The Oldest Hero Story of Ancient History Comes Alive in a Biblical Context.

LOS ANGELES, CA (EPP) - Brian Godawa, the award-winning screenwriter of To End All Wars, began a new saga of Biblical fantasy novels with his release of Noah Primeval to phenomenally positive reviews across the internet and on Amazon. The third book in the saga Chronicles of the Nephilim is now available in paperback and on Kindle: Gilgamesh Immortal.

There is a book in the Bible where God’s name is nowhere to be found: Esther. Some say it was because God withheld his presence for a time, others say he was secretly working behind the scenes to accomplish his purposes. There was another time that God was hidden: In the period after the Great Flood. Gilgamesh Immortal is a story of that time period.

Gilgamesh Immortal tells a tale of the greatest king of ancient Mesopotamia shortly after the Flood, the mighty ruler Gilgamesh, king of Uruk. He is a giant, born of god and man who oppresses his people for his own power and glory. But when a Wild Man named Enkidu comes to town he is the only one mighty enough to stand up to Gilgamesh and put him in his place.

Enkidu’s simple but strong character impresses Gilgamesh and the two become best of friends. But Gilgamesh longs for immortality, so they embark on a quest for eternal life that takes them from a giant’s forest, to the mountain of the gods, to the Path of the Sun in the Underworld, and ultimately to a distant magical island to find the one man granted divine favor during the flood: Noah.

Gilgamesh Immortal is an adaptation of the oldest written hero story in history. And yet it is timeless in its universal themes of friendship, courage, purpose, the pursuit of immortality and the meaning of life.

Chronicles of the Nephilim is written in the mythic genre of The Lord of the Rings and Narnia, blending fantasy and mythopoeia with history to retell the Biblical narrative with a fresh perspective, while staying true to the original spirit of the story.

Talking Points for Gilgamesh Immortal:

• The sequel to Noah Primeval, about the world after the Flood. Fallen angels, giants, sea dragons, ancient battles, romance, and God.

• A Biblical epic that uses the fantasy genre to express theological truth. Just like Lewis and Tolkien did.

• Maintains respect for the Biblical book of Genesis, while filling in gaps with imagination based on Biblical images and metaphors.

• A retelling of the most ancient hero story of history, The Epic of Gilgamesh, but within the Biblical context of Chronicles of the Nephilim.

• An appendix that provides the interesting Biblical and ancient Near Eastern research behind the imagination in the novel.

Online Press Materials for Enoch Primordial:

http://www.godawa.com/chronicles_of_the_nephilim/press_kit_index.html

Amazon.com Link Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/by3ltsw

Amazon.com Link Paperback: http://tinyurl.com/bk8rslo

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To schedule an interview with Brian Godawa,

Or to receive a complimentary review copy of Gilgamesh Immortal,

please contact:

[email protected]

(310) 948-0224

Author Bio

Brian Godawa has been a professional filmmaker, writer, and visual artist for many years. His creative versatility was born of a passion for both intellect and imagination, both left-brain and right-brain. The result: Brian is an artisan of word, image, and story that engages heart, mind, and soul. Just think, “Renaissance Man.”

He is the screenwriter for the award-winning feature film, To End All Wars, starring Kiefer Sutherland, and Alleged, starring Brian Dennehy as Clarence Darrow along with Fred Thompson as William Jennings Bryan. Previously Brian adapted to film the best-selling supernatural thriller novel The Visitation by author Frank Peretti for Ralph Winter (X-Men, Planet of the Apes), and wrote and directed several documentaries, including Wall of Separation for PBS.

Brian’s scripts have won multiple awards, and his articles on movies and philosophy have been published around the world. He has traveled around the United States teaching on movies, worldviews, and culture to colleges, churches, and community groups.

His popular book, Hollywood Worldviews: Watching Films with Wisdom and Discernment has been released in a revised edition from InterVarsity Press and is used as a textbook in schools around the country. His book Word Pictures: Knowing God Through Story and Imagination (IVP) addresses the power of image and story in the pages of the Bible to transform the Christian life.

His main website is www.godawa.com.

Check out the trailer and other goodies for Enoch Primordial and Chronicles of the Nephilim at:

www.ChroniclesOfTheNephilim.com

Author Photos

Pictures are linked to high resolution files. Click on Image to download high resolution version.

Published Books, Articles, Awards

Published Books

2011 Gilgamesh Immortal, Embedded Pictures Publishing, novel.

2012 Enoch Primordial, Embedded Pictures Publishing, novel.

2011 Noah Primeval, Embedded Pictures Publishing, novel.

2010 Omnibus V: The Medieval World, Veritas Press, published chapter,

“History of Dramatic Arts.”

2009 Word Pictures, Intervarsity Press, published book.

Hollywood Worldviews, Intervarsity Press, published book, revised edition.

Apologetics for a New Generation, Harvest House, Ed. Sean McDowell, published chapter “Storytelling and Persuasion.”

