Customer Reviews

Infinite Space, Infinite God II

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Infinite Space Infinite God II is a compilation of 12 short stories which have both inherent science fiction and Catholic/Christian themes. It is similar to ISIG I but slightly different in that most of the stories focus on the individual. The editors state: "Institutions had let humankind down overall, so it was up to the individual..."

These are stories with Catholic characters and situations, most set far into the future, where Catholic priests are no longer limited to parishes on Earth, but are appointed to positions on other planets and in other solar systems. The people in the stories are not perfect but believable and well-developed characters who are presented with unusual sci-fi moral dilemmas.

I'm partial to time travel stories, so my favorite of the twelve is "The Ghosts of Kourion" by Andrew M. Seddon, about a widowed professor (Robert Cragg). After Professor Cragg tragically loses his wife and daughter, he travels back to 365 AD to the Greek city of Kourion. This is the ideal story to start off this book of short stories not only because of all the moral implications involved in time travel, but this emotional story captures the reader immediately.

The remaining stories include a tale about a nun who faces venomous snakes, a priest who battles aliens, a character who is genetically engineered and whose usefulness has ended, a clone named Lorraine and her friend, Father Markham, and much more. Although many of the stories have Catholicity woven throughout, this book is appropriate and fun reading for readers of all faiths.

Entertaining, well-written, ISIG II is filled with interesting characters and unique situations, beautiful imagery. ISIG II offers humor, sci-fi, Catholicity and suspense all in one book.

I highly recommend this entertaining book to everyone, especially to those who enjoy Catholic science fiction. It is an "Out of This World" treat!

Ellen Gable Hrkach

award-winning author

In Name Only

Recommendation: Average

Originality - 4/5

Writing Style - 3/5

Plot - 3/5

Characters - 3/5

Aesthetics - 4/5

A disappointing mix.

ISIG 2 is a collection of twelve short sci-fi stories written by (for the most part) Catholic writers and positively portraying Catholic characters (such as nuns and priests). The editor, Karina Fabian, provides three of the stories herself.

On the positive side, four out of the twelve stories are amazing. Andrew M. Seddon's "The Ghosts of Kourion", the volume's initial piece, is emotionally brilliant. It follows a time-traveling historian into the distant past, where he is forced to relive his own life's tragedy through the circumstances of a different era. "Otherworld" by Karina Fabian is imaginative, edgy, and poignant, as it brings us into the captivating world of online virtual reality. Alex Lobdell's "The Battle of the Narthex" features great characterization, speculation, and suspense as it follows an old soldier's assignment in guarding the awkward and unwanted prince. The story's supernatural ending is exceptionally chilling. Finally, "Tenniel" by Colleen Drippe is simply an example of fantastic story-telling. It is adventurous and provocative, showing us the hard decisions that a bishop has to make when he comes face to face with a brutal alien tyrant. Those are the positives and they are strong positives. Unfortunately, those four stories only represent a third of the book's content.

On the negative side, seven of the remaining twelve stories range from decent to hokey and the last story is a down-right chore to read. The seven all contain good writing and were somewhat enjoyable to read, but are lacking a bit in plot. They're not horrible. They're just not that great either.

The last story, "Dyads", by Ken Pick and Alan Loewen, has a fairly interesting story behind it, but has very little characterization and is so wordy, uses so much jargon, obscure language, and made-up terms, that it is actually difficult to read. The worst part about it is that this chore of a read makes up nearly twenty-five percent of the book's length. Eesh!

Finally, you also have to be careful about reading the editors' introductions to the stories. I found that these intros, while well-written and informative, often gave away the most surprising aspects of the story.

Over all, I'd say skip this volume were it not the four stories mentioned above. Recommendation: Average.

Infinite Space, Infinite God II is a collection of twelve stories that reject the "conventional wisdom" that Christianity is inherently irrational and anti-science, that a spacefaring mankind will shed its religion, like a butterfly discarding its chrysalis, and that any intelligent life we discover will not be religious in any meaningful sense.

