Wisdom of the Ages is a surreal, horror-fantasy adventure story by Robert Bernardo. Johnny Bishop finds himself at his sister's house, having disappeared from the world for the last decade, and having no recollection of his memories. During the last decade, Johnny has not aged a single day and is bewildered at the changes in the lives of his loved ones. With the help of his longtime accomplice and rival Marty, Johnny tries to piece together his memories. Johnny's quest takes him to the Kilborne Academy, where he's got nine lives to pass his hundred-day sentence. Johnny starts involuntarily traveling back and forth in time, during which he meets a certain Mr. Fitzhugh. Fitzhugh reveals to Johnny that he's the most powerful entity on the planet and that he controls how the world is run. He also explains that Marty would become the anti-Christ, and the apocalypse is coming.

Wisdom of the Ages is one of the weirdest books I've read this year. And I mean it as a compliment. Due to the non-linear nature of the story, it is pretty satisfying to read the ending as all the pieces fit together like a perfect jigsaw. Robert Bernardo's use of some shockingly horrific scenes in dreamlike sequences provides a Lovecraftian flavor to the narrative. Despite being a horror fantasy novel, there is a surprising amount of gallows humor sprinkled throughout the book. I was particularly impressed by Bernardo's ability to weave together different timelines of Johnny's life and make a concise and coherent narrative. Wisdom of the Ages is not for everyone, but fantasy and horror fans should definitely enjoy this.

Wisdom of the Ages by Robert Bernardo is a delightful weaving of suspense, mystery, humor, and fantasy. Ten years have passed since Johnny Bishop flew in from Texas for the weekend to help move his mother to a nursing home. But after spending the night at his sister’s place, he disappears on a Saturday morning without leaving any trace. Johnny can only recall that he died but spent his eternal repose neither in heaven or hell, but a place called Kilborne Academy. Now he struggles when people ask him about his whereabouts during his long absence; to tell the truth would put humanity at risk. But he had to return from the dead to fulfill a great task, and now that the people in his life have moved on after his death, settling into the rhythms of his return will prove challenging as he wants answers in order to return to the life he once had.

The effect of Wisdom of the Ages is surprising and immediate. You will feel its spell in the progression of Johnny’s search for answers. This is a story about truths and lies, and it paints a reality check of how the world will continue to evolve when you die—a thought that is saddening but humbling at the same time. Bernardo writes with brevity and wastes no time getting into the core of Johnny’s dilemma. The premise of this novel may be too fantastical, but you will support the majority of its ideas and humorous situations like those within the confines of Kilborne Academy. It’s not difficult to muster a level of empathy for the characters, and this book is worth reading for the theme it presents.