2002 Hollywood Worldviews, Intervarsity Press, published book.

2002 The Christian Imagination, Shaw, Ed. Leland Ryken, published chapter, “Redemption in the Movies.”

Published Articles

2011 BioLogos Foundation, BioLogos.org. Contributing writer.

1995-2011 CRI Journal, Charlotte, NC, Contributing writer.

Scr(i)pt magazine, Los Angeles, IL, published articles.

Sacerdos magazine, Rome, Italy, published articles.

samizdat.com, French online magazine, published articles.

Reformation in Poland, Poland, published article.

SCP Journal, Berkeley, CA, published articles.

Cornerstone magazine, Chicago, IL, published articles.

Center for Cultural Leadership, LaGrange, CA, published articles.

razormouth.com, online magazine, published articles.

Rutherford Institute Magazine, Charlottesville, VA, published article.

PRODUCED FILMS

2012 Descent of the Gods – (Feature)
Screenplay, Direction, in pre-production.
Golden Leaf Pictures, CA

School’s Out: Academic Freedom vs. Political Correctness – (Documentary)
Screenplay & Direction, in post-production.
Boulevard Pictures, Culver City, CA

2011 Alleged – (Feature) - Screenplay.
Two Shoes Productions, MI

2009 Lines That Divide: The Great Stem Cell Debate – (Documentary)
Screenplay & Direction.
Boulevard Pictures, Culver City, CA

2008 Change Your Life (Feature) - Screenplay.
Transcendental Media, Long Beach, CA

Choices You Can Live With (Promo video) – Screenplay & Direction.
Westside Pregnancy Clinic, Los Angeles, CA

2007 Wall of Separation – (Documentary PBS) – Screenplay & Direction.
Boulevard Pictures, Culver City, CA

Cruel Logic (Narrative Short) – Screenplay and Direction.
2008 Emerging Cinematographer Award – International Cinematographers Guild

Secret Believers (Promo video with narrative) – Screenplay.
Open Doors, Secret Believers.org

The Conspiracy Show (Comedy Short) – Screenplay and Direction.
Highway Video Productions

2006 Our First Liberty (TV special) – Screenplay.
Alliance Defense Fund, Phoenix, AZ.

2005 The Visitation (Feature) – Screenplay.
Namesake Entertainment, PeeWee Valley, KY.

2002 To End All Wars (Feature) – Screenplay.
Argyll Film Partners, Culver City, CA.

FILM AWARDS

Alleged

2011 – Best Narrative Feature, Audience Choice Award, FreedomFest Film Festival.
Best Michigan Film Award, Flint Film Festival
Best Narrative Feature, Made-in Michigan Film Festival

Wall of Separation

2007 – Nominated, Silver Gavel Award, American Bar Association.

Cruel Logic (Short)

2008 – Emerging Cinematographer Award – International Cinematographers Guild

2005 – Official Selection: Dusk Till Dawn Fest, Golden Star Shorts Film Fest, Great Lakes Indie Film Fest, Shriekfest, Bluegrass Indie Film Fest.

To End All Wars

2003 – Showcase selection, Cinema for Peace, Cannes Film Festival

2002 – Grand Prize Best Picture Crystal Heart Award, Heartland Film Festival

Commander in Chief Medal of Service, Honor & Pride, Veterans of Foreign Wars

Picture of the Year, Santa Barbara Film Festival

Played in 13 Film Festivals, being given either opening or closing position.

Novel Summary

Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk. He is a mighty ruler and a giant, two thirds god and one third man. He is also an unrighteous king who oppresses his people by forcing all new brides to sleep first with him, and for all warriors to battle him in fighting matches to prove his superiority over all. He is forcing the city to build a mighty wall around Uruk and the people are struggling to keep their livelihood despite it.

One day, Gilgamesh’s Shepherd goes on a hunting trip and discovers a Wild Born Man in the wilderness ruining his traps and living as an animal. He uses a harlot named Shamat to seduce his nemesis and he soon discovers the Wild Born has a name, Enkidu. Enkidu falls in love with Shamat, becomes civilized, and returns to Uruk with her to marry her.

At Enkidu’s wedding to Shamat, Gilgamesh tries to take the bride for his first night, but Enkidu is a man of honor and is the first to defy the king over this immoral law. Enkidu is smaller than Gilgamesh, but much stronger and manages to wrestle him to a draw. Enkidu’s upright honor and strength so impress Gilgamesh that they become fast friends and Gilgamesh makes Enkidu the King’s Right Hand.

Gilgamesh then reveals the reason for his restless and cruel nature: He wants eternal life. His first thought is that if he can slay the giant Humbaba the Terrible in the forest of Lebanon, his fame will give him the immortality he seeks. But the giant is a guardian of Mount Hermon, the mountain of the gods. So when Gilgamesh and Enkidu vanquish Humbaba, they meet with the gods and face the truth that fame will not bring eternal life.

When the two heroes arrive home, all is not well, as the goddess of sex and war, Ishtar, has made claim on Gilgamesh for marriage. But when she is scorned, she unleashes the mighty Bull of Heaven upon Uruk. Gilgamesh then faces a terrible loss and realizes that death will ultimately overtake him.