Ultimately, though, these are stories about people-ordinary people of faith thrust into extraordinary situations. Their faith guides their actions, and it makes a difference in their world. It's a practical faith that guides them to serve others, sacrifice their own ambitions, and endure suffering with patience and hope.

This anthology is also unique in that it showcases the Christian faith from a Catholic point-of-view. This means that you will encounter a Church whose structure and practice remain intact and consistent into the future, adapting to change while tenaciously preserving and applying the lessons of its heritage. Human frailty and divine intervention meet in the act of prayer, and wonderful things happen.

I enjoyed this book very much. Rob and Karina Fabian have assembled a nice variety of imaginative tales, serious and lighthearted, introspective and action-packed, from near-space to the other side of the galaxy. Some could happen tomorrow, others are set thousands of years in the future. There's something for everybody here.

My favorites:

"The Ghosts of Kourion," by Andrew M. Seddon - A lovely, bittersweet story about a time-traveling researcher who discovers the difference between changing history and becoming part of it. I liked the way Seddon dispensed with all the usual tropes and paradoxes of time travel to focus on the human story at its core.

"Antivenin," by Karina Fabian - I'm a big fan of Ms. Fabian's Rescue Sisters stories, about a community of nuns performing search and rescue along the hazardous frontiers of interplanetary space. This time, we meet Sister Rita, an anomaly even within her order-a "dirtsider," raised on Earth, struggling to fit in, whose experience becomes vital when a simple space rescue is complicated by a very terrestrial threat. If you think the words "nun," "action," and "suspense" don't belong in the same sentence, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

"An Exercise in Logic," by Barton Paul Levenson - Sister Mary Julian must match wits and parse theology with stubborn aliens to prevent a planet-busting disaster. Levenson shows us that logic isn't necessarily the final answer to every dilemma, and gives us a strong, savvy heroine in Sister Mary Julian. He also pens my favorite line in this anthology: "You can't pray to your god in here! This is the Ecumenical Temple!"

"Tenniel," by Colleen Drippe - A moving, complex story set in a hostile world, a human colony that has collapsed into tribal barbarism. To prevent genocide, a Catholic bishop must engage in single combat with a vicious warlord, but how can committing sin serve God's purpose? Ms. Drippe doesn't provide any easy answers, but does provide a gripping tale with strong characters that showcases the challenge of evangelism on the frontier, where physical and spiritual threats go hand-in-hand, and martyrdom is the rule, not the exception.

I think Infinite Space, Infinite God II stacks up quite well against any collection of short spec-fic you're likely to find on the shelves this Christmas season. It would make a great gift for any science fiction fan on your list. This is a good read with a unique perspective and will linger in your mind a long time after you've finished it.

Way back in 2008, I reviewed Infinite Space, Infinite God, an anthology of science fiction centered on Catholicism. In some ways we cannot avoid comparing a second volume to the first. In fact, editors Karina and Robert Fabian do the same in the introduction when they point out that the first anthology had stories centering more on the Church as an institution. In this second book, the stories tended to focus more on individuals and their struggles, using Catholicism as the context through which we view them.

I found Infinite Space, Infinite God II to be a stronger set of stories overall and one that I could recommend unreservedly to non-Catholics because the overall themes ran strongly to a general science fiction theme rather than to faith. This is not to say that the stories don't address faith, but even for nonbelievers there is something interesting to be found in practically every one of them. The stories are imaginative and, although some are light-hearted, all of them lead readers to think about serious issues, as is the case with the best science fiction. I also especially enjoyed the way that each of them featured the Church which has adapted to the future but which never ignores or betrays her mission.

As before, I found each story introduction to be well written and interesting although, as before, I found there was a bit too much revelation about the story or what characters learned for my taste. I read most of them after I read the story as a result. However, this is an issue that I have come across in many anthologies and it is a matter of personal taste.

My favorite stories:

* The Ghosts of Kourion. This is a bittersweet tale of "what if" combined with time travel. The story's ending will have us all examining our own smallest deeds.

* Antivenin. I was on the edge of my seat as Sister Rita ran into worse and worse encounters in this "snakes on a spaceship" story. Riveting.

