In 2013, Kerry Nietz wrote Amish Vampires in Space. Fully embracing that genre-busting precedent, he followed it up in 2015 with Amish Zombies from Space. Now, four years later, he has continued the "Peril in Plain Space" series with Amish Werewolves of Space.
Like any good sequel, AWoS stands on it own. If you didn't read the first two books, you won't be lost in this story. However, Nietz drops plenty of hints and references to the first two books. New readers will have their curiosity piqued, and readers of the other books will have their memories pricked and will want to go back and read them again.
AWoS picks up a few years after the events of AZfS. The planet of Resolve has continued to grow as an Amish planet, but some "Englishers" (non-Amish) have moved in as well. Many of the Amish from the first books are still in the community, others are still in relationship with the Amish but no longer a part of the community. Nietz keeps the Amish values and lifestyles as part of the story, showing the contrast between the distant future technologies of space travel and medical marvels with those who still use horse and buggy and who resist using machines.
More than simply the Amish lifestyle, Nietz weaves in questions of the Christian faith throughout the story. The characters face ethical dilemmas regarding the use of violence, living lives of submission and forgiveness, and being subject to government authorities. More importantly, characters deal with questions of their own faith, and struggle with the balance of relying on God through prayer and taking action on their own.
The plot draws in elements of the first two PiPS novels. A group of teenagers have retained vampire qualities, and try to live peacefully in their community of superhumans. And on other planets, the zombie plague is invading and taking over. It's up to some of the people of Resolve, the vampire teens, and their new-found werewolf peer to, ultimately, save the galaxy.
Nietz ramps up the action in a hurry, giving the story a very cinematic, episodic feel. There's not a lot of time for the characters to catch their breath as the dominos fall and they have to make decisions about next steps or face foe after foe. Nietz writes about some traditional monsters, but his vampires, zombies, and werewolves aren't mystical or magical; this is sci-fi, not fantasy. Nietz is, refreshingly, more in to nanotech than magic spells. With lots of well-written action, solid character development, and a world view and story cycle that comes full circle with this third book, Nietz has outdone himself and completed this trilogy with a bang.
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Love and F1rst Sight, by Josh Sundquist
Is it just me, or has disability/sickness become a chic theme in YA fiction? Big hits like Wonder and The Fault In Our Stars seem to have spawned a slew of imitators, for better or worse. I'm not opposed to the trend at all. Kids who read this fiction likely tend to grow in their empathy toward others. I have seen this personally in my daughter's classmates who read Out of My Mind.
Josh Sundquist's debut novel Love and F1rst Sight is an enjoyable addition to this genre. Will Porter awkwardly begins his first year at a mainstream school, after going to schools for the blind his entire life. Struggling to be independent and to fit in, he is determined to succeed in the world of the sighted. When he becomes a candidate for an experimental surgery that would give him sight, his life changes in ways he hadn't imagined.
The strength of Sundquist's narrative is his ability to convey the experience of blindness. I am not blind. Neither is Sundquist. But I suspect he spent a lot of time with blind people learning about their lives, experiences, and sensory worlds. When Will gains his sight after the surgery, Sundquist's descriptions of Will's acclimating to sight captivated and moved me.
The weakness of Love and F1rst SIght is that it devolves into a very standard teen love, break up, and reunion story. Of course you want them to get back together, but that last stretch of the book leading up to the reunion is way too unrealistic, irresponsible, and easy for my taste.
Even though it turns into a cheesy love story, Love and F1rst Sight has plenty going for it. Sundquist puts teenagers in a position of evaluating the importance of looks, of popularity, of compassion, of empathy. He seems to present a realistic and thoughtful portrayal of life with a visual disability. I was cheering for Will as he grew out of his insecurities and self-centeredness, and for his friends as they rallied around him.
Josh Sundquist's debut novel Love and F1rst Sight is an enjoyable addition to this genre. Will Porter awkwardly begins his first year at a mainstream school, after going to schools for the blind his entire life. Struggling to be independent and to fit in, he is determined to succeed in the world of the sighted. When he becomes a candidate for an experimental surgery that would give him sight, his life changes in ways he hadn't imagined.
