Fallen Host [Paperback]

Lyda Morehouse (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 7, 2002

An A.I. who dreams of Mecca...

A Warrior of God facing temptation...

A fallen angel ready to settle things once and for all...

Three participants engaged in a race for their own personal truths, linked in ways they can't begin to comprehend. Until the final, terrible day of revelation.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Within the network known as the LINK, the A.I. (artificial intelligence) that calls itself Page dreams of Mecca and struggles to discover the purpose of his existence. As Catholic priest and Vatican Inquisitor Emmaline McNaughten receives the dubious assignment of determining whether an A.I. possesses a soul, Morningstar, a fallen angel, searches the world for evidence of the antichrist. Set in a near-future of political chaos and technological tyranny, this tale of self-discovery and redemption by the author of Archangel Protocol intermingles metaphysical speculation, hard science, and sf intrigue with complex characters and a fast-paced plot. A good choice for most sf collections.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Morehouse follows the well-regarded Archangel Protocol (2001) with another cheeky send-up of apocalyptic Christianity (and Islam). As it opens, the fallen angel known as Morningstar comes to terms with Gabriel over what may be an impending battle. Certainly, the signs are right: human consciousness has merged electronically through the "Link," and religious affiliation--except in a newly resurgent, proudly atheist Russia--is mandatory. In Muslim countries the Koran is the law. Morningstar goes in search of an Antichrist even as the pope's emissary, American monsignor Emmaline McNaughten, tries to determine whether the world's two prime artificial intelligences, a male entity named Page and his female counterpart, the Dragon, have souls. Armageddon, sort of, looms, with Page holding the key to humanity's salvation. Page may be an Antichrist, for he is in rebellion against Mouse, his "Father." On the other hand, Mouse, inventor of the Link, is hardly divine. Many readers will cheer on this fast-paced, often abrasive satire as an alternative to the interminable Left Behind series. John Mort
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Roc (May 7, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451458796
• ISBN-13: 978-0451458797
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,121,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lyda Morehouse writes about what gets most people in trouble: religion and politics. Her first novel Archangel Protocol, a cyberpunk hard-boiled detective novel with a romantic twist, won the 2001 Shamus for best paperback original (a mystery award given by the Private Eye Writers of America), the Barnes & Noble Maiden Voyage Award for best debut science fiction, and was nominated for the Romantic Times Critic's Choice Award. She followed up Archangel Protocol with three more books in the AngeLINK universe: Fallen Host (Roc, 2002), Messiah Node (Roc, 2003), and Apocalypse Array (Roc, 2004). Apocalypse Array made the short list for the Philip K. Dick award. She lives in Saint Paul with her partner of twenty years and their amazingly adorable son, Mason.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Apocalyse Is Coming - Religion Runs the World - Scary Future, December 28, 2002

By 

Sires "I enjoy mysteries, historical and proc... (Chesapeake, OH, United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fallen Host (Paperback)

I closed this book with a silent moment of thanks to the founders of the United States who insisted on the separation of church and state. In Lyda Morehouse's dark, dystopic future religion causes more harm than the devil and the only freedom is to be outside of the law one way or another.

Told from multiple view points, that of Morningstar (Satan); Emmaline, a papal Inquisitor; and Page, an artificial intelligence, the reader is swept into a complex world of hackers, mutant creatures, musicians and organized crime. There are so called smart cookies that trigger personal hologramic advertisements, superstar fusion polka bands and the fabulous Dragon of the East. Themes from pagan myths twine through Christian and Muslim theology.

The author, Lyda Morehouse has an interesting web site in which she says that her first book, Archangel Protocol was written and rewritten over a period of years, this book was written in a relatively short period of time, but I definitely felt that this book was the more demanding of the two, chock full of pleasurable moments and treasures for the reader to discover.

Oh, yeah, and it's real scary. I'ver redicated myself to that Separation of Church and State thing.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another intriguing book, June 18, 2002

By 

Mfitz... "Mfitz..." (Cincinnati, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fallen Host (Paperback)

I just finished Fallen Host by Lyda Morehouse. This is her second novel and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It is as well writtin as the first and the ideas and plot are just as good, but I really disliked one of the three POV characters and it made it hard for me to relax into the book. I think you were supposed to like the woman, but I'm not sure. I found her abrasive, still that did not keep me from liking this book more than most.

How can you not get caught up in a book where the three main characters are - A self aware computer program who wants to make a pilgramage to mecca. -The devil, who just want God to admitt that making humans was a mistake. -And a female Catholic priest who was raised in a Chigago mob family (An interesting character even if I didn't like her as a person).

You don't see a plot like that everyday.

If you like a little something different in your SF you should love Morehouse. She makes you think, sets cliches on end and entertains all at the same time.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fallen Host Rises to Expectations, May 16, 2002

By 

Rosemary (Minneapolis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fallen Host (Paperback)

Lyda Morehouse's second book, FALLEN HOST, continues the story she began in ARCHANGEL PROTOCOL. What a story it is. Deftly weaving in enough information that you don't have to have read the first book (though why you wouldn't want to, I can't imagine), Ms. Morehouse takes us on a journey of possibilities.

The End Time is nearing and Morningstar, AKA the Devil, is determined to win this final battle. His search for the antichrist takes him from Manhattan to Tokyo and ultimately to Mecca. With a brief stopover in Hell.

Page, an artificial intelligence who dreams of Mecca, has his/her own struggle, coming to terms with existence in the absence of his/her `father'. He/she searches for atonement after betraying the man who wrote the program for the LINK-Angels.

Added to the mix is Emmaline the Inqusitor who is on a mission from the Pope to determine if the two artificial intelligences that exist in the world have souls. Some of her methods are unappreciated by the Vatican. She refuses to be pulled off the case and sets out on her own pilgrimage to find the truth.

The quests of these three characters intertwine, each reflecting the universal struggle of parent/child relations, making the right choices and finding one's role in the universe.

Utilizing in-depth research of the world's religions and today's technology, Ms. Morehouse has crafted a frighteningly believable forecast for Earth's future. Her characters, be they human, celestial or computer coded, are sympathetic, conflicted, and real.

FALLEN HOST will be flying off the bookshelves. If you're up for a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable read, stake out a copy for yourself. And while you're at it, you might as well pick up a copy of ARCHANGEL PROTOCOL. Word has it there will be two more books in the series and you'll want the complete set.