* Tenniel. A showdown of sorts from which it seems that no one can emerge victorious. And is victory always what we think it is?

* Dyads. This was my hands-down favorite. Not only was I fascinated by the alien culture, I was captivated by the brilliant translation of the Catholic faith into something that was equally alien but equally true, revealed by God. Also, I was riveted by the conundrums faced by the two faiths in resolving their problems.

I can't say nearly as much as I would like about these stories without giving away plots but these stories equal anything found in other science fiction anthologies. They are practically perfect in every way.

Looking for something new to read? New to science fiction? Consider an anthology such as Infinite Space, Infinite God II edited by Karina and Rob Fabian. Twelve short stories, each can excite the mind yet bring it to closure in one sitting. Read it on the bus or in-between classes. Do you find that you cannot sleep at night when reading a great novel because you want to keep reading until its end? Then read short stories: go to bed with your imagine satisfied and mind at rest.

Anthologies are great for book clubs too. Rather than progressing a few chapters per meeting, the club can complete entire stories together which leads to fuller, more dynamic discussions. This can be especially fun for a family book club, or mother-son/father-daughter reading duos. Caution is given that some stories may not be appropriate for younger gifted readers, and parents are particularly warned about the premise of the final story, Dyads, which blasphemes the sacred Trinity. It may be fiction, but (as the story Otherworld reminds us) our soul is very real, and we need be careful of the ideas allowed to enter our mind. Litland.com does not recommend this story. However, in contrast, the 11 stories preceding it have clear themes of virtue and character bringing all issues to a strong moral conclusion.

Stories included (with their primary virtue or character trait expressed):

The Ghosts of Kourion - compassion and conscientiousness

Antivenin -loyalty & courage

An Exercise in Logic - respect for others

Cathedral -- Truth

Otherworld - Right vs. Wrong

The Battle of the Narthex-- Honor

Tenniel -- Contrition

Tin Servants -- Patience

Basilica -- Good vs. Evil

Cloned to Kill -- Equality

Frankie Phones Home -- Responsibility

Dyads (none identified)

Final thoughts: Just because the stories have virtuous underpinnings, don't presume these are soft kiddie tales. These stories are core sci-fi taking the reader emotionally from apocalyptic doubt to Flash Gordon-like adventure. Some are thought provoking and some are just fun. Enjoy the trip!

It is always a delight to read the anthologies of Karina and Rob Fabian, an eclectic mix of thoughtful authors with faith and the universe there to see in every story. Here too, in the second volume of Catholic science fiction, there is a grand variety of styles and tales: never quite what you expect.

There's time travel with the paradox of unchangeable history, no matter how one man might wish it otherwise. An Earth-born space nun trying to measure up, and facing her darkest terrors. An expert in logic reasoning with aliens for the fate of a planet. A genetically-modified genius with a moral dilemma.

And so much more. Comedy, poignancy, surprising scenarios based on ingenious technical inventions, but above all, individual believers doing their best to face their challenges head-on in the way they think God wants them to. This isn't always positive; I was disturbed by the idea of the Pentecostal extremist terrorist in the final tale, however, its intense depth of setting and culture provide some redemption.

This is challenging reading, at times intellectual, at others plain rip-roaring adventure. If you take this journey, you won't come back the same--if you come back at all.

I've enjoyed both of the series, and was esp. impressed with the consistent quality of the second in the series. There are SF anthologies about seemingly everything, why not religion? Worth buying.

Nuns in outer space? Churches in virtual reality? Priests as robots? Sometimes the most unlikely pairings lead to the most interesting literary achievements. In INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD II, the creativity of science fiction is merged with the morality of Catholicism. The result is a collection of 12 short stories edited by the husband and wife team of Rob and Karina Fabian. While fun and imaginative, the anthology forces the reader to confront some serious issues. Would a human clone have a soul? Would aliens be considered a part of God's creation? Would religious vocations continue to exist beyond Earth's gravitational pull? These thought-provoking issues are explored in a way that satisfies both the techno-geek and the religious philosopher.