The strength of Sundquist's narrative is his ability to convey the experience of blindness. I am not blind. Neither is Sundquist. But I suspect he spent a lot of time with blind people learning about their lives, experiences, and sensory worlds. When Will gains his sight after the surgery, Sundquist's descriptions of Will's acclimating to sight captivated and moved me.
The weakness of Love and F1rst SIght is that it devolves into a very standard teen love, break up, and reunion story. Of course you want them to get back together, but that last stretch of the book leading up to the reunion is way too unrealistic, irresponsible, and easy for my taste.
Even though it turns into a cheesy love story, Love and F1rst Sight has plenty going for it. Sundquist puts teenagers in a position of evaluating the importance of looks, of popularity, of compassion, of empathy. He seems to present a realistic and thoughtful portrayal of life with a visual disability. I was cheering for Will as he grew out of his insecurities and self-centeredness, and for his friends as they rallied around him.
Monday, October 28, 2019
The Book of Strange New Things, by Michel Faber
In The Book of Strange New Things, Michel Faber explores territory that is not frequently explored in sci-fi. What happens when an alien race is introduced to the gospel? It's an intriguing thought to me as a Christian, and Faber does a workable job of telling the story of a Christian missionary sent to another planet.
Peter is chosen by USIC to travel to their base on Oasis, where they are laying the groundwork for a human colony. The native inhabitants of Oasis are sentient, primitive in their technology (similar to Earth's Stone Age people), and have established trade with the human colony. To Peter's surprise, they have already been exposed to the Bible and have requested a human pastor to teach them about "The Book of Strange New Things."
While Peter is establishing relationships with this eager flock, his wife sends him messages about the declining situation back on Earth, where major natural disasters and political and social turmoil are rapidly decaying the social and economic fabric. Peter finds himself distracted and torn between the two worlds. The distance between him and his wife grows.
For much of this mellow, uneventful novel, I thought Faber was working up to some major conflict. Will Earth simply destroy itself, leaving the humans on Oasis as the last of their kind? Will the peaceful Oasis natives turn out to have some nefarious agenda? Will Peter go nuts? There are nudges in all of these directions, but ultimately the novel stays sort of boring. And maybe that's Faber's point.
There are lots of story-telling opportunities that go wasted. There are lots of theological explorations that go untouched. There are questions of cultural exchange and understanding that are only hinted at. It makes for a bland novel with an interesting premise.
Peter is chosen by USIC to travel to their base on Oasis, where they are laying the groundwork for a human colony. The native inhabitants of Oasis are sentient, primitive in their technology (similar to Earth's Stone Age people), and have established trade with the human colony. To Peter's surprise, they have already been exposed to the Bible and have requested a human pastor to teach them about "The Book of Strange New Things."
While Peter is establishing relationships with this eager flock, his wife sends him messages about the declining situation back on Earth, where major natural disasters and political and social turmoil are rapidly decaying the social and economic fabric. Peter finds himself distracted and torn between the two worlds. The distance between him and his wife grows.
For much of this mellow, uneventful novel, I thought Faber was working up to some major conflict. Will Earth simply destroy itself, leaving the humans on Oasis as the last of their kind? Will the peaceful Oasis natives turn out to have some nefarious agenda? Will Peter go nuts? There are nudges in all of these directions, but ultimately the novel stays sort of boring. And maybe that's Faber's point.
There are lots of story-telling opportunities that go wasted. There are lots of theological explorations that go untouched. There are questions of cultural exchange and understanding that are only hinted at. It makes for a bland novel with an interesting premise.
Friday, October 25, 2019
The Law, by Frederic Bastiat
Frederic Bastiat's The Law, first published in 1850, should be on the required reading list of all lawmakers and bureaucrats in the federal government. It's a short read, not much longer than an in-depth magazine article. But it packs a real punch in its criticism of the expansion of government power.
Central to Bastiat's argument is a criticism of "legal plunder." How do we recognize legal plunder? "See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime."
The whole idea of socialism is based on these premises: "the total inertness of mankind, the omnipotence of the law, and the infallibility of the legislature." If these premises are true, socialism might be viable. But none of the three are true, thus socialism is inevitably disastrous. Socialists' rejection of free choice and reliance on legislative lead down the road to communism.