But then Gilgamesh discovers he his in the lineage of the survivor of the Great Flood, Noah. He is told that Noah is the only one to receive immortality from the gods. So he sets out on his final journey to find Noah on a distant magical island to see if he too can be granted eternal life. He faces the hungry shades of Sheol, the Stone Warriors of Urshanabi, Leviathan the sea dragon, and the Waters of Death. But will he find the immortality he seeks above all else? And what are the consequences?

An Interview with Brian Godawa

Q: What is Gilgamesh Eternal About?

A: Gilgamesh Eternal is book three of the Biblical Fantasy Saga Chronicles of the Nephilim. After the Great Flood, the descendents of Noah settled the land of Mesopotamia. But unfortunately, the heart of humanity is basically bad and we take that heart wherever we go.

Also, one of the grandsons of Noah has a genetic strain of the Nephilim in his bloodline, so the War of the Seed of the Serpent with the Seed of Eve, has been delayed. But not forgotten.

Furthermore, God has withdrawn his presence, leaving humanity to replenish the earth, and the surviving Watchers to reorganize and restrategize their diabolical plans.

Into this godforsaken post-diluvian world comes a giant warrior on an epic journey fighting gods, monsters, and men in a relentless search for eternal life. That mighty giant is king Gilgamesh of Uruk.

Q: Who is Gilgamesh?

A: Gilgamesh was one of the greatest kings of ancient Mesopotamia. He was a real historical king about whom we have no historical narratives. What we do have is the Epic of Gilgamesh, which is a mythical tale edited together from other legends about him.

According to the Epic, Gilgamesh is a giant born of god and man, who oppresses his people for his own power and glory. But then one day, a Wild Man named Inkidu comes from the wilderness and challenges the king’s abusive rule. Inkidu is not as big as the king, but he is strong and mighty.

They fight, and Gilgamesh discovers his equal.

Inkidu’s simple but strong character impresses Gilgamesh and the two become best of friends. But Gilgamesh longs for immortality, so they embark on a quest for eternal life that takes them to a giant’s forest, the mountain of the gods, and ultimately to a distant magical island to find the one man granted divine favor during the flood: Noah.

Gilgamesh Eternal is an adaptation of the oldest written hero story in history the Epic of Gilgamesh. And yet it is timeless in its universal themes of friendship, courage, the pursuit of immortality and the meaning of life.

Q: How is Gilgamesh Related to the Bible?

A: Some people may wonder what does the Epic of Gilgamesh have to do with Chronicles of the Nephilim, stories based on Bible heroes and fallen angels?

More than you may realize.

Let me explain.

In the Biblical book of Esther, the name of God is nowhere to be found. Some say it was because God withheld his presence for a time, others say he was secretly working behind the scenes to accomplish his purposes.

Just like the book of Esther, this time period after the Flood is another era of God’s hiddenness, where he “gave man over” to the idolatry of his heart to worship the creature instead of the Creator.

Gilgamesh Eternal is a fascinating epic of One man’s pursuit of immortality in a godless world. But it also includes a twist that ends the Flood narrative and sets up the New World for the next few books in the series.

But I don’t want to spoil the surprise, so you’ll just have to read the book.

Q: Do I have to read the previous books first?

A: If you want to understand the full depth and richness of the storyline that is going on in Gilgamesh Eternal, you will need to read the previous books first, Noah Primeval and Enoch Primordial.

Though the story is an epic journey of a new hero, Gilgamesh, it nevertheless is integrated in every plot point with the previous storyline that has been developing of the War between the Seed of the Serpent and the Seed of Eve.

However, Gilgamesh Eternal is also a retelling of the ancient classic tale The Epic of Gilgamesh, so those who have read the original Epic will appreciate it that much more because I stayed very close to the original storyline.

However, I did alter some of the meaning behind the story, as any good storyteller will do when retelling a tale to their generation. Heck, the Epic of Gilgamesh did the same thing when it retold the Flood Story of Noah. So I’m returning the favor.

But the alterations were germane to the integration of the Epic with the Biblical storyline in a way that will surprise and entertain the reader of both.

Q: Is there an appendix in this novel like the others?

A: Gilgamesh Eternal would not be a Chronicles of the Nephilim novel if I didn’t share with you some of the exciting information I discovered while researching the story.

So I included an appendix about Gilgamesh and the Bible.

Scholars have long discussed the similarities between the Gilgamesh Epic and the Bible.

There are reflections of the Garden of Eden story in Gilgamesh as well as an entire section where a Noah character tells the story of the Great Flood that most of us know from Genesis.

But a look at how Gilgamesh and Genesis both deal with the story, where they’re similar and where they differ, is a fascinating exploration of ancient stories that give us a better understanding of what really may have happened in those ancient days.

If you sign up or subscribe on the website you’ll be the first to hear about new developments and volumes of Chronicles of the Nephilim.

Check out the trailer and other goodies for Enoch Primordial and Chronicles of the Nephilim at:

www.ChroniclesOfTheNephilim.com