that I enjoyed the novel a great deal.
It is a ghost story, but not overly so. There is mystery, some action, and a cult. Bontly brings them all together well.
Recommended: sure, the read isn't complicated and easily accessible, even the parts taking place in the 12th century.
This is the second reading of this book. I read it more than 30 years ago, and I've wanted to reread it but couldn't find a copy. This is a new 40th anniversary addition. I had forgotten all about it, but remembered really liking it. This reading, I didn't really like it at first. I felt as if there was too much slow moving plot. However, in the end I found that I enjoyed the novel a great deal.
It is a ghost story, but not overly so. There is mystery, some action, and a cult. Bontly brings them all together well.
Recommended: sure, the read isn't complicated and easily accessible, even the parts taking place in the 12th century.
October 29, 2024
"Has it ever struck you that the Westchurch manuscripts have had a particularly bloody history?"
CELESTIAL CHESS is a "men's adventure" story about an American scholar at Cambridge in 1962, investigating a string of mysterious deaths surrounding a medieval document. This story features ghosts, sex-crazed possession, and even a brief detour through classic folk-horror territory. The scholar goes from girl to girl when he is not chasing down leads or getting in bar fights with his sidekick. This narrative alternates with the equally, uh, virile adventures of a monk back in 1146, taking on wicked kings and lords and passionately heaving breasts and Satan.
This book did a fine job delivering the ghostly goods with several spooky scenes. I also enjoyed the scholar's banter with many lively characters. I confess I found it hard to be frightened by any of the developments given the scholar's laid-back response to every mounting threat. At one point he overhears a known murderer discussing plans to literally poison his food, yet he still sits down to eat with him! Perhaps that is the manly way, but it tends to undermine the atmosphere. Either way this is a very entertaining read. The author has a nicely light and witty style, as well as a great ability to frame fleeting earthbound events in a remarkable context of literally timeless celestial events.
CELESTIAL CHESS is a "men's adventure" story about an American scholar at Cambridge in 1962, investigating a string of mysterious deaths surrounding a medieval document. This story features ghosts, sex-crazed possession, and even a brief detour through classic folk-horror territory. The scholar goes from girl to girl when he is not chasing down leads or getting in bar fights with his sidekick. This narrative alternates with the equally, uh, virile adventures of a monk back in 1146, taking on wicked kings and lords and passionately heaving breasts and Satan.
This book did a fine job delivering the ghostly goods with several spooky scenes. I also enjoyed the scholar's banter with many lively characters. I confess I found it hard to be frightened by any of the developments given the scholar's laid-back response to every mounting threat. At one point he overhears a known murderer discussing plans to literally poison his food, yet he still sits down to eat with him! Perhaps that is the manly way, but it tends to undermine the atmosphere. Either way this is a very entertaining read. The author has a nicely light and witty style, as well as a great ability to frame fleeting earthbound events in a remarkable context of literally timeless celestial events.
March 16, 2025
The devil is a little trickster. Great read
July 1, 2019
No. No no no, do not touch this one.
The main concept seems cool, definitely done before- to an extent, but trust me when I say it's not worth it. It began with some relatively interesting prose but the characters were so incredibly flat and unlikable, the themes so dull, that it killed any of the intrigue the writing style created. It's dated in a bad way, and uninspired in a worse one. I got through 160 pages and I have no idea how. Run far away.
The main concept seems cool, definitely done before- to an extent, but trust me when I say it's not worth it. It began with some relatively interesting prose but the characters were so incredibly flat and unlikable, the themes so dull, that it killed any of the intrigue the writing style created. It's dated in a bad way, and uninspired in a worse one. I got through 160 pages and I have no idea how. Run far away.
August 4, 2021
I found this to be an enjoyable read: the plot was well constructed, the text never dragged.
My only real complaints might be that the ending was a little abrupt, and that the women in the book were somewhat shallowly described.
My only real complaints might be that the ending was a little abrupt, and that the women in the book were somewhat shallowly described.
May 29, 2022
I found this to be a well-written tale that kept my interest. It's one of those books that alternates between the present day and a period in the past, which I generally find not to my liking. But this was well constructed and although the ending was a big confusing, it left me satisfied.
September 4, 2024
Essentially a dark academia mystery with elements of horror. Overall interesting, but a very slow buildup to a somewhat disappointing ending. I did really like how the concept of "celestial chess" unfolded in the end, however. The prose is enjoyable and the author is gifted with describing the world. Many of the character interactions do feel a bit contrived. The dialogue is entertaining at times, I found myself laughing out loud on multiple occasions.
April 9, 2011
A medieval urban fantasy. Very well done.
December 4, 2012
I enjoyed the prose, but the ending was weak.
March 10, 2020
I read this when I was in high school. It was amazing back then. I can't imagine reading it again.
June 20, 2024
I read this book a few years back and enjoyed it. Clever story and one I fancy rereading when I get an opportunity.
September 3, 2016
Really enjoyed the book. Nice concept, it held my attention and I love chess, too.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews