Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” This issue is one of the central themes of my horror novels Maledicus: Investigative Paranormal Society Book I and Gallows Hill: The Investigative Paranormal Society, Book 2 and is also one of the main issues that has faced humanity in the last one hundred years. From the consequences of millions slain in the Holocaust to one single person murdered on the streets of New York City while many watched and did nothing, humanity has been confronted with this dilemma. We see brutality, oppression, and bigotry towards others on an almost daily basis. When finding evil threatening others, what do we do? Do we ignore it and pretend that it is not there? Do we call authorities to try to handle the situation and hope they arrive in time? Or do we inject ourselves into situations that for both individuals and nations could be filled with the worst kind of danger?
It does not take much effort to find contemporary examples of such circumstances. In all of these situations, the observers are faced with a moral quandary, and in my novels, it is those circumstances which drive the central conflicts. What do three retired gentlemen who are trying to find the answer to the ancient question—is there life after death?—do when they are confronted with a sociopathic supernatural evil that threatens an innocent? It would be easy for them to turn aside and say—this isn’t our fight, or this doesn’t concern me.
These three retired gentlemen do decide to fight this evil, even at the potential cost of their lives and perhaps souls.
In our cynical so-called post-modern world, I feel that I am a bit of a dinosaur, because I am an unapologetic Humanist. I still believe that our connections as people are more important than that which disconnects us. My three central characters believe this ideal also. Hence, they understand Donne’s admonition—“Never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” And they understand that whatever threatens an innocent must be opposed.
Gallows Hill can be found here in ebook.
Gallows Hill in paperback can be found here.
An interview about Gallows Hill can be found here.
Please follow the following links to find my novel:
Thank you!
The book trailer:
Maledicus:Investigative Paranormal Society Book I
My radio interview:
Reblogged this on K. DeMers Dowdall and commented:
This post, by Professor Charles F. French, is too important not to reblog. I too, am a Humanist and always speak the truth to people who rather hide under a basket, just hoping that their personal world won’t be involved, but it will, sooner than later.. There will be regrets, but regrets and blame will not change what has already happened.
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Karen, thank you so much!
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Charles, this is such a profound statement by you, and I reblogged it on my blog site. Thank you!
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Karen, you are welcome, and thank you!
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Unsolicited, one of my favorite quotes on the topic comes from Yeats: “The best lack all conviction, while the worst / Are full of passionate intensity.”
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Thank you–that is an excellent choice!
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…Spinoza maybe didn’t quite so… model it in enough. If self is defined utterly, evil can be inevitably emergent even if not defined as such externally. Operating in a place of darkness, its only motivation makes the ruin of anything else by separating its own affect from all the systems it carries, like the blob eating itself. And everything else.
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Interesting insights into your thought process for this book, Charles.
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Robbie, thank you!
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Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
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Thank you!
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You’re very welcome Dr. French 😎
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I’m another unabashed humanist, Charles. And I don’t think we’re dinosaurs. 🙂 We are phoenixes.
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Thank you! I like that much more.
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Wonderful post Charles and there is so much that rings “yes”
as I read.
Particularly I agree fully with your last paragraph.
miriam
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Miriam, thank you so much!
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“Our connections with people are more important than that which disconnects us.” Brilliant, Charles!
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Thank you, Jennie!
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You’re most welcome, Charles. That statement was profound.
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