Article about the release of transitional fiction work, Passages, by Charles Blazek
Local Author’s Book Blends Sci-fi, New Age Philosophy
Coral Gables News, West Kendall Gazette, April 9, 2003, by Gary Alan Ruse
Charles E. Blazek, a West Kendall resident for 30 years, recently had his first novel released by PublishAmerica. Titled Passages, the book is an example of a new genre of science fiction “based on New Age philosophies and the search for spiritual enlightenment.
“Several people who have read it have told me it’s like Celestine Prophecies meets Independence Day,” Blazek said. “It does have to do with an unknown enemy trying to destroy mankind, and the fate of the world is inextricably linked with the spiritual development of the heroine, Dana Wright.”
Blazek can trace the book’s roots back to experiences gained while exploring New Age concepts as a teacher.
“Back in the early ’70s, I used to teach a course with the New Community School, which was an alternative community school within Miami-Dade County,” Blazek said. “It had the blessings of the school board. Along with the basic reading, writing and math, we would teach them other things they wanted to learn also. This course, Introduction to the Search, became an adult course and actually ran a year longer than the school itself did. We’d meet every week and bring in experts and practitioners in a lot of the esoteric arts as well as the traditional religions.”
The course delved into meditation techniques, yoga, parapsychology and related topics. The object was to help people find what they were looking for in their search for enlightenment, inner peace or oneness with the universe. But as a bonus for Blazek, some of the concepts found their way into his novel.
“Things like multi-level awareness techniques for reaching another level of consciousness or going back through past lives,” Blazek said. “That was taught in the course, and I incorporated it into my novel. The lead character, Dana, with the help of a psychic member of the group she’s with, goes back and relives some of her past lives and answers some major questions for her which have a bearing on her present day problem.”
Traditionally, readers of science fiction and mainstream readers are separate and distinct groups. Why does Blazek believe his book will appeal to both?
“I think it’s well written enough that it will capture anyone’s interest who has at least a halfway open mind,” Blazek said. “It’s also a quick, fun read. In today’s environment especially I think some pure escapism is a good thing. Hopefully there’s enough meat there to cause people to think a little bit, too, about where they’re going and some alternative ways of getting there. There’s such a growing interest in and awareness of the spiritual side of life these days.”
For him, the genre is not just a recently acquired taste.
“I cut my teeth on science fiction,” Blazek said. “Andre Norton was one of my favorites, along with Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clark, Ray Bradbury and Ursula Le Guin. I think what a lot of people who have not been hardcore science fiction fans don’t realize is that good science fiction is good literature. It allows you to explore serious concepts.”
Blazek said he discovered that he is a distant cousin of writer Jack London, his grandmother having the last name of London. Although Passages is his first novel, Blazek was editor and head writer for Ability magazine and had featured stories in Opera Monthly, Black Elegance and Detective Dragnet.
His work has appeared locally in Community Newspapers, Entertainment News & Views and Barfly. He also has written extensively for public relations firms specializing in the travel industry and the public sector.
Blazek currently works for Global Insurance Network Inc. near the Doral area, as does his wife of 20 years, Ana, who is not only the president of the agency but also partially the model for Passages central character.
“The book is actually dedicated to my ‘Dana without the D,’” Blazek said. “Some of Ana’s personality traits became part of Dana.”
The book can be ordered through any traditional or on-line bookstore, or directly through PublishAmerica. But for area residents, a chance to meet the author and get a signed copy of Passages is close at hand.
“We’re having our official launch at Books and Books in Coral Gables,” Blazek said. “It’s currently set for 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, so come on out.”
For more information, visit or Blazek’s own Web page www.authorsden.com/CharlesEdwardBlazek.
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