Inifinite Space, Infinite God, edited by Karina and Robert Fabian

Reviewed by Tannia Ortiz-Lopes

Infinite Space, Infinite God, edited by Karina and Rob Fabian, is an anthology of Sci-Fi stories organized in seven chapters. Each chapter begins with an explanation of some Catholic issues, with a brief summary of the stories and how the characters deal with them. It is proper to mention that the reader needs to be prepared for a ride into a world beyond their imagination, lead by a group of very crafty writers. Many of the stories have open endings, which makes me think the authors have a sequel or a series of stories in mind.

I have chosen several stories to tease your curiosity and encourage you to get a copy of the book, buckle up, and enjoy these adventures through space as you have never done before! To learn about the rest, go to http://isigsf.tripod.com.

The book cover, created by Kurt Ozinga, merges the concept of infinity between space and God above all. God is inside the Blessed Sacrament, a Catholic form of worship. The cover gives the reader a hint of the book’s content: Sci-Fi with a Catholic twist.

The story “Our Daily Bread,” written by the Fabians, reflects the book cover. In this story the authors explain in a profound and eloquent manner the Catholic practice of Eucharistic Adoration and the blessing that comes with this practice. The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes is harmoniously woven into the story. It illustrates without a doubt the meaning of the phrase, “God always provides.”

Some stories incorporate futuristics and modern themes, such as human cloning, artificially creating humans for spare parts, colonization, missionary work, and government attitude toward religion. “Hopkins’s Well” is a fine example of military duty, teletransporting, and religious colonies on Mars. The open end makes you hope for a sequel, since it gives you a glance at the afterlife with the Sci-Fi twist!

What do a “construct,” an artificial, a thief, and a detective priest as your ultimate P.I. have in common? A “construct” and an “artificial” are half-animal and half-human creatures created by humans. Curious about it? Then I suggest you jump start your space travel experience and ride aboard the Coventry and join the crew on an intense mystery story on the “Mask of the Ferret.”

The consequences of religious fanaticism is the prime theme of the stories, “Host of the Envoy” and “Understanding.” In “Host of the Envoy,” Luke, the main character, finds himself lost in space and encounters a colony ship struggling to return home. He is perceived by the religious leader of the ship as the “One” who will save them and lead them back to Earth. The leader must be ready for a big surprise, and at the end the reader will want more, more, and more!

“Understanding” takes you to the mind of a killer who is desperate and soaked with confusion and anger towards the Church, which once alienated him because he is genetically engineered. The end proclaims God’s unconditional love for all of us.

“Canticle of the Wolf ” is a twist on the status-quo of the big-cunning wolf story. It takes you to a world of time travel and anamorphosis.

The last two stories are a combination of spy work and conviction. “Far Traveler” shows how science experiments could end surprisingly if conducted by the wrong person. How far are we, as a society, willing to go in the name of science? That question is properly addressed and answered in this story.

“A Cruel and Unusual Punishment” is the crown jewel of the book. It is an up-to-date approach to the traditional Stations of the Cross to reflect over the concept of death from the point of view of an inmate on death row. The story begins with the First Station and a quote from other writers and philosophers as a prelude to each situation in this story. It shows how personal conviction, sin, repentance, and redemption are all annulled by God’s unconditional love and forgiveness.