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Books of the Underground #1
Flashpoint
Flashpoint is Biblical Cyberpunk set in the year 2036 and is the story of an alternative future where patriotism meets tyranny, the Patriot Act waxes Stalin-esque and the violence of terrorism has united the world. 2036 is the time of a central one-world the One-State. Fundamentalist terrorists are the One-State's only threat. This group includes Bible-believing Christians. When peacekeepers make a home-church bust in Ward-Six of the Chicago Metroplex, only Dave and Jen Williams evade capture. The siblings turn to the Body of Christ Underground for help, adopt street-names (Calamity Kid and e-girl) and slip between the cracks of the Chicago Metroplex. Calamity Kid and e-girl undergo technological re-formation that provides them with skills, knowledge and other abilities that allow them meet the gravest challenges facing Fundamentalist Christians and ultimately help them save their family, friends and neighbors before they're brainwashed, enslaved or worse by the One-State Neros.
216 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published June 1, 2007
4 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Frank Creed
10 books88 followersA novelist, housecatter, and founder of the Lost Genre Guild, Creed's publication credits include novel (Underground series: Flashpoint, War of Attrition, and Devil's Hit List), short story (in the Light at the Edge of Darkness anthology), and novella (in the Tales for the Thrifty Barbarian anthology), forms.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 31, 2007
This book ought to come with a warning like the one on amusement park rides. People with hypertension or heart problems should exercise extreme caution when reading Frank Creed's Flashpoint because it's an edge-of-your-seat, thrill-seeking, action-packed ride. Strap in, keep your limbs inside the vehicle, and hold on with white knuckles. Frank absolutely excels at action and he's chocked his under-200-page volume to the very brim with it. Excitement is an understatement. In fact, my old-fashioned, middle-aged brain could have used a little more contemplation to give me a chance to catch my figurative breath here and there.
I was reluctant to read this book at all because of the name of the genre. "Cyberpunk" sounds like something that would glorify cop-killing and gang-rape. Sorry, that's the image conjured by the word "punk". Adding "cyber" to it doesn't help because I know too many people who use "cyber" as a verb. To "cyber" means "to engage in cybersex". Probably not what everyone thinks when they hear it, and surely not a desired meaning in this case. I know it's not Frank's fault for either root in the compound. He didn't name the genre. I almost let those negative connotations in that word stop me from even trying this book. I'm glad I took the chance. Ignore the word, no matter what it makes you think, and just try the book anyhow.
While it appeals to all ages, Flashpoint will be highly appealing to anyone under thirty, and especially to those of the male persuasion. The Matrix has nothing on Flashpoint which Keanu Reeves couldn't easily surpass were he to play Frank's hero, Calamity Kid. In all fairness, I did feel that Flashpoint was slightly obsessed with descriptions of weapons, and being female, and not hip to weapons even in the present day, that wasn't my favorite aspect. I admit my eyes glazed over every now and then when extensive descriptions of the various high-tech, futuristic arsenals came up, which was kind of often. I suspect most guys would find this an asset rather than a drawback.
I was impressed with the theology and the depth of characters and situations. Even with so many weapons flying it makes your head spin, the battle was STILL in God's hands and Calamity Kid, the uber-hero, knows it. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he knows God is powerful enough to preserve him but sovereign enough that He doesn't have to do the bidding of His creation. Calamity is confident, but not in a stuck-up or superior way. This is not some canned Sunday School lesson with a Deus Ex Machina saving the day either. And furthermore, the good guys kick-butt throughout the entire volume, and yet they still manage to LOVE and even PRAY FOR some really nasty enemies. And speaking of enemies, yes, a good number of them are cooky-cutter bad guys (as is often the case with the average pawns of any dictator's army), but regardless of what it seems on the surface, the REAL battle is not against flesh and blood, and the REAL enemy is no comic-book caricature one can just swat with the newest weapon so everyone lives happpily ever after.
This is the best book I have read in years. And that is really saying something considering it's a dystopia. As a rule, I'm not fond of dystopian plotlines. I find them depressing and they usually run counter to my main motivation for reading, which is mental escape to a better world. You could not pay me any amount of money to visit Mr. Creed's version of the world in 2036. And yet, there was one very cool plot device which took the edge off all those horrors: Reformation. I don't have room here to elaborate. See my full review at http://cfvici.blogspot.com/2007_10_01...
There is also a free excerpt at www.frankcreed.com
HIGHLY recommeded
I was reluctant to read this book at all because of the name of the genre. "Cyberpunk" sounds like something that would glorify cop-killing and gang-rape. Sorry, that's the image conjured by the word "punk". Adding "cyber" to it doesn't help because I know too many people who use "cyber" as a verb. To "cyber" means "to engage in cybersex". Probably not what everyone thinks when they hear it, and surely not a desired meaning in this case. I know it's not Frank's fault for either root in the compound. He didn't name the genre. I almost let those negative connotations in that word stop me from even trying this book. I'm glad I took the chance. Ignore the word, no matter what it makes you think, and just try the book anyhow.
While it appeals to all ages, Flashpoint will be highly appealing to anyone under thirty, and especially to those of the male persuasion. The Matrix has nothing on Flashpoint which Keanu Reeves couldn't easily surpass were he to play Frank's hero, Calamity Kid. In all fairness, I did feel that Flashpoint was slightly obsessed with descriptions of weapons, and being female, and not hip to weapons even in the present day, that wasn't my favorite aspect. I admit my eyes glazed over every now and then when extensive descriptions of the various high-tech, futuristic arsenals came up, which was kind of often. I suspect most guys would find this an asset rather than a drawback.
I was impressed with the theology and the depth of characters and situations. Even with so many weapons flying it makes your head spin, the battle was STILL in God's hands and Calamity Kid, the uber-hero, knows it. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he knows God is powerful enough to preserve him but sovereign enough that He doesn't have to do the bidding of His creation. Calamity is confident, but not in a stuck-up or superior way. This is not some canned Sunday School lesson with a Deus Ex Machina saving the day either. And furthermore, the good guys kick-butt throughout the entire volume, and yet they still manage to LOVE and even PRAY FOR some really nasty enemies. And speaking of enemies, yes, a good number of them are cooky-cutter bad guys (as is often the case with the average pawns of any dictator's army), but regardless of what it seems on the surface, the REAL battle is not against flesh and blood, and the REAL enemy is no comic-book caricature one can just swat with the newest weapon so everyone lives happpily ever after.
This is the best book I have read in years. And that is really saying something considering it's a dystopia. As a rule, I'm not fond of dystopian plotlines. I find them depressing and they usually run counter to my main motivation for reading, which is mental escape to a better world. You could not pay me any amount of money to visit Mr. Creed's version of the world in 2036. And yet, there was one very cool plot device which took the edge off all those horrors: Reformation. I don't have room here to elaborate. See my full review at http://cfvici.blogspot.com/2007_10_01...
There is also a free excerpt at www.frankcreed.com
HIGHLY recommeded
Want to read
June 22, 2007Advance reviews can be found at http://www.frankcreed.com/flashpoint....
March 18, 2010
In a Christian literature scene chock-full of wistful romances, end-of-the-world tracts, and allegorical sword and dragon fantasies, Frank Creed’s Flashpoint has staked out some unique territory with an adrenalin-saturated cyberpunk adventure that grabbed me by the lapels in the first few pages and didn’t let go until the very end, leaving me gasping for breath and wanting more.
We meet 20-year-old David and his teenage sister Jen in a near-future Chicago where economic and environmental disasters have turned the U.S. into a socialist nanny state, vassal to a global government. Traditional religion is seen as the root of all evil, and all faiths have been subsumed into the One Church, which claims to accommodate every belief under the aegis of science and reason. As the old saw goes, if you believe everything, you don’t believe anything. Anyone practicing their faith outside the One Church is labeled a “Fundi,” a terrorist, and subject to re-education in the state gulags.
