The Parafaith War (Mass Market Paperback)

by L. E. Modesitt Jr. (Author) "Trystin Desoll shifted in the control seat of East Red Three and tried to ignore the acrid smell of plastic decaying under the corrosive assault..." (more)
Key Phrases: Brother Hyriss, The Parafaith War, East Red Three (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The primacy of ideas over characterization-a hallmark of (John) Campbellian science fiction-distinguishes Modesitt's current novel from his popular Recluse series and the delightful Of Tangible Ghosts. Trystin Desoll is a young Eco-Tech officer who is fighting two enemies: the opposing Revenant forces, and the prejudice of his own people against his looks, which are more rev than Eco-Tech. Employing his impressive wits and skills, he creates innovative solutions to each, ultimately devising a ploy aimed at ending the war by using the Revenants' faith-based culture. All this is potentially interesting, but Modesitt leaves too much unsaid (e.g., the reason for the interstellar war). Trystin is too stolid a character as well, barely reacting as several family members, friends and lovers are lost or forgotten. Modesitt is capable of turning out provocative, entertaining SF-but this, despite some good ideas, isn't that.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"Echoes of both Joe Haldeman's The Forever War and Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers: dense, gritty, strong on technical detail." --Kirkus Reviews

"Mr. Modesitt's novel is a thoughtful commentary on the comparative influences of science and religion in the human story." --The Washington Times
-- Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Tor Science Fiction; 1st edition (February 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812538943
• ISBN-13: 978-0812538946
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #693,947 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good action sequeses, with some interesting ideas as well., February 17, 2001

By	Dixon Whitley (Albuquerque, New Mexico United States) - See all my reviews

This is the kind of novel that sci-fi is about. It is a novel about a war that speaks to a major social issue.

The first half of the book sets up a universe at war. This part of the book goes into large detail, about the defense of a devoloping world, from religous radicals. The action sequences are for the most part very good, with the execption of a couple of sceanes where the description loses focus and becomes vague.

The second half of the book is about the main characters attempt to find a solution to the war, by acting as an itellegence agent for his race.

This book is smart, and does a good job devolping the atomoshere that the two societies have twords the war. More than any other war novel that I have read, this book gives the war experence as a combination of combat, as well as the social aspects of the war that each side faces as consequence of the fighting. This allows the book to look at the reasons and modivations of both sides of the conflict, and to show how the war itself makes both sides reason for fighting obsolete. The most interesting part of the book is where one side character points out that one side is fighting for land that they will never need, and the other side is taking so many casualties, that they no longer need the new land.

WARNING: This book may offend some deeply religous people due to the way that religon is protrayed in the book. A church that is a little too like the Mormon church is protrayed in a way that could be taken badly.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Story, September 29, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Albany, GA) - See all my reviews

One of Mr. Modesitt's more ambitous novels...this one explores the meaning/impact of war in and on human society and the individual. It contrasts two human societies operating from opposing frames of reference. I enjoyed the novel..and unlike alot of scifi today it does raise questions that stay with the reader. However, Mr. Modesitt fails to give the opposing culture "Revs" sufficent depth, esp. when the hero travel to the home planet. And the entire question of the Meaning of War is wrapped up a little to neatly. Still a worth buying.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good action novel with some technical faults, April 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Parafaith War (Hardcover)

This is a good, fast-paced, action story that is an interesting read. The societies involved are fairly well thought out and the reader does not get hung up in the backgrounds, which, nevertheless, support the story well.

Two problems do not detract much from the story line. The author seems not too familiar with weapons, even though the first half of the book depends upon use of military firepower, For example, the author has the hero "switch to semi-automatic" fire on an assault rifle and has the rate of fire increase! using more ammo. The opposite, of course would occur.

The other problem I had was with the homelife and society of the religious fanatics being apparently a clone of common American 20th century society. Any religious society I know of has the fanaticism imbedded within their cultural interactions at home as well as when addressing foreigners.