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=                       Illusions_(Bach_novel)                       =
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                            Introduction
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'Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah' is a novel by
writer and pilot Richard Bach.  First published in 1977, the story
questions the reader's view of reality, proposing that what we call
reality is merely an illusion we create for learning and enjoyment.
'Illusions' was the author's follow-up to 1970's 'Jonathan Livingston
Seagull'.


                                Plot
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'Illusions' revolves around two barnstorming pilots who meet in a
field in the Midwestern United States. The two main characters enter
into a teacher-student relationship that explains the concept that the
world that we inhabit is illusory, as well as the underlying reality
behind it:



Donald William Shimoda is a messiah who quits his job after deciding
that people value the showbiz-like performance of miracles and want to
be entertained by those miracles more than to understand the message
behind them. He meets Richard, a fellow barn-storming pilot. Both are
in the business of providing short rides--for a few dollars each--in
vintage biplanes to passengers from farmers' fields they find during
their travels. Donald initially captures Richard's attention when a
grandfather and granddaughter pair arrive at the makeshift airstrip.
Ordinarily it is elders who are cautious and the youngsters who are
keen to fly. In this case, however, the grandfather wants to fly but
the granddaughter is afraid of flying. Donald explains to the
granddaughter that her fear of flying comes from a traumatic
experience in a past life, and this calms her fears and she is ready
to fly. Observing this greatly intrigues Richard, so Donald begins to
pass on his knowledge to him, even teaching Richard to perform
"miracles" of his own.

The novel features quotes from the 'Messiah's Handbook', owned by
Shimoda, which Richard later takes as his own. An unusual aspect of
this handbook is that it has no page numbers. The reason for this, as
Shimoda explains to Richard, is that the book will open to the page on
which the reader may find guidance or the answers to doubts and
questions in his mind. It is not a magical book; Shimoda explains that
one can do this with any sort of text. The 'Messiah's Handbook' was
released as its own title by Hampton Roads Publishing Company. It
mimics the one described in 'Illusions', with new quotes based on the
philosophies in the novel.


                            Adaptations
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An adaptation of 'Illusions' was serialized in the comic strip 'Best
Sellers Showcase' running June 19 through July 30, 1978.

Director Zack Snyder has cited the book as a major influence on his
2011 film 'Sucker Punch' and his 2021 film 'Army of the Dead'.


                            2014 sequel
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In 2014, Bach published 'Illusions II: The Adventures of a Reluctant
Student' after surviving a serious plane crash.


                              See also
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* Simulated reality


License
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Original Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusions_(Bach_novel)