David and his family are members of an underground church that still follows the Christian faith. Discovering that they’ve been betrayed and are about to be rounded up by the authorities, David’s father drops the two kids at a hide site partially obscured from the government’s pervasive electronic surveillance, promising they’ll be taken by friends to a safe place. The cops aren’t fooled for long, and just as David has given up hope, he and his sister are rescued in spectacular fashion by a mysterious stranger with seemingly superhuman powers.
Before you can say, “Mona Lisa Overdrive,” David and Jen have been incorporated into “The Body,” a community of physically, mentally, and spiritually-enhanced Christians, and transformed with a technologically-enabled wetware upgrade that grants them access to the full potential of their bodies and minds. Taking on the street names Calamity Kid and e-girl, they join a guerrilla war against the oppression of the government and the One Church, racing against time to save their captured family. They quickly learn that they’re battling more than just human enemies, and that survival means learning to trust God in a whole new way.
Okay, synopsis complete. Putting on the reviewer hat now.
Creed’s Creed: This is a book that takes its Christianity very seriously. One true God, one true faith, one true Church (capital-C, the Church Universal). The story isn’t preachy, just forthright and honest. These characters have a very personal, dynamic encounter and ongoing relationship with God. For them to not want to talk about it or share it with others would be patently ridiculous. These are freedom fighters who do their best under incredibly trying circumstances to live Jesus’ command to love their enemies, no matter how hateful and despicable those enemies may be. They use non-lethal weaponry. They work to better the decayed environment they hide in, the communities of down-and-outers forgotten by the government and dominated by criminal gangs. They pray for guidance and struggle with their own imperfections.
Technology is Not the Devil: Unlike a lot of Christian lit, Flashpoint doesn’t treat technology as an evil force in and of itself. Quite the contrary. Creed handles tech as a gift from God that can do useful and amazing things in the right hands and with the proper motivation. David and Jen’s transformation, or “re-formation” echoes that of Neo in The Matrix, but doesn’t crib it. They gain enhanced abilities in the real world. Their brains are literally restructured–they move faster, think faster, gain enhanced senses and metabolic control, get a download of information critical to their new roles, and also obtain a window into spiritual reality. On the other hand, the re-formation process was one element of the story, as a Christian reader, that set me back a bit. It came off a little like Holy Ghost Baptism v2.0. You have to pity the poor schmucks who don’t get the treatment and still have to live by faith, without the spirit vision, audible-voice guidance, and killer martial-arts skills. I think Creed’s going for a metaphor about the Spirit-empowered life available to all believers here, but I can see how people might get the impression that a real connection with God is awaiting upgrade to the 3G network. One other issue that pushed my willing-suspension-of-disbelief button was David and Jen’s near-instantaneous transformation from bored suburban pre-adults to steely-eyed tech-commandos. Even with the upgrade, it seemed like their bodies and minds would have needed a little more training before they were capable of mixing it up with the bad guys at such a high proficiency level. That’s a minor gripe, though. If you’re willing to buy The Matrix, you can deal with this.
Talk the Talk: One of the things I loved about this story was the voice. Creed writes from David’s point-of-view, in first-person, which provides an immediacy and freshness to the whole experience. As per usual with a cyberpunk story, it’s chock-full of specialized slang and street patois that enhances the feeling of stepping into a dark, gritty, tech-saturated world. Everyone and everything has a name. The Christians all adopt street names for security reasons (a lot of them make the daily newscast of wanted criminals), and they’re all more-or-less descriptive of their function and/or personality, so in addition to Calamity Kid and e-girl, you get folks like Grandpa, Lightspeed, Tinker, and Serene. The bad guys are Neros if they’re government, and Capones if they’re gangsters. Even God takes on a few aliases, in a world where the story of Jesus has been propagandized into folklore: He’s Liberator, or more familiarly, The Boss (“…Capital He…and I don’t mean Springsteen.”) There’s kind of a comic book superhero vibe to it that is fun and helps keep the whole story lighthearted. One of my issues with cyberpunk (and Christian apocalyptic fiction) is that it tends to be incredibly gloomy, pessimistic, and depressing. Creed doesn’t fall into that trap. He never loses his sense of humor, even when surveying an all-too-plausible future world that, as several of the characters remark along the way, stinks. These Christians have an infectious joy that springs from their walk with God. They’re doing His will, and it’s so fulfilling that nothing else matters, not even being forced underground and hunted by the government.
