NEWS SOURCE: MorningStar PR

With Hollywood producer Darren Aronofsky's upcoming $130 million epic blockbuster "Noah" starring Russell Crowe reaching theaters nationwide on March 28, the media weather forecast is that the torrential 'flood of old' is about to become the latest "buzz factor" in American pop culture.

Catching the wave on this deluge of media interest, WND Books this week (18) released author Larry Stone's timely new book, "Noah: The Real Story."

Brimming with research and commentary on seemingly every fascinating fact, mystery and intrigue ever floated about Noah, the Ark, and the boatload of animal passenger that sailed from the pages of the Bible to Hollywood's big screen, the book can be termed a 'must read' before seeing the film.

Stone's exhaustive "fact find" results in a very readable, totally engrossing voyage into the long ago watery world of Noah. Among the questions addressed: Was it really a worldwide flood? How were the animals gathered into the ark? How could a boat that large actually sail? Were there dinosaurs on the ark? Has the wreckage of the ark really been seen in modern times?

Filled with fascinating research notes, geological and archeological facts, more than 20 detailed drawings, and comparison overviews on how the story of 'the big flood' that swept away mankind has remarkably been detailed and repeated in the writings of more than 300 ancient cultures globally, "Noah: The Real Story" is a compelling read from start to finish.

Author Stone doesn't shun controversy and straight forwardly answers many questions frequently asked, including how the forthcoming Russell Crowe "Noah" differs from the seemingly daunting mission from God undertaken by the prophet of old.

"The Bible clearly shows that man is more important to God than were the animals," noted Stone this week. "Yet after watching the pro-environmental spin the new movie presents, audiences might draw a different conclusion that God would have preferred a world with only animals and green trees-one devoid of human beings."

Stone feels in viewing the new film Christian audiences in particular will be offered a compelling opportunity to turn a hot topic in mainstream culture into a real chance to dialogue the truth about God and the Bible.

"There are three major points in which Aronofsky's 'Noah' differs from the biblical account," notes Stone.

"First, in the film, God's destruction of earth is because of man's disrespect for the environment. The Bible tells us the flood came because of man's wickedness and violence against the image of God." "Secondly, there's a mis-message on God's love for humankind. In Russell Crowe's portrayal, we hear Noah say, 'God wants to do away with the human race.' The Bible tells us God wanted man to 'be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth.'"

"Lastly, Hollywood fails to even remotely capture the truth of God's mercy in this film. Aronofsky's story of Noah tells us that God's mercy depends on man's actions when Audiences will hear Noah say, 'We must treat the world with mercy so that the Creator will show us mercy.' In reality, the Bible tells us God's mercy is not dependent on us-it's part of His nature in dealing with us." With his book launching this week, Larry Stone is encouraging Christians to embrace and utilize the incoming flood of interest in Noah that Hollywood will generate.

"The Bible predicts a violent destruction coming to our earth sometime in the future-and interestingly Jesus Himself linked the story of Noah to that future event. He said that just as the people in Noah's time ignored warnings of the impending doom of the flood, people at the end of the age will ignore warnings of the second coming of Jesus," notes the author.

In summary says Stone: " Culturally, with the release of the 'Noah' film Hollywood is offering us a major media platform to use as a tool to share this message with people that need to hear it: 'Watch, be ready, and choose which side you are on...who you will believe and serve before the next 'ark' is ready to board."

"Noah: The Real Story" is now available through WND Books at both national retail and online book resources. WND resource online: www.superstore.wnd.com