The Book of Strange New Things

author: Michel Faber

name: Wayne

average rating: 3.89

book published: 2014

rating: 0

read at: 2014/11/24

date added: 2014/11/24

shelves:

review:

'The Book of Strange New Things' by Michel Faber will be viewed as some as an SF book, but it's only got those trappings to tell an older type of story, the missionary journey far from home. It's a good story and written very well.



Peter is married to Bea and they have a church in England. Peter has been accepted by USIC as a pastor on one of their missions. The mission is far away from home in another galaxy with a group on aliens. He can communicate with his wife over the distance, but it can take time. This plays into the story. Peter meets the aliens who are very receptive to him and his ideas. They call his Bible "The Book of Strange New Things" and before long, he's decided to live among them, which will make communications with home even tougher since there is none among the aliens.



Meanwhile, at home, Peter's wife Bea is reporting things in a steady decline. Her messages to Peter are more desperate. As Peter's faith seems better than ever, Bea's seems to be in decline.



Then there are the strangely passive people Peter meets on the base. They seem picked for their ingenuity and blandness.



There are other mysteries, but I'll leave them for the reader to discover. It's a well written book, with a good main character stuck in a strange new situation. If you're expecting a hardcore SF, look elsewhere, but if the premise intrigues, you're in for an interesting ride.



I received a review copy of this ebook from Crown-Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.





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