The Usual Suspects: There’s a tendency in stories about a future underground Church to follow a formula based on current eschatological expectations. Creed remains doggedly unconventional. He doesn’t trot out the Rapture, or the Antichrist, or the Mark of the Beast. There’s a one-world government, but it’s shadowy. Everyone has an embedded ID chip, but it’s just another technological tool, not a one-way-ticket to damnation. There are angels, and demons, but they fight a mostly invisible battle of influence. The bad guys, even the worst of them, are seen as sinners in need of salvation, with a very real hope of redemption, and the Resistance evangelizes them even as it’s fighting them for survival–nobody proposes that it’s okay to send them straight to Hell because they’re minions of the Evil One. It would be unthinkable.
This book is a real page-turner, and you don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate the simple, full-throttle, guns-blazing fun of it. Buy it and enjoy, but as Bill Cosby says, if you’re not careful, you might learn something before you’re done.
We meet 20-year-old David and his teenage sister Jen in a near-future Chicago where economic and environmental disasters have turned the U.S. into a socialist nanny state, vassal to a global government. Traditional religion is seen as the root of all evil, and all faiths have been subsumed into the One Church, which claims to accommodate every belief under the aegis of science and reason. As the old saw goes, if you believe everything, you don’t believe anything. Anyone practicing their faith outside the One Church is labeled a “Fundi,” a terrorist, and subject to re-education in the state gulags.
David and his family are members of an underground church that still follows the Christian faith. Discovering that they’ve been betrayed and are about to be rounded up by the authorities, David’s father drops the two kids at a hide site partially obscured from the government’s pervasive electronic surveillance, promising they’ll be taken by friends to a safe place. The cops aren’t fooled for long, and just as David has given up hope, he and his sister are rescued in spectacular fashion by a mysterious stranger with seemingly superhuman powers.
Before you can say, “Mona Lisa Overdrive,” David and Jen have been incorporated into “The Body,” a community of physically, mentally, and spiritually-enhanced Christians, and transformed with a technologically-enabled wetware upgrade that grants them access to the full potential of their bodies and minds. Taking on the street names Calamity Kid and e-girl, they join a guerrilla war against the oppression of the government and the One Church, racing against time to save their captured family. They quickly learn that they’re battling more than just human enemies, and that survival means learning to trust God in a whole new way.
Okay, synopsis complete. Putting on the reviewer hat now.
Creed’s Creed: This is a book that takes its Christianity very seriously. One true God, one true faith, one true Church (capital-C, the Church Universal). The story isn’t preachy, just forthright and honest. These characters have a very personal, dynamic encounter and ongoing relationship with God. For them to not want to talk about it or share it with others would be patently ridiculous. These are freedom fighters who do their best under incredibly trying circumstances to live Jesus’ command to love their enemies, no matter how hateful and despicable those enemies may be. They use non-lethal weaponry. They work to better the decayed environment they hide in, the communities of down-and-outers forgotten by the government and dominated by criminal gangs. They pray for guidance and struggle with their own imperfections.
Technology is Not the Devil: Unlike a lot of Christian lit, Flashpoint doesn’t treat technology as an evil force in and of itself. Quite the contrary. Creed handles tech as a gift from God that can do useful and amazing things in the right hands and with the proper motivation. David and Jen’s transformation, or “re-formation” echoes that of Neo in The Matrix, but doesn’t crib it. They gain enhanced abilities in the real world. Their brains are literally restructured–they move faster, think faster, gain enhanced senses and metabolic control, get a download of information critical to their new roles, and also obtain a window into spiritual reality. On the other hand, the re-formation process was one element of the story, as a Christian reader, that set me back a bit. It came off a little like Holy Ghost Baptism v2.0. You have to pity the poor schmucks who don’t get the treatment and still have to live by faith, without the spirit vision, audible-voice guidance, and killer martial-arts skills. I think Creed’s going for a metaphor about the Spirit-empowered life available to all believers here, but I can see how people might get the impression that a real connection with God is awaiting upgrade to the 3G network. One other issue that pushed my willing-suspension-of-disbelief button was David and Jen’s near-instantaneous transformation from bored suburban pre-adults to steely-eyed tech-commandos. Even with the upgrade, it seemed like their bodies and minds would have needed a little more training before they were capable of mixing it up with the bad guys at such a high proficiency level. That’s a minor gripe, though. If you’re willing to buy The Matrix, you can deal with this.
