1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended, February 3, 2001
This review is from: Sound The Ram's Horn (CD-ROM)
SOUND THE RAM'S HORN by S. Joan Popek is a prophetic new millennium book filled with the hope and the promise of humanity. Joan illuminates what it is to be human, challenging our beliefs and perceptions in a monumental endeavor along the same vein as STRANGER IN A STRANG LAND, yet with a flare and originality uniquely belonging to her.
From the first scene, Joan challenges the reader to examine one's own prejudices. Mama disowns Sam for wishing to marry out of their race, and dies without love, rather than rescind her opinion. When Sam and his wife's child is born, Joshua has five extra chromosomes which result in luminescent skin, blond hair, and a gift of empathy and healing. But people fear that which they cannot understand, and Joshua's mother is no exception. Before long, she leaves, unable to cope with her own child.
As Joshua grows, his differences become sharply pronounced. Soon he locates other Gold Children, GCs, and finds that they are bound together by telepathic abilities, just as they are bound to the world by their empathic abilities. But their strengths are also their greatest weaknesses, for GCs cannot even defend themselves if it requires inflicting pain. The pain that they would inflict, because of their empathic links to humanity, is tantamount to suicide.
While the GCs would never harm others, unfortunately, others are not bound by the same rules. Companies like Macro-Ideas Inc wish to control the GCs for their own profit and gain. Other common people don't know whether GCs are angels or devils, and cannot conquer their fear of that which they do not understand. Yet the GCs fully understand humanity's weaknesses, and with compassion, seek to help all to live in peace and love. Indeed, GCs are sterile, because they are not here to replace humanity, but because they are as the product of humanity. All GCs have mixed racial blood, and bind those differences in a unique blend of love and empathy.
While it's important to understand where we are headed as the human race, and to question not only our directions but our associated prejudices, morals and values, does that translate into a good read for SOUND THE RAM'S HORN? It most assuredly does. SOUND THE RAM'S HORN is filled with interesting characters interacting with verve and vivaciousness, not to mention an ever-present hint of heresy that focuses the mind and forces one to examine stimulating new concepts even as it makes one nod the head in earnest agreement.
SOUND THE RAM'S HORN is not a book of easy answers. In fact, the book leaves more questions unanswered than answered. Perhaps that is it's greatest strength, because it forces the reader to think, to examine one's own motivations and weaknesses. By challenging our beliefs and finding our commonalties, the wall that separate us from our own selves comes tumbling down with SOUND THE RAM'S HORN.
Pay attention to this author's remarkable voice, for S. Joan Popek promises to mark the land of science fiction, displaying the power of good science fiction writing. Indeed, if you are Science Fiction fan, or merely a fan of human nature, this novel is a must read.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Golden Sci Fi Page Turner, January 31, 2001
This review is from: Sound The Ram's Horn (CD-ROM)
SOUND THE RAM'S HORN by S. Joan Popek is an intriguing short science fiction novel that dips gracefully from Old Testament prophesy to contemporary DNA to a very different future. Different because of the Golden Children. </p>
Joshua is one of the Golden Children: born with yellow-gold pigmentation, golden eyes, a dime-sized ebony star on his shoulder. At the age of six months he exhibits the amazing ability to heal, by absorbing the physical and emotional pain of others.</p>
More Golden Children are discovered and studied. They all have golden skin and eyes, flaxen hair and a black star on either their right or left shoulder. They all score off the charts in IQ tests, and they are all the products of interracial unions. They are all affectionate, friendly, cheerful and empathetic. And they all have five extra chromosomes. Who are they? Where did they come from. Why? Do they have a mission? Are they the natural evolution of the species or a regression to man as he was before sin?</p>
The answers to these questions are gradually revealed as these remarkable children grow to adulthood and complete their destiny. Together they battle exploitation as they rescue, protect and fall in love with one another.</p>
Sound the Ram's Horn is no Bible story, but S. Joan Popek draws heavily on old testament prophesy and alludes lightly to new testament characters and ideals. She uses the Bible as a springboard that catapults Sound the Ram's Horn squarely into science fiction orbit.</p>
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