The stand-out piece, THE GHOSTS OF KOURION by Andrew Seddon is placed in the lead-off spot for good reason. It is a fascinating look at the open-ended possibilities of time travel. After tragically losing his wife and daughter, Professor Robert Cragg leaves the confines of the year 2655 to journey to the ancient Greek city of Kourion circa 365 A.D. His goal is to witness firsthand the destruction of the fabled city on the day it was ransacked by a legendary earthquake. Christianity is in its infancy and the pagan gods of Zeus and Apollo are succumbing to the writings of Paul and the rulings of Constantine. Knowing he cannot change the past, Robert nevertheless fosters an urge to save a young girl and her family from the impending disaster. However, the Self-Consistency Principle holds sway. Robert expounds on it by saying, "I can't travel to the past unless I've already been there, and when I get there I'll do what I've already done."

The moral implications of time travel are staggering. Why doesn't Robert revisit a time when his wife and daughter are alive? Because he'd merely be observing what had already happened. He'd be watching a rerun of his past life, not living his current one. Why doesn't he warn the citizens of Kourion before the earthquake? No one would believe him. The alarm had never been raised, so he could not raise it. His powerlessness is acute.

Seddon explores Robert's emotional conundrum in a telling passage. "Knowing that I could not avert the disaster should have helped me observe with clearer objectivity and act more naturally. It should have helped prevent mental and emotional damage. It should have helped avert self-condemnation. My job was to observe history, to do what I had done, and not to despair over how events had turned out. How could I have foreseen that this poor, simple girl with the mule would affect me so?"

The collection is filled with mind-bending imagery. A nun battles poisonous snakes during a spaceship rescue mission in Karina Fabian's ANTIVENIN. "Her screams stuck in her throat. Not twelve, but twenty snakes, at least, writhed on the floor and shelves and over the dead man - from his puffed and discolored face, she knew there was no way he could be alive."

Aliens hunt their prey inside a church during Mass in Alex Lobdell's THE BATTLE OF NARTHEX. "Suddenly a massive black figure emerged from behind a forward column, glided into the sanctuary, and leapt up onto the white marble altar. It stood staring coldly out at the people. It was an unnerving sight to see the ghostly figure standing upon their altar, peering out coldly for its victim while the smiling young priest continued talking just a few feet away. The pygmies had a word for such a wrongness: abomination."

With human cloning moving ever closer to reality, it's moral implications are becoming a pertinent issue. In Derwin Mak's CLONED TO KILL, the question is raised - is a human clone a piece of property or a human being worthy of an immortal soul? The flip-flopping of rhetoric is addressed by clone creator Dennis Rowicki. "The baptism of clones shows the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church. For years, the Church opposed the cloning of humans. For years, you said only God has the right to create human beings through natural procreation. Yet you eagerly baptize the clones created by the process you condemn." Mak depicts the Church as standing firm on human rights regardless if the person is naturally or synthetically born. As expressed by the clone, Lorraine, "Only inside this church [I am human]. I am non-human outside it."

The book hits a slight snag right at the end with the final installment DYADS by Ken Pick and Alan Loewen. Nearly three times the length of the other stories, the selection slows the pacing of the anthology having it drag to the finish line. The plot revolves around a race of fox-like creatures who practice what the Vatican believes to be an authentic derivation of Christianity. Trouble ensues when a Bible-thumping Earthling desecrates their place of worship in what amounts to act of religious terrorism. Yet there is something off-putting about the native inhabitants that makes it difficult to sympathize with them. They exude a aura of otherness such as in the passage: "Her ears flattened down, came up; white showed around her cat's eyes; her mouth worked as her delicate fox face passed from anger to shock to puzzlement. Finally she looked up at him, head cocked and faint squeal in her throat. 'Yerf?'" Whether it be their beady eyes, pointed ears or sharp teeth, it is a bit repulsive to view their animal-like qualities in relation to one of humanity's oldest religions.

Overall, the collection expands the role of faith through the endless possibilities of the sci-fi genre.