Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

I chose this book to kick off the 2018 ATY Challenge and to start the new year, based on both the title and the thrilling themes: sci-fi, faith and love. In a very slight way, this novel reminded me of the brilliant, Contact, which combined science and religion - two things that usually mix like oil and water, but are so integral to life itself.

What's the novel about? In short, a liberal pastor from England is selected to go to Oasis, a new extraterrestrial territory "somewhere out there", where earthlings have begun a new civilization under the shady USIC group (United States Intelligence Community? United Socialist International Cooperative? fill in your own conclusions here, as the novel never says who these guys are). Peter Leigh is needed to replace the former pastor to offer God, teach scripture and spread the gospel of Jesus. But not to the human inhabitants already entrenched in the human colony; it's the Oasan beings that have requested a messenger of God in their midst, or rather -- demanded it. And The Book of Strange New Things? Well, it's what they call the Holy Bible. Peter leaves behind on earth his wife Bea, who is not selected to accompany him on the mission, so their only means of communication is through the Shoot: a long distance USIC computer that allows the exchange of text messages.

I won't go into further detail about the story, but it was one filled with romance, love, empathy and in the end, what it means to be human. In reading this novel, I questioned whether or not, if given the chance, would I want to live in a place where nothing bad happens, nor nothing particularly exciting, either. A place where people are ambivalent about their lives, going about their jobs, meals and unscintillating hobbies with no particular ambition, humor, nor intense emotions. There's no particular politics, history, nor current news filtering in (only vapid, ancient music from the 1940's and '50's), so there's no need for your former memories to harrangue you, either. Would I be happy with that, or would I yearn for more? If I could, would I return to an earth that may be on the verge of ending, with its' natural disasters, wars, famine, terrorism, odious leaders, taxes, etc. - but also, to come back to the smell of grass, the touch of a loved one, real ice cream, a baby's laughter, the smile on a dog and as one character even mentioned - junkmail. What would you do?

This was a fantastic start of the year novel, which I read for Week 49: a book from one of the Goodreads Best Books of the Month lists. It's a book that makes you think and give pause about no matter how bad life on earth can be, there are so many good, great things, as humans, for which we can still be thankful.

Once again, I enjoyed Michel Faber's writing and themes, having previously read the eerie and wonderful Under the Skin. There are a couple of tiny flaws with the novel, like why did Peter not notice that his messages to Bea were being monitored on the Shoot earlier than he did, but the many unique details and interesting and challenging dialogue more than make up for this.

The last line of The Book of Strange New Things will long be a favorite, as Peter thinks of Matthew's last words in the bible, "...and the meaning they could have for two people who loved each other:

I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Even though this is sci-fi, I would classify it as literary fiction. It is fraught with deeper meanings and questions that are worth pondering.