Talk the Talk: One of the things I loved about this story was the voice. Creed writes from David’s point-of-view, in first-person, which provides an immediacy and freshness to the whole experience. As per usual with a cyberpunk story, it’s chock-full of specialized slang and street patois that enhances the feeling of stepping into a dark, gritty, tech-saturated world. Everyone and everything has a name. The Christians all adopt street names for security reasons (a lot of them make the daily newscast of wanted criminals), and they’re all more-or-less descriptive of their function and/or personality, so in addition to Calamity Kid and e-girl, you get folks like Grandpa, Lightspeed, Tinker, and Serene. The bad guys are Neros if they’re government, and Capones if they’re gangsters. Even God takes on a few aliases, in a world where the story of Jesus has been propagandized into folklore: He’s Liberator, or more familiarly, The Boss (“…Capital He…and I don’t mean Springsteen.”) There’s kind of a comic book superhero vibe to it that is fun and helps keep the whole story lighthearted. One of my issues with cyberpunk (and Christian apocalyptic fiction) is that it tends to be incredibly gloomy, pessimistic, and depressing. Creed doesn’t fall into that trap. He never loses his sense of humor, even when surveying an all-too-plausible future world that, as several of the characters remark along the way, stinks. These Christians have an infectious joy that springs from their walk with God. They’re doing His will, and it’s so fulfilling that nothing else matters, not even being forced underground and hunted by the government.
The Usual Suspects: There’s a tendency in stories about a future underground Church to follow a formula based on current eschatological expectations. Creed remains doggedly unconventional. He doesn’t trot out the Rapture, or the Antichrist, or the Mark of the Beast. There’s a one-world government, but it’s shadowy. Everyone has an embedded ID chip, but it’s just another technological tool, not a one-way-ticket to damnation. There are angels, and demons, but they fight a mostly invisible battle of influence. The bad guys, even the worst of them, are seen as sinners in need of salvation, with a very real hope of redemption, and the Resistance evangelizes them even as it’s fighting them for survival–nobody proposes that it’s okay to send them straight to Hell because they’re minions of the Evil One. It would be unthinkable.
This book is a real page-turner, and you don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate the simple, full-throttle, guns-blazing fun of it. Buy it and enjoy, but as Bill Cosby says, if you’re not careful, you might learn something before you’re done.
October 22, 2022
In the novel Flashpoint, Book 1 of the Underground, a possible future One World government is drawn in meticulous detail. Real Christians, which by now have gone underground, are labeled “Fundamental Terrorists.” These “Fundis,” when captured, are placed in a “re-education camp” for proper One World government realignment. Reconditioned into society by a mind-controlling chip and chemicals, they never again can think of becoming “Fundi.”
Two Christian teens, code-named e-girl and Calamity Kid, join the underground church and are given Mindware tech, a type of “superpower” in order to function with the group when a rescue attempt is mounted to recover their parents and the underground church cell they belonged to.
The Christian, dystopian backdrop comes way to close to home for this Reviewer. There is no heavy-handed preaching throughout the novel, but a little is present in a concise form to remind readers of the real world norm. As such, the story really grabbed my attention.
The only drawbacks found is the excessive amount of what I’m going to call “digital prose.” Don’t get me wrong, I believe this element is essential to the futuristic setting. But, there is a lot of it and it can be intrusive. It reminds me of the video game Fortnite in written form. There is also a good amount of hyperactive fight scenes, acrobatic flips, robotics, chatty banter, pop-out weaponry, and things attractive to martial arts enthusiasts.