The Law alone may not be enough to convince a socialist-leaning politician to change her ways, but there is enough material in this short book to provide a critic of socialism with lots of ammunition. There are plenty of inexpensive editions. Buy them in bulk and pass them around to your favorite policy maker or politician.
Central to Bastiat's argument is a criticism of "legal plunder." How do we recognize legal plunder? "See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime."
The whole idea of socialism is based on these premises: "the total inertness of mankind, the omnipotence of the law, and the infallibility of the legislature." If these premises are true, socialism might be viable. But none of the three are true, thus socialism is inevitably disastrous. Socialists' rejection of free choice and reliance on legislative lead down the road to communism.
The Law alone may not be enough to convince a socialist-leaning politician to change her ways, but there is enough material in this short book to provide a critic of socialism with lots of ammunition. There are plenty of inexpensive editions. Buy them in bulk and pass them around to your favorite policy maker or politician.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Free to Believe, by Luke Goodrich
Questions of religious freedom show up in the news from time to time. Depending on the sources you read, you can be forgiven for believing that religious freedom for Christians in America is under assault. Luke Goodrich, a lawyer for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, has been at the forefront of many high-profile religious liberty cases, including some he has argued--and won--at the U.S. Supreme Court. He is perfectly suited for bringing an informative and realistic assessment of the state of religious liberty in America in Free to Believe: The Battle Over Religious Liberty in America.
I appreciate Goodrich's level-headed, practical approach to the subject. Too often, coverage of the religious liberty culture wars is strong on emotional appeal, weak on constitutional treatment. The emphasis is riling people up, whether for fund raising or simply to stir up emotions. Goodrich clarifies that sometimes the issues are more nuanced than they appear, and reassures readers that religious liberty in American may not be as fragile as the popular conservative Christian press implies.
To Goodrich, "religious freedom means the government, within reasonable limits, leaves religion alone as much as possible." He writes that religious freedom "is worth protecting because it benefits society, protects our other rights, and is a fundamental human right." Christians today readily acknowledge the history and importance of religious freedom in America, but most have a harder time coming to grips with the fact that "for the first time in American history, common Christian beliefs are view as incompatible with the prevailing culture."
As Goodrich looks at hot-button issues like abortion, gay rights, and Muslim influence, he promotes the model of the conscientious objector. Just as certain religious groups have won the right not to enlist in the military due to their religious objections, so should conscientious objectors have the right not to act in other ways that violate their religious principles. So Christians (and other objectors) should not be required to participate in medical procedures like abortion. They should have the option not to provide services for same-sex weddings. But many cases Goodrich discusses involve the Christians for who conscientious objection was not an option.
Goodrich brings a solid evangelical perspective, informed, first-hand experience with the cases, and a broad view of our diverse society. He reminds Christians to take a deep breath and recognize the expansive freedom we enjoy in the U.S. He reminds Christians that religious freedom for other faith groups can open the door to evangelism. He reminds Christians that sometimes "we are called not to 'win' but to be like Christ. That means we expect suffering, respond with joy, fear God, strive for peace, keep doing good, love our enemies, and care for one another in suffering." He sets exactly the right tone and makes me glad he's out there, defending religious freedom for all of us.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
I appreciate Goodrich's level-headed, practical approach to the subject. Too often, coverage of the religious liberty culture wars is strong on emotional appeal, weak on constitutional treatment. The emphasis is riling people up, whether for fund raising or simply to stir up emotions. Goodrich clarifies that sometimes the issues are more nuanced than they appear, and reassures readers that religious liberty in American may not be as fragile as the popular conservative Christian press implies.
To Goodrich, "religious freedom means the government, within reasonable limits, leaves religion alone as much as possible." He writes that religious freedom "is worth protecting because it benefits society, protects our other rights, and is a fundamental human right." Christians today readily acknowledge the history and importance of religious freedom in America, but most have a harder time coming to grips with the fact that "for the first time in American history, common Christian beliefs are view as incompatible with the prevailing culture."
As Goodrich looks at hot-button issues like abortion, gay rights, and Muslim influence, he promotes the model of the conscientious objector. Just as certain religious groups have won the right not to enlist in the military due to their religious objections, so should conscientious objectors have the right not to act in other ways that violate their religious principles. So Christians (and other objectors) should not be required to participate in medical procedures like abortion. They should have the option not to provide services for same-sex weddings. But many cases Goodrich discusses involve the Christians for who conscientious objection was not an option.
