Fallen Host

Rating:
Summary: Sympathy For The Devil
Review: *Fallen Host* is a wild ride, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The plot itself--which involves, among other things, Satan's attempts to organize himself for an impending apocalypse, an inquisitor's attempts to determine whether artificial intelligences have souls, and an artificial intellgience's far more desperate and occasionally destructive attempts to answer the same question--carries you along like a high-speed train, and as in *Archangel Protocol* the treatment of the religious plot is both appropriately serious and laced with a sense of humor that keeps the book from slouching towards *The Ninth Gate.*

Morehouse's Satan is in the Miltonian tradition: a smart, sexy, sympathetic rebel who talks a good game about freedom and autonomy but still yearns for his paradise lost. For fans of the Biblical religions' ultimate