Also, there is no blood or gore evident. As such, I recommend this story for those in search of good Christian fiction for some real-world escapism.
Two Christian teens, code-named e-girl and Calamity Kid, join the underground church and are given Mindware tech, a type of “superpower” in order to function with the group when a rescue attempt is mounted to recover their parents and the underground church cell they belonged to.
The Christian, dystopian backdrop comes way to close to home for this Reviewer. There is no heavy-handed preaching throughout the novel, but a little is present in a concise form to remind readers of the real world norm. As such, the story really grabbed my attention.
The only drawbacks found is the excessive amount of what I’m going to call “digital prose.” Don’t get me wrong, I believe this element is essential to the futuristic setting. But, there is a lot of it and it can be intrusive. It reminds me of the video game Fortnite in written form. There is also a good amount of hyperactive fight scenes, acrobatic flips, robotics, chatty banter, pop-out weaponry, and things attractive to martial arts enthusiasts.
Also, there is no blood or gore evident. As such, I recommend this story for those in search of good Christian fiction for some real-world escapism.
June 19, 2019
I wrote it!
April 26, 2010
If there is one thing that can be said about Flashpoint, it’s this is not your father’s Christian apocalyptic tale. This first book in Frank Creed’s series (the next book is coming out soon, I understand), introduces us to a world controlled by a group referred to as “One-State Neros.” This group attempts to subdue a rebel alliance of Christians who refuse to submit. It is into this group that Dave and Jen are thrown when their own church comes under attack and is captured.
But the world Dave and Jen find themselves in is nothing but unique. Reality finds enhancements with mind downloads, superhuman abilities, and fights that have a decidedly Matrix feel to them. Dave becomes Calamity Kid and Jen, E-girl as they take their places in this showdown and attempt to save their church family and parents from reformation by the Neros. What you end up with is a near-future world that is nevertheless significantly different, but very real.
The positives of this book are several. It has an originality few books have, especially in this sub-genre. The voice of the author itself is unique and compelling. The story and the world will keep you on your toes, and creates a very enjoyable ride through this intriguing world. If you like action, the book is packed with it. If you like cool abilities and science, this is for you. If you like all that with a dose of a distinctive Christian worldview, look no further.
But there are some areas a reader will need to be aware of going in. One, this book uses a lot of slang. If you have no idea what it means to slag something, that should give you an idea. I could usually figure out from context what the words meant, but even then, such terms tended to jerk me out of the story a bit until I became used to them, and I often had to recall what a specific term meant. Some terms I never was sure what they meant. The book is full of such slang, so if that kind of thing bothers you, take note and make your decision to read going in. If you’re comfortable with that level of current slang, then you should have no problem.
The other issue that jumped out at me is the overuse of metaphors. He uses them frequently. That is not always bad in itself, but frequently the metaphors caused me (and my wife and kids) to pause the story trying to figure out what he was trying to say with it, because it was a bit obscure. And a few times the metaphors simply felt too much, overdone to the point of not directly linking with the thought being conveyed. The story even ends on one such metaphor we had to stop and figure out.
If you like such metaphor puzzles, this will not bother you much. If you just want to read without having to pause and think about what was being said, it might be an issue for you. I personally didn’t mind them as much, but my kids and wife seemed to stumble over them more. We still enjoyed the story, however.
Due to the above, I sometimes had trouble following what was going on. I followed the basic plot all right, but in scenes I had this feeling of being a bit unsure if the picture in my head was what it should be, as if I might be missing something that would make it complete. Sort of like a puzzle with two or three pieces missing. I could make out the bigger picture, but I really would have liked to see it complete, and I’m not sure I did. But in fairness, I sometimes have trouble following narration/story with certain styles, and this felt that way to me. So it may be more me than the author on that point.
And any reader should know this is a Christian book. There is no attempt to claim it is anything but, yet some people may miss that point until they get to the first Bible verse mentioned in the text. They are sprinkled throughout. And while integrated well with the characters and the plot, those of the non-Christian variety, while appreciating the story itself, may find such things annoying. That said, I don’t find here an attempt to preach, even though one will find a point made here and there. But generally it is more a showing than a sermon.
