Illusions II: The Adventures of a Reluctant Student Illusions II: The Adventures of a Reluctant Student Illusions II: The Adventures of a Reluctant Student is the 2014 novel by writer and pilot Richard Bach. The first "Illusions" book was published in 1977 and was an international best-seller, telling the story of a pilot who encounters a messiah who has absconded from the "job" of being a messiah. ("Illusions" was the author's followup to 1970's "Jonathan Livingston Seagull".) The sequel is in author Richard Bach's voice, as his "imaginary" literary characters help him in his recovery from his real-life plane crash. After decades of flying without incident, author Richard
Jonathan Livingston Seagull allusions to and insights regarding the same near-death experience. In October 2014, "Jonathan Livingston Seagull: The Complete Edition," was reissued and includes part four of the story. Part four focuses on the period several hundred years after Jonathan and his students have left the Flock and their teachings become venerated rather than practiced. The birds spend all their time extolling the virtues of Jonathan and his students and spend no time flying for flying's sake. The seagulls practice strange rituals and use demonstrations of their respect for Jonathan and his students as status symbols. Eventually some birds reject the ceremony