Goodrich brings a solid evangelical perspective, informed, first-hand experience with the cases, and a broad view of our diverse society. He reminds Christians to take a deep breath and recognize the expansive freedom we enjoy in the U.S. He reminds Christians that religious freedom for other faith groups can open the door to evangelism. He reminds Christians that sometimes "we are called not to 'win' but to be like Christ. That means we expect suffering, respond with joy, fear God, strive for peace, keep doing good, love our enemies, and care for one another in suffering." He sets exactly the right tone and makes me glad he's out there, defending religious freedom for all of us.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Monday, October 21, 2019
The Volunteer, by Jack Fairweather
This story is almost too crazy-sounding for real life. After the Nazi invasion of Poland, Witold Pilecki, a Polish military officer turned resistance fighter, volunteered to allow himself to be arrested so that the Nazis would send him to Auschwitz. Jack Fairweather tells Pilecki's story in The Volunteer: One Man, an Underground Army, and the Secret Mission to Destroy Auschwitz.
Taking a false identity, Pilecki was taken to Auschwitz, along with other political prisoners. At first, ethnic Poles, resistance fighters, and other political prisoners populated the camp. Although it was not yet a death camp, conditions were terrible and prisoners were treated brutally. Pilecki immediately began building a resistance network within the camp, seeking ways to bring the camp down and to get messages about the camp to the outside world.
During his stay at Auschwitz, the Nazis began experimenting with more efficient ways to kill prisoners. They developed the gas chambers and were constantly tweaking the methods of killing and disposing of the bodies. Auschwitz became less a camp for political prisoners and more and more a death camp for the extermination of the Jews.
Pilecki did manage to send reports through various means, but the stories that he and others were telling about Auschwitz and the Nazi's extermination plans in general were too unbelievable. It took a while for other nations' leaders to fully grasp that the numbers reporting the killing of the Jews were not exaggerated. The scope and scale of the Final Solution seemed beyond belief.
The Volunteer gathers first-hand accounts and presents a vivid history of Auschwitz, recording Pilecki's remarkable brilliance and bravery, as well as the hardships he suffered. For decades, his story went untold. After the Nazis lost the war, the Soviets took over. Resistance fighters like Pilecki were no happier with the Soviets' harsh rule than they were with the Nazis, so he continued to fight, and his story was silenced. Only after the fall of the USSR did his story come out.
I love the way Fairweather personalizes Pilecki's story, bringing it to life from a wide array of original source materials. Should my home country ever be invaded, I can only hope that many would have the guts and resourcefulness demonstrated by Witold Pilecki.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Taking a false identity, Pilecki was taken to Auschwitz, along with other political prisoners. At first, ethnic Poles, resistance fighters, and other political prisoners populated the camp. Although it was not yet a death camp, conditions were terrible and prisoners were treated brutally. Pilecki immediately began building a resistance network within the camp, seeking ways to bring the camp down and to get messages about the camp to the outside world.
During his stay at Auschwitz, the Nazis began experimenting with more efficient ways to kill prisoners. They developed the gas chambers and were constantly tweaking the methods of killing and disposing of the bodies. Auschwitz became less a camp for political prisoners and more and more a death camp for the extermination of the Jews.
Pilecki did manage to send reports through various means, but the stories that he and others were telling about Auschwitz and the Nazi's extermination plans in general were too unbelievable. It took a while for other nations' leaders to fully grasp that the numbers reporting the killing of the Jews were not exaggerated. The scope and scale of the Final Solution seemed beyond belief.
The Volunteer gathers first-hand accounts and presents a vivid history of Auschwitz, recording Pilecki's remarkable brilliance and bravery, as well as the hardships he suffered. For decades, his story went untold. After the Nazis lost the war, the Soviets took over. Resistance fighters like Pilecki were no happier with the Soviets' harsh rule than they were with the Nazis, so he continued to fight, and his story was silenced. Only after the fall of the USSR did his story come out.