Myself, I found the book to be enjoyable. If the above issues don’t bother you, I would certainly recommend the book. If they do give you pause, I would still recommend the book. I don’t think they make the story inaccessible, and while you may have to work more than you’d like, you’ll still find the ride enjoyable and interesting as I think there is a lot to be said for this author’s vision and execution. Despite the road bumps I had personally with it, I still am glad I read it and would recommend it to anyone desiring to live a very different life though interesting characters.
But the world Dave and Jen find themselves in is nothing but unique. Reality finds enhancements with mind downloads, superhuman abilities, and fights that have a decidedly Matrix feel to them. Dave becomes Calamity Kid and Jen, E-girl as they take their places in this showdown and attempt to save their church family and parents from reformation by the Neros. What you end up with is a near-future world that is nevertheless significantly different, but very real.
The positives of this book are several. It has an originality few books have, especially in this sub-genre. The voice of the author itself is unique and compelling. The story and the world will keep you on your toes, and creates a very enjoyable ride through this intriguing world. If you like action, the book is packed with it. If you like cool abilities and science, this is for you. If you like all that with a dose of a distinctive Christian worldview, look no further.
But there are some areas a reader will need to be aware of going in. One, this book uses a lot of slang. If you have no idea what it means to slag something, that should give you an idea. I could usually figure out from context what the words meant, but even then, such terms tended to jerk me out of the story a bit until I became used to them, and I often had to recall what a specific term meant. Some terms I never was sure what they meant. The book is full of such slang, so if that kind of thing bothers you, take note and make your decision to read going in. If you’re comfortable with that level of current slang, then you should have no problem.
The other issue that jumped out at me is the overuse of metaphors. He uses them frequently. That is not always bad in itself, but frequently the metaphors caused me (and my wife and kids) to pause the story trying to figure out what he was trying to say with it, because it was a bit obscure. And a few times the metaphors simply felt too much, overdone to the point of not directly linking with the thought being conveyed. The story even ends on one such metaphor we had to stop and figure out.
If you like such metaphor puzzles, this will not bother you much. If you just want to read without having to pause and think about what was being said, it might be an issue for you. I personally didn’t mind them as much, but my kids and wife seemed to stumble over them more. We still enjoyed the story, however.
Due to the above, I sometimes had trouble following what was going on. I followed the basic plot all right, but in scenes I had this feeling of being a bit unsure if the picture in my head was what it should be, as if I might be missing something that would make it complete. Sort of like a puzzle with two or three pieces missing. I could make out the bigger picture, but I really would have liked to see it complete, and I’m not sure I did. But in fairness, I sometimes have trouble following narration/story with certain styles, and this felt that way to me. So it may be more me than the author on that point.
And any reader should know this is a Christian book. There is no attempt to claim it is anything but, yet some people may miss that point until they get to the first Bible verse mentioned in the text. They are sprinkled throughout. And while integrated well with the characters and the plot, those of the non-Christian variety, while appreciating the story itself, may find such things annoying. That said, I don’t find here an attempt to preach, even though one will find a point made here and there. But generally it is more a showing than a sermon.
Myself, I found the book to be enjoyable. If the above issues don’t bother you, I would certainly recommend the book. If they do give you pause, I would still recommend the book. I don’t think they make the story inaccessible, and while you may have to work more than you’d like, you’ll still find the ride enjoyable and interesting as I think there is a lot to be said for this author’s vision and execution. Despite the road bumps I had personally with it, I still am glad I read it and would recommend it to anyone desiring to live a very different life though interesting characters.
July 10, 2013
In a not-too-distant future, the world is ruled by a One State government, the "One Church" movement is an apostate religion that is a tool of government, and real Christians have been labeled "Fundamentalist Terrorists" and have gone underground. If the government catches "Fundis," they place them in a brainwashing camp and "recondition" them for integration into society, rendering them semi-zombies with the aid of a mood-controlling computer chip and chemicals so they can never think of becoming a "Fundi" again.
