Sixth Column / The Day After Tomorrow by Robert A Heinlein - Book Review

Title: Sixth Column (aka The Day After Tomorrow)
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Pages: 144
Publisher: Signet Publishing (New York) 1949

Review:

Nothing makes things more fun when reading a book than when that book has a great albeit confusing history. First the book has two titles 1) Sixth Column and 2) The Day After Tomorrow. It was originally published as a serial in pulp publications in 1941. Later it was put into novel form and published in full in 1949. The original backdrop for this story was the communist rebellion of China and the historical prediction that all Asians would unite under one flag to take over the world.

The basic plot is that the Pan Asians have indeed conquered America and subjugated the entire country. Major Ardmore assumes command of the last US military post: The Citadel an underground secret base in Colorado which only has five men left. His plan is to drive the invaders out and he gets unexpected help in that some of the scientists have discovered a unified theory of physics that allow them to do 'miraculous' things. Using the only thing the invaders have left free; the free exercise of religion, they create the cult of Mota, which allows them to work fairly freely to build a sixth column that eventually starts a rebellion against the Pan Asians.

The book explores what would you do if a sudden major technological advance allowed you to kill discriminately, lift heavy objects, cure disease, trans mutate any material to another material (lead to gold), etc. The added twist of leading a rebellion starting with six people against the whole invading force is a good angle as well. The only problem the rebels face is the limited availability of the technology.

The use of religion in the book is heavy and Heinlein sets some of his original observations about religion as a whole in this book. The book also has race as a heavy theme although both sides are racist by modern standards. Heinlein's politics also come through as the army maintains its mission with out a working government because they exist to defend and preserve the constitution. Once done the plan is to restore representative government.

Rating: Three and three quarter stars. Even Heinlein himself did not like this one overly well as he considered it a 'non-artistic success'. For me, the religious being combined with the scientific as an interesting angle, but some of the technology advances are way out there. It is still a good read if you like Heinlein as his style is still very much there.

The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction by Philip Athans - Book Review

Title: The Guide to Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction
Author: Philip Athans
Pages: 244
Publisher: Adams Media (Avon, Mass.) 2010

Review:

Every once an a while, I buy a book on writing and read it to see if it has any good advice on bringing me out of the realm of writer obscurity into published bliss. Being both a fantasy and science fiction fan, I thought this one would be good read seeing it was written by an editor and writer of both genres. The book also promises an introduction and original story by R.A Salvatore a fantasy writer known for his work with the Forgotten Realms books connected with Dungeons and Dragons. The book promises six steps to writing and publishing your bestseller.

The book is laid out according to those six steps: Storytelling, Characters, The World, Details, Nuts and Bolts and Finishing Touches. There is also a section on the business side of writing as well as an original short story by Salavore that has never been published before to illustrate what the author is talking about as an example. Each part has several chapters and covers both fantasy literature and science fiction.

Stylistically, the chapters are short and focus the writer on asking questions and Athans tries to get the writer to think of everything and goes through much of the process of writing: from idea generation to final touches for each genre. He also give an insider's view from an editors point of view of what he is looking for when a book crosses his eyes.

From an information standpoint, this was a great insiders viewpoint that allows a writer to see what editors are looking for in a book and makes note that in the two genres involved people are looking for different and unique ways of doing things and writing a story. If there is a failure in it it is that the chapters do not go into super depth but the hit the intermediate and basic levels.

The bonus story is one for which Salavore had a rejection and both he and Athans look at it to see how things work and don't work.

Rating: 4 stars. This is a solid book on writing science fiction and fantasy books with an eye toward publication. The chapters are short and the read is engaging. If your looking for an insider's view on how to get published in the genres of science fiction and/or fantasy this is it. The bonus story is OK as well.

Red Planet by Robert Heinlein - Book Review

Title: Red Planet
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Pages: 229
Publisher Ballantine Books (New York: 1949)

Review:

When it was first published in 1949, Heinlein's editor tore large chunks out of it to make it able to fit on a public middle school library shelf. In so doing, the book was stripped of much of its Heinlein charm. In 1992, after Heinlein's death the book was re-published with the edits restored. I have read both versions and let me tell you I like the one that is restored much better. The third of Heinlein's juvenile books, it remains a classic.

When Heinlein wrote this book in 1949, Mars was an very much unknown place. It had canals and the possibility of life much like our own. It remained a science fiction paradise and playground for many years and in many ways still does. In Heinlein's Mars, there is life, Martians, canals and water. It has an almost fantasy quality.

The central plot of Red Planet centers around two teenage boys who discover a plot against the colonists of Mars by the company government. Through their actions with a little help from the Martians (in particular, a Martian bouncer 'pet' named Willis) they are able to help save the day. It is a solid adventure story and has some interesting twists and turns.

The romance of being a human colonist on another planet is the driving force of this book. The colonists are free people with a great deal of liberty and aim to stay that way. Heinlein explores the nature of some of the difficulties of colonizing another world both from a technological point of view and from a diplomatic point of view. The most charming part of this book is of course the Martians. They are truly different from humans and it is this large difference that makes the struggle even more interesting.

The style (once the edits are put back in) is very Robert Heinlein. Fierce loyalty to individual liberty, an understanding of the science of colonization and realistic characters are distinctive Heinlein traits in this book.

Rating: 4 stars. While not my favorite of Robert's juvenile books, it is extremely well done and merits a read. Just make sure you get a copy published after 1992; it is much better.

God of the Possible by Greg A Boyd - Book Review

Title: God of the Possible
Author: Greg A. Boyd
Pages: 175
Publisher: Baker Book House (Grand Rapids, Michigan) 2000

Review:

Someone once asked me if there was an "Open Theism for Dummies" to read. Yes, this is it. Greg Boyd is probably the person most responsible for getting the message of open theism out there and this is the book that has done most of the work. It is and will be regarded a classic among the open theist community of theologians.

God of the Possible is a book that addresses the fundamental questions of God's foreknowledge. It has one of those questions across the top: Does God Ever Change His Mind?. Boyd, through this book attempts to take on this question and at the same time presents the basics of what has become known as the open view of God's foreknowledge.

The book is divided into sections. In the first, Boyd presents the classic view of foreknowledge and the Bible verses that support it and why he feels they are wrong. In the second, he then presents the case for the open view and the Scripture that supports it. In the third section, he presents the practical advantages of the open view as compared to the classic view. In the forth section he answers common questions and objections to the open view. There is also an appendix with further verses that support the open view as well as a solid index.

Boyd has a couple of key objectives that he states in his introduction: 1) to present the open view relying as much as possible on the Biblical support and 2) to present this in a easy to read and understand book. He succeeds on both counts. While there is some reasoning and philosophical arguments, the main appeal is to the direct wording of Scripture. It is also an easy to read book.

Rating: Four and a half stars. I like books like this. Make your case, use the Bible and do it in a way that everyone can understand it. If you are looking for an introduction to the open view of God's foreknowledge and want it in plain language - this is it.