Why am I passionate about this?

As an artist, I have always had an active imagination which is fueled by great imagery found in fantasy and sci-fi books and movies. When this is coupled with spiritual themes, the experience becomes transcendent for me. Given my passion for spirituality and my desire to know God more deeply, I write books with characters that ask hard spiritual questions and who ponder their place in the universe. I also write inspirational articles that challenge people to rethink their suppositions about God. Currently, I am a game programmer who is working on my second novel, a mystery thriller, in my free time.


I wrote

Four in the Garden: A Spiritual Allegory About Trust

By Rick Hocker,

Book cover of Four in the Garden: A Spiritual Allegory About Trust

What is my book about?

What if you were the only human made by Creator and He wanted a relationship with you, but you found…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Shack

Rick Hocker Why did I love this book?

This book is a great, inspirational read that presents God in a highly relatable way. The loving relationship among the divine members of the Trinity is delightful and attractive. The book tackles some hard questions and offers some wise answers to life’s disappointments and pain, although not as deep as I would prefer. I really liked the emphasis on a relationship with God instead of pat answers.

By William P. Young,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked The Shack as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

After his daughter's murder, a grieving father confronts God with desperate questions -- and finds unexpected answers -- in this riveting and deeply moving #1 NYT bestseller.

When Mackenzie Allen Phillips's youngest daughter Missy is abducted during a family vacation, he remains hopeful that she'll return home. But then, he discovers evidence that she may have been brutally murdered in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness.

Four years later, in this midst of his great sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note that's supposedly from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment,…


Book cover of The Chronicles of Narnia

Rick Hocker Why did I love this book?

This book really pulls you into a wonderfully imaginative world. It is a classic good versus evil story, but what makes it unique is that the heroes are children who discover that courage and strength aren’t dependent on age or station, something we all need to learn. Aslan, the lion, is a Christ figure who is the perfect blend of power and sacrificial love. I enjoyed the humanity of the main characters and how the author portrayed humans as something noble by nature, as if we had some inherent divinity ourselves.

By C. S. Lewis, Pauline Baynes (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

12 authors picked The Chronicles of Narnia as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Don’t miss one of America’s top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS’s The Great American Read.

Experience all seven tales of C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia, in one impressive paperback volume!

Epic battles between good and evil, fantastic creatures, betrayals, heroic deeds, and friendships won and lost all come together in this unforgettable world, which has been enchanting readers of all ages for over sixty years.

This edition presents the seven books—The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The…


Book cover of Hinds' Feet on High Places

Rick Hocker Why did I love this book?

This book is an allegory that shows life as full of struggles and doubts as we make our way to our spiritual destination. I fully related to the main character, Much-Afraid, and her insecurities. This book helped me to focus less on my fears and more on trusting a loving God who wants to help me to overcome my insecurities and fears.

By Hannah Hurnard,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Hinds' Feet on High Places as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

With over 2 million copies sold, Hinds’ Feet on High Places remains Hannah Hurnard’s best known and most beloved book: a timeless allegory dramatizing the yearning of God’s children to be led to new heights of love, joy, and victory. In this moving tale, follow Much-Afraid on her spiritual journey as she overcomes many dangers and mounts at last to the High Places. There she gains a new name and is transformed by her union with the loving Shepherd. Included in this special edition (February 2009 release) is Hannah Hurnard’s own account of the circumstances that led her to write…


Book cover of The Singer: A Classic Retelling of Cosmic Conflict

Rick Hocker Why did I love this book?

This book is an allegory of the Gospel story. I devoured the entire trilogy in college as I was hungry to learn anything about God during that time. The writing is poetic and rich, and the symbolism of a troubadour who sings the ancient Star-Song is well-crafted. It’s a fresh retelling of the Gospel story that has spiritual depth in its pages.

By Calvin Miller,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Singer as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Over 400,000 Copies in Print "In the beginning was the song of love." In this timeless classic, Calvin Miller retells the story of Jesus through an allegorical poem about a Singer whose song could not be silenced. Since it was first published in 1975, The Singer has left an indelible impression on Christian literature and offered believers and seekers the world over a deeply personal encounter with the gospel. With a new foreword by IVP Publisher Jeffrey Crosby and an updated interior design, The Singer is now available as part of the IVP Signature Collection, which features special editions of…


Book cover of The Alchemist

Rick Hocker Why did I love this book?

This hugely-popular inspirational book is about looking for treasure and discovering that real treasure isn’t what we think. It’s a great story that makes you contemplate what really matters and turns our own journeys inward toward matters of the heart. The themes are more universal than Christian, but contain wisdom applicable to all readers. I recommend this book to spiritual seekers who need a little extra inspiration along the way.

By Paulo Coelho,

Why should I read it?

30 authors picked The Alchemist as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A global phenomenon, The Alchemist has been read and loved by over 62 million readers, topping bestseller lists in 74 countries worldwide. Now this magical fable is beautifully repackaged in an edition that lovers of Paulo Coelho will want to treasure forever.

Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. This is such a book - a beautiful parable about learning to listen to your heart, read the omens strewn along life's path and, above all, follow your dreams.

Santiago, a young shepherd living in the hills of Andalucia, feels that there is…


Explore my book 😀

Four in the Garden: A Spiritual Allegory About Trust

By Rick Hocker,

Book cover of Four in the Garden: A Spiritual Allegory About Trust

What is my book about?

What if you were the only human made by Creator and He wanted a relationship with you, but you found it difficult to relate to Him? This award-winning book challenges readers to trust in God in spite of our fears and misconceptions. A compelling, emotional, and thought-provoking allegory of one's relationship with God. In this spiritual fantasy, Creator makes one human, named Cherished. Instead of creating a second human to be a companion for Cherished, Creator desires to fill that role. Can this relationship work?

"A must-read for anyone on a spiritual journey." ​​​- Richard Rohr, OFM, Founder, Center for Action and Contemplation

Book cover of The Shack
Book cover of The Chronicles of Narnia
Book cover of Hinds' Feet on High Places

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Spoliation

By Ian J. Miller,

Book cover of Spoliation

Ian J. Miller Author Of A Face on Cydonia

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Research scientist Composer Retired Theoretician

Ian's 3 favorite reads in 2024

What is my book about?

To hide a corporation’s failure to properly service a space ship, Captain Jonas Stryker is prosecuted but saved from imprisonment by a dying man, who hires Stryker to collect asteroids for their mineral content. Stryker soon finds he must stop a shadowy corporate group called The Board, who employ space piracy, terrorism, and even weaponised asteroids to overthrow the Federation government.

Set in Lagrange points, space stations, the Moon and outback Australia, it is a fast-moving story with some speculative future technology. If you were interested in the NASA attempt to alter the orbit of the asteroid Dimorphos, you might…

Spoliation

By Ian J. Miller,

What is this book about?

When a trial to cover-up a corporate failure ends Captain Jonas Stryker's career, he wants revenge against The Board, a ruthless, shadowy organization with limitless funds that employs space piracy, terrorism, and even weaponised asteroids. Posing as a space miner, Stryker learns that The Board wants him killed, while a young female SCIB police agent wants retribution against him for having her career spoiled at his trial. As Stryker avoids attempts to kill him, he becomes the only chance to prevent The Board from overturning the Federation Government and imposing a Fascist-style rule.
A story of greed, corruption and honour,…


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Interested in allegory, change, and Spain?

Allegory 41 books
Change 41 books
Spain 202 books