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A review by slow_spines
The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber
adventurous
fast-paced
3.25
This is a compelling book which I found myself easily reading in lengthy stints.
Peter is on a mission from God, to preach the Good News to the inhabitants of a distant planet, Oasis. He leaves behind his partner, Bea, who finds her life getting increasing difficult. Why was he chosen? Why wasn't Bea? What do the Oasans want from from the Bible, the book they call The Book of Strange New Things?
I found the language of the Peter and Bea a bit sickly sweet for my tastes, a pair of "my love"/"my darling" Christians. Fortunately, there is an unexpected but welcome horniness to the book. Welcome for obvious reasons, but it also humanises Peter in an unexpected way - Christians are supposed to be asexual, aren't they? Its also the only real trait that I could cling onto for empathy. He feels like a caricature: seeing the best in everyone, never taking the lords name in vain, is diligent, caring, a bit wet behind the ears. Not irritating, just a bit...bleurgh. Bea is the more interesting and human character, and its a shame we didn't spend more time inside her head.
The world building was good: the planet and its people were suitably and imaginatively alien. But this isn't Sci-Fi that revels in particulars. In just a few sentences, relativity is thrown out the window. Briskly paced, but not quick to give up answers. Those come in the galloping third act, and though they didn't come as much of a shock, I did find myself empathising with Peter more. His apparent naivety is revealed to instead be an act of superhuman will.
Peters unwavering belief is almost touching in that final act, but surely a pastor encountering an alien race is going to have some questions? If even Jesus had a moment of doubt then I think Peter could of afforded to have one. For a book about God, faith, love, alien intelligence and language it is disappointingly light. Not necessarily a bad thing, but definitely a missed opportunity.
The ending didn't work for me. Without spoiling anything, it felt both too neat and too unfinished (something I think could have been alleviated by wading into the themes a little deeper). Still, a fun read.
Peter is on a mission from God, to preach the Good News to the inhabitants of a distant planet, Oasis. He leaves behind his partner, Bea, who finds her life getting increasing difficult. Why was he chosen? Why wasn't Bea? What do the Oasans want from from the Bible, the book they call The Book of Strange New Things?
I found the language of the Peter and Bea a bit sickly sweet for my tastes, a pair of "my love"/"my darling" Christians. Fortunately, there is an unexpected but welcome horniness to the book. Welcome for obvious reasons, but it also humanises Peter in an unexpected way - Christians are supposed to be asexual, aren't they? Its also the only real trait that I could cling onto for empathy. He feels like a caricature: seeing the best in everyone, never taking the lords name in vain, is diligent, caring, a bit wet behind the ears. Not irritating, just a bit...bleurgh. Bea is the more interesting and human character, and its a shame we didn't spend more time inside her head.
The world building was good: the planet and its people were suitably and imaginatively alien. But this isn't Sci-Fi that revels in particulars. In just a few sentences, relativity is thrown out the window. Briskly paced, but not quick to give up answers. Those come in the galloping third act, and though they didn't come as much of a shock, I did find myself empathising with Peter more. His apparent naivety is revealed to instead be an act of superhuman will.
Peters unwavering belief is almost touching in that final act, but surely a pastor encountering an alien race is going to have some questions? If even Jesus had a moment of doubt then I think Peter could of afforded to have one. For a book about God, faith, love, alien intelligence and language it is disappointingly light. Not necessarily a bad thing, but definitely a missed opportunity.
The ending didn't work for me. Without spoiling anything, it felt both too neat and too unfinished (something I think could have been alleviated by wading into the themes a little deeper). Still, a fun read.