In this book, two youngsters, codenamed e-girl and Calamity Kid, join the underground after their home church is raided by the government. They have to find out who gave them up, and where their parents are being held. With the help of "Mindwire" tech, they gain superpowers that help them in their search.
As Christian sci-fi and speculative fiction goes, this is well-told and the story is compelling. The jargon/figures of speech used in the narrative style can sometimes get a little intrusive, but I believe this is part of the atmosphere of the book and needs to be taken in stride. This story also has a lot of Jackie Chan/Jet Li style fight scenes, with acrobatic flips, double sword fights, robotic armor, and chatty/comic banter which I think is especially attractive to those who like martial arts and RPGs. By the way, there is no blood and gore, for those who might be wondering.
The Christian elements blend nicely into the storyline (no lengthy preaching), which is the way I think it should always be handled. Nevertheless, they are there, and designed to make readers think while they are being carried along for the ride. This is a good reason why I gave it this many stars.
The dystopian backdrop of this novel also hits way too close to home at times, drawing attention to changes in US and World politics that have only become more striking since this book was published. Science fiction can sometimes be prophetic, but we hope this book is not.
I recommend this one for those who have been searching for a good piece of Christian sci-fi to sink their teeth into.
In this book, two youngsters, codenamed e-girl and Calamity Kid, join the underground after their home church is raided by the government. They have to find out who gave them up, and where their parents are being held. With the help of "Mindwire" tech, they gain superpowers that help them in their search.
As Christian sci-fi and speculative fiction goes, this is well-told and the story is compelling. The jargon/figures of speech used in the narrative style can sometimes get a little intrusive, but I believe this is part of the atmosphere of the book and needs to be taken in stride. This story also has a lot of Jackie Chan/Jet Li style fight scenes, with acrobatic flips, double sword fights, robotic armor, and chatty/comic banter which I think is especially attractive to those who like martial arts and RPGs. By the way, there is no blood and gore, for those who might be wondering.
The Christian elements blend nicely into the storyline (no lengthy preaching), which is the way I think it should always be handled. Nevertheless, they are there, and designed to make readers think while they are being carried along for the ride. This is a good reason why I gave it this many stars.
The dystopian backdrop of this novel also hits way too close to home at times, drawing attention to changes in US and World politics that have only become more striking since this book was published. Science fiction can sometimes be prophetic, but we hope this book is not.
I recommend this one for those who have been searching for a good piece of Christian sci-fi to sink their teeth into.
Read
November 13, 2008I recommend this book. Not often does an author integrate Scripture into fiction in a way that does not belittle the Word of God or damage the fictive dream presented in the story. Frank Creed has created a world in which the reader can believe that the power of the Word is used by these fascinating and believable characters. The demonstration of faith is natural not contrived. Young believers, reading this futuristic tale, will witness Christians in action against foes that represent real opposition present in our world today.
November 18, 2012
Loved this novel. I heard Frank talking about a newer book on the podcast View From The. Bunker. Intrigued I started with book one in the series. I dabble in fiction writing and have been convicted of writing for the world. Frank has opened up a world to me that allows me to peruse my fiction writing within the fiction realm for Christians and others that does not come off with the typical formulaic approach where things are shoe-horned in to fit the formula. Fantastic read and great inspiration for this reader and aspiring writer.
August 3, 2009
Think of Frank Peretti meets William Gibson with a helping of The Matrix. This book thoroughly subverted my expectations and then blew my mind. It was huge fun, a fast read, thoroughly original characters and concepts, and ranks right up there with the best that happens to be both cyberpunk and Christian speculative fiction. Seriously, put this one right up there with "This Present Darkness" and lose no time adding it to your collection. You can thank me later.
September 30, 2007
I learned the craft--I wrote the dang thing, and today is its release date. *jumpin on da bed* I'm currently about 25k words into War of Attrition: Book two of the Underground.
Reviews are posted at frankcreed.com
Reviews are posted at frankcreed.com
July 26, 2013
A very good book with flash style and a lot of truth.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews