Table Of Contentcover
“Through vibrant description and well-paced action, Karen Hancock creates a
compelling world of both horror and hope. Arena gives Christian fantasy lovers
something to cheer about.”
—Brandilyn Collins, bestselling author of Eyes of Elisha
“When other books are long forgotten and out of print, I believe people will
still be reading Arena. It’s destined to be a classic.”
—Rene Gutteridge, author of Ghost Writer
“An allegory for the third millennium! If you liked Pilgrim’s Progress and
The Matrix, then you’ll love Arena.”
—Randall Ingermanson, co-author of Oxygen
“Arena is a wonderful and clever allegorical tale with all the excitement of
good science fiction.”
—Judith Pella, author of Written on the Wind
“Clever, creative and full of non-stop action, Arena is a wonderful
introduction to new writer Karen Hancock. Don’t miss the opportunity to wrap
your mind around this fascinating book.”
—Gayle Roper, author of Summer Shadows and Spring Rain
“Karen Hancock’s Arena sets a new benchmark for contemporary allegory—
thoroughly imagined, intelligently written, and as vivid as last night’s unsettling
dreams. Well done!”
—Kathy Tyers, author of the FIREBIRD trilogy
KAREN HANCOCK
© 2002 by Karen Hancock
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
E-book edition created 2011
The Scripture quotation of Romans 8:31 on page 313 is taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
All other Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE,® Copyright ©
The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by
permission. www.lockman.org
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—
without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed
reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-7064-1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
The internet addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers in this book are accurate at the time of
publication. They are provided as a resource. Baker Publishing Group does not endorse them or vouch for
their content or permanence.
Cover design by Lookout Design Group, Inc.
To Kathy Tyers
KAREN HANCOCK graduated in 1975 from the University of Arizona with
bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Wildlife Biology. Along with writing, she is a
semi-professional watercolorist and has exhibited her work in a number of
national juried shows. Arena is her first novel. She, her husband, and their son,
whom Karen homeschooled for eight years, reside in Arizona.
For discussion and further information, Karen invites you to visit her Web site at
www.kmhancock.com.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
With gratitude and appreciation . . .
To my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in whom we live and move and have our
being and for whom all things have been created, who alone is worthy of praise.
To Colonel R. B. Thieme, Jr., my pastor and teacher for twenty years, and to
Robert R. McLaughlin, my pastor now, for their tireless devotion to the daily
study and teaching of the Word of God and willingness to stand upon the truth
regardless of how unpopular such a stand might be. Without their daily teaching,
I never would have been able to write this book.
To Nancy Belt, Donna Henley, and Kelli Nolen, those rare and precious true
friends who know how to sift the wheat from the chaff, overlook transgressions,
and lift up a brother when he has fallen. You are refreshments to my soul.
To my husband, Stuart, who has labored alone for years, allowing me the time
and opportunity to write, even when it appeared nothing would come of it.
To my son, Adam, who has been a joy and a privilege to raise, and whose
fascination with Super Mario Brothers sparked the germ for this story.
To Kathy Tyers, for critique, encouragement, and steadfast assistance over the
years.
To Steve Laube, for kindness, persistence, insightful editing, and most of all,
for taking the risk.
To all the other readers and critiquers God provided before He saw fit to grant
me the social validation of publication—you will never know how much
satisfaction and encouragement you gave: Linda Smith; Edward Willett; Greg
and Katie Solewin; Jeanette, Aimee, and Kris Ratzlaff; Lelia Foreman; Travis
Langley; and Penny Olsen.
And finally, to God the Father, for His marvelous plan for my life, which
includes not only seeing this book in print, but all the years of waiting for His
perfect timing.
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who diligently seeks
Him.
Contents
CALLED
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
TRANSFORMED
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
RAISED UP
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
EPILOGUE
