Many Dimensions, by Charles Williams

Every day, I told my husband, “You have to read this.”

Enthralling Affirmation of the Way of Rejection. Perhaps only second to Descent into Hell for me, in terms of Charles Williams favorites. It all begins with a Stone set in King Solomon’s crown. If that isn’t enough for you, then don’t read the book. Or, probably, this post. 

Picking up on the image of “living stones” in I Peter, Williams explores the hunger within people for what is available in the Kingdom of God. In light of I Peter, the multiplication of Living Stones is precisely the purpose of the Kingdom of God. However, the means of creating Living Stones that the characters implement open floodgates that they did not expect. Whether that power is used rightfully or not, the Power still goes out and makes Its impact, revealing hearts and desires.

Sir Giles Tumulty buys a rare artifact off a fellow passenger on a voyage back to England. He suspects the fact that is confirmed by the rest of the story—the Stone in Solomon’s crown is full of powers to fulfill the End of Desire. Narrowly, this means that whatever someone wishes, will be. Travel instantly across town? Done. Have necessary knowledge to pass an exam? Done. Be healed of a paralyzing disease? Done. And the best news? Even a fragment of the Stone possesses its full properties. When Giles and his team attempt to create such a fragment, they make an even more startling discovery—the Stone simply divides and multiplies. Attempts to cut it in half create two wholes.

In no time, the situation is out of hand, and those who have faithfully guarded the Stone for millennia are appalled at this treatment of the Power in the Stone. They will stop at nothing to restore the Unity.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Arglay finds himself in the midst of this exploration, along with his faithful secretary Chloe. She, alone, Rejects use of the Stone, even in situations where she would be clearly justified in tapping into its Power. Instead, she submits to the Stone, seeking solely for it to do Its will. This results in her being the strongest, most compelling character in the whole novel and the only one capable of restoring things to rights in the end. Her purity mirrors her as both a Mary figure, who gives birth to finality, and a Christ figure, who acts as a sacrificial conduit.

Readers who have an unease surrounding universalism will probably struggle with elements of this story. Hajji, a devout Muhammedan, has been part of the legacy that guards the Stone, and he helps guide the characters into the “Unity.” However, I see merely the fact that even Islam doesn’t get everything wrong, but has glimmers of Lewis’ “Tao” present within it. I know not everyone can make such distinctions, so that may ruin this book for that demographic of readers. Which is a shame.