REVIEW:
An authoritarian government has enslaved Earth's population. A handful of
powerful law-giving profiteers have abolished all taxes! Sounds good, until one
learns that in exchange, one merely gets food and shelter. In engineering a
perfect society, the tyrants won't allow any power higher than themselves. No
one's allowed to judge earth's mortal judges, thus, religion may not be openly
practised. The Awakened, or believers in the Awakener (God), must meet
secretively. Against this backdrop of extreme Social Humanism, rumors of a
slave rebellion ripple through the narrator's home town of Belfast, Ireland. This
is the day for which everyone's longed. As the celebration begins, a bio-
engineered plague is unleashed by the tyrants. Intended to merely kill millions,
it spreads out of control and nearly wipes out the global population. Survivors
don't know why they've survived. They seek empty streets for signs of human
life, and for biological answers.
The tragic tale's told by Mariah, as she journals humanity's terrible fate,
recording history in the event that there are future generations left to read
her words. Bridges patiently intertwines the lives of two main characters, and
one must patiently read-on to discover why Mariah and Faith are on a spiritual
sojourn collision-course. Here is where the reviewer must make a confession:
the "Faith" chapters were skimmed over quickly to get to the interesting story
of Mariah. If the reader is a fan of cyber-punk and sci-fi, the preface of Faith
Awakened provides enough information to act as a plot spoiler.
Many Christians believe there will be a tech-breakdown as the end-of-days
approaches, and Biblical prophecy unfolds in space and time. Faith Awakened is
set in such a world. Even before the plague, the tyrants replace cars with
bicycles, and the rebellion is prepared to launch its own agricultural economy.
Post-plague, unmanned infrastructures collapse, and rusting technology sits
without sources of power.
The main idea Grace Bridges explores—in different ways—is man playing God.
Just how badly would we wreck things if global society is governed as though
humans were the highest power, the highest law-giver? Can technology
apprehend the Divine? How do we wrap our fallen finite minds around the
concept of heaven?
Biblical speculative fiction (sc-fi, fantasy, and spiritual thrillers), is the perfect
genre with which to explore big ideas. Spec-fic allows for the most creative
settings and characters with which to paint realistic social problems that have
theological consequences. This reviewer would like to see Bridges continue to
write and hone her sci-fi writing skills since she displays real talent.
An authoritarian government has enslaved Earth's population. A handful of
powerful law-giving profiteers have abolished all taxes! Sounds good, until one
learns that in exchange, one merely gets food and shelter. In engineering a
perfect society, the tyrants won't allow any power higher than themselves. No
one's allowed to judge earth's mortal judges, thus, religion may not be openly
practised. The Awakened, or believers in the Awakener (God), must meet
secretively. Against this backdrop of extreme Social Humanism, rumors of a
slave rebellion ripple through the narrator's home town of Belfast, Ireland. This
is the day for which everyone's longed. As the celebration begins, a bio-
engineered plague is unleashed by the tyrants. Intended to merely kill millions,
it spreads out of control and nearly wipes out the global population. Survivors
don't know why they've survived. They seek empty streets for signs of human
life, and for biological answers.
The tragic tale's told by Mariah, as she journals humanity's terrible fate,
recording history in the event that there are future generations left to read
her words. Bridges patiently intertwines the lives of two main characters, and
one must patiently read-on to discover why Mariah and Faith are on a spiritual
sojourn collision-course. Here is where the reviewer must make a confession:
the "Faith" chapters were skimmed over quickly to get to the interesting story
of Mariah. If the reader is a fan of cyber-punk and sci-fi, the preface of Faith
Awakened provides enough information to act as a plot spoiler.
Many Christians believe there will be a tech-breakdown as the end-of-days
approaches, and Biblical prophecy unfolds in space and time. Faith Awakened is
set in such a world. Even before the plague, the tyrants replace cars with
bicycles, and the rebellion is prepared to launch its own agricultural economy.
Post-plague, unmanned infrastructures collapse, and rusting technology sits
without sources of power.
The main idea Grace Bridges explores—in different ways—is man playing God.
Just how badly would we wreck things if global society is governed as though
humans were the highest power, the highest law-giver? Can technology
apprehend the Divine? How do we wrap our fallen finite minds around the
concept of heaven?
Biblical speculative fiction (sc-fi, fantasy, and spiritual thrillers), is the perfect
genre with which to explore big ideas. Spec-fic allows for the most creative
settings and characters with which to paint realistic social problems that have
theological consequences. This reviewer would like to see Bridges continue to
write and hone her sci-fi writing skills since she displays real talent.
SUMMARY:
Ireland as it has never been seen before – in a future where hope is hard to
come by. Mariah, living in the dark time after the advent of a one world
government, seeks the light in the underground Fellowship of the Awakened.
Shortly afterwards, nearly the whole earth is silenced, and she struggles
through the shock with a handful of survivors. Yet the danger has not passed
away entirely, and they are forced to fight for their lives using an untested
technology.
Faith, too, grows up in Ireland, but it has little in common with the homeland
Mariah knew. Sometimes she thinks her life is perfect, asking herself, “If this is
a dream, when am I going to wake up?” Other times it seems repetitive and
monotonous. She experiences much to delight her, but also suffers from
inexplicable bouts of amnesia that rob her of the past again and again. Seeking
answers, she travels much in the free world, where disappointments and
successes vie for the upper hand until she finally finds fulfillment in spite of all
her disasters.
Ireland as it has never been seen before – in a future where hope is hard to
come by. Mariah, living in the dark time after the advent of a one world
government, seeks the light in the underground Fellowship of the Awakened.
Shortly afterwards, nearly the whole earth is silenced, and she struggles
through the shock with a handful of survivors. Yet the danger has not passed
away entirely, and they are forced to fight for their lives using an untested
technology.
Faith, too, grows up in Ireland, but it has little in common with the homeland
Mariah knew. Sometimes she thinks her life is perfect, asking herself, “If this is
a dream, when am I going to wake up?” Other times it seems repetitive and
monotonous. She experiences much to delight her, but also suffers from
inexplicable bouts of amnesia that rob her of the past again and again. Seeking
answers, she travels much in the free world, where disappointments and
successes vie for the upper hand until she finally finds fulfillment in spite of all
her disasters.
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