When it comes to reading and writing book reviews, I do have several genres I am drawn towards again and again. I like to read novels and memoirs. I like to read about various subjects from pop culture to politics and fashion to food. But it is rare that I read science fiction or about religion. And it’s even more rare when I read a book that crosses the genres of science fiction and religion. Perhaps that is why I was drawn to reading Nancy Joie Wilkie’s book Faraway and Forever: More Stories, a book that combines both science fiction and the issues of faith and Christianity. Reading and reviewing this book would get me out of my comfort zone.
Faraway and Forever: More Stories, is more than a collection of short stories. It is a collection of novelettes. In the opening novelette, “Once Upon a Helix,” the protagonist, Gunther Trent is the head of a program in search of extraterrestrial life. Unfortunately, Gunther is in a field that isn’t exactly popular. After being told by his assistant about a possible message beyond planet Earth, Gunther has a by chance meeting with a biologist named Catherine Arkette. Catherine has discovered former unknown nucleotide. Through this meeting both Gunther and Catherine find out their discoveries are actually related.
In the second novellette, “The Goldfire Project,” Edwards is dying of pancreatic cancer. But he is desperate to find a way to “live” despite being near death’s door. To live beyond his death, Edwards trying uploading his conscience into a computer. Through this, he meets Goldfire. Despite being artificial intelligence, Goldfire wants to experience what it’s like to be in Heaven. Edwards learns of Goldfire’s loneliness of being a mere computer. And he decides to backtrack on his treatment, and vows to bring Golffire back with him.
My favorite novelette, is probably the third installment, “Half the Sky.” In this novelette, Madison Mills is about to turn eighteen and leave the orphanage, which has raised her since she was very young. Madison lives on a planet called Prox. One side of of Prox, faces the sun, and the other side is in darkness. Madison’s father was from the sun side and her mother was from the shade side. Through a nun at the orphanage, Madison finds out her parents are still alive. Madison goes on a journey to find her parents and to seek out the reasons why they left her in an orphanage. Madison meets her mother, and the reunion does not go well. As for Madison’s father? Madison questions if it is worth to find him to learn more about her and her parents’ past.
The fourth novelette is called “Wishbringer.” In “Wishbringer,” a reporter named Jonathan visits another world where he meets a unique farmer who instead of planting corn or tomatoes, plants and harvests people’s wishes. Jonathan decides to plant a wish. However, the outcome doesn’t exactly meet Jonathan’s standards, and he’s desperate to undo this wish of his. Yes, be careful what you wish for; you just might get it.”
The final novelette is called “The Last Sunday of Summer. ” Summer is not the season, she is the protagonist who lives on the colony planet Solus II. The Catholic church is no longer as powerful when a new religion based on gossip that a new Christ is to revisit the old Earth. This new religion apparently has a much different gospel. A nun is murdered when she gets involved over a religious text. It is up to Summer to deliver the religious text to Vatican Prime, the text being hearsay on Solus II.
Wilkie’s stories are intriguing and thoughtful. I definitely kept thinking about these characters and their situations long after I finished reading the novelettes. And I liked the way Wilkie was able to combine both science and religion, especially in a time when both topics are considered to be diametrically opposed. I believe Faraway and Forever: More Stories is an ideal book for people who are interested in worlds beyond their scope and how it can combine with faith.
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