I love the way Fairweather personalizes Pilecki's story, bringing it to life from a wide array of original source materials. Should my home country ever be invaded, I can only hope that many would have the guts and resourcefulness demonstrated by Witold Pilecki.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Friday, October 18, 2019
The Theft of America's Soul, by Phil Robertson
Phil Robertson is reliably funny and faithful. As the star of the show "Duck Dynasty" he brought his humor, faith, family, and, of course, his love of duck hunting into America's living rooms. In The Theft of America's Soul: Blowing the Lid Off the Lies That Are Destroying Our Country, he calls on the rest of the country to reject the lies of the devil and turn to God.
Robertson doesn't abandon his good humor and goofiness, even in this book about some very serious topics. For example, in a passage about his love of a strong cup of coffee, he writes, "one of the primary lies that threatens to steal the soul of America is this: European-named, lightly-tinted brown water filled with sugar and topped with whipped-cream swirl is the same thing as coffee." I would imagine a lot of coffee drinkers will drink to that!
Most of the book is deadly serious. I got a couple of impressions about Robertson and his faith. First of all, he is passionate about sharing Jesus with people. He is very open about his own wayward years. He grew up in church, but without really knowing Jesus. He got married young, and spent a lot of years drinking and whoring (his word). After his wife left him and his life hit bottom, he turned to God and became a passionate preacher. He doesn't miss many opportunities to spread the gospel.
The second impression sprouts from the first. Given his journey into faith, he tends toward a legalistic faith. Yes, he's calling people to turn to God and trust Jesus, but places a lot of emphasis on turning from sin. Even as I write that, I think, "Well, that's the gospel." To Robertson, it seems like he reverses the order: stop your sinful ways, then trust Jesus, placing the emphasis on the repentance and actions of the sinner. I think more in terms of: trust Jesus, then you will stop your sinful ways, placing the emphasis on the grace and power of God. I'm probably splitting hairs here. I think I just want to understand the strong legalistic streak I see in Robertson's writing.
I certainly am not faulting him for his passion for other people to know Jesus. He writes about preaching in the toughest prison in Louisiana, as well as sharing the gospel message with President Trump. There aren't many people who can communicate effectively across demographic groups the way Robertson can! Praise God that he has used his fame and media platform to consistently preach the gospel, even when it costs him.
If you enjoy "Duck Dynasty" you will certainly love The Theft of America's Soul. It's Robertson at his most passionate. Even if you're not a fan (I have never seen an episode), you will be challenged by Robertson's message that our nation needs to turn to God. His is a solid, common-sense, God-centered message.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Robertson doesn't abandon his good humor and goofiness, even in this book about some very serious topics. For example, in a passage about his love of a strong cup of coffee, he writes, "one of the primary lies that threatens to steal the soul of America is this: European-named, lightly-tinted brown water filled with sugar and topped with whipped-cream swirl is the same thing as coffee." I would imagine a lot of coffee drinkers will drink to that!
Most of the book is deadly serious. I got a couple of impressions about Robertson and his faith. First of all, he is passionate about sharing Jesus with people. He is very open about his own wayward years. He grew up in church, but without really knowing Jesus. He got married young, and spent a lot of years drinking and whoring (his word). After his wife left him and his life hit bottom, he turned to God and became a passionate preacher. He doesn't miss many opportunities to spread the gospel.
The second impression sprouts from the first. Given his journey into faith, he tends toward a legalistic faith. Yes, he's calling people to turn to God and trust Jesus, but places a lot of emphasis on turning from sin. Even as I write that, I think, "Well, that's the gospel." To Robertson, it seems like he reverses the order: stop your sinful ways, then trust Jesus, placing the emphasis on the repentance and actions of the sinner. I think more in terms of: trust Jesus, then you will stop your sinful ways, placing the emphasis on the grace and power of God. I'm probably splitting hairs here. I think I just want to understand the strong legalistic streak I see in Robertson's writing.
I certainly am not faulting him for his passion for other people to know Jesus. He writes about preaching in the toughest prison in Louisiana, as well as sharing the gospel message with President Trump. There aren't many people who can communicate effectively across demographic groups the way Robertson can! Praise God that he has used his fame and media platform to consistently preach the gospel, even when it costs him.
If you enjoy "Duck Dynasty" you will certainly love The Theft of America's Soul. It's Robertson at his most passionate. Even if you're not a fan (I have never seen an episode), you will be challenged by Robertson's message that our nation needs to turn to God. His is a solid, common-sense, God-centered message.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)