Author: Lydia Bisanti
ISBN: 1-932848-12-6

The following review was contributed by: S.V. SWAMY:  CLICK TO VIEW S.V. Swamy's Reviews

Transmutation is a Spiritual novel by Lydia Bisanti. It is about transmutation
of the individual man to a Universal Man. The hero of the novel, Rene Eagle goes
through a series of personal catastrophes (as seen through normal eyes) which
push him over the precipice and help his ego to refine/ dissolve/ sublime.

Transmutation is a word used in alchemy and in nuclear science. It means
changing one element (a base metal like lead or iron) into another noble element
(like gold). The Philosopher's Stone is a 'mythical' object which is supposed to
help the alchemist to transmute a base metal like iron and lead to gold.
Philosophically, it is the transmutation of an egoistic soul (which because of
its limited vision is naturally selfish) into an Universal Soul (a soul which
becomes the whole universe and thus has no scope for being selfish). The purpose
of each soul is to transmute itself into the Universal Soul. To achieve that,
the ego has to achieve a sacred union with that missing complement soul, to
which it is compellingly drawn. Till then, shadows of such soul (egos that have
some semblance to that real mate) will attract the individual, resulting in
infatuations, addictions etc. The objectives of various prayers, meditations and
other rituals is to prepare the individual ego for this sacred union, which is
the real fulfilling union. Eternal Love is the natural result of such an union.
Till then, the ego goes through several planes of existence.

The author succeeds in bringing out these concepts well, which are not really
new to eastern minds. The story is well told and grips the reader through out.
Rene becomes Siva, the three-eyed God (the third eye representing true knowledge
and wisdom), though the author doesn't use that specific name.

The book could have been edited better, but fortunately the communication comes
through. I strongly recommend this slim volume if you have any leanings towards
spiritual matters. Even without the spiritual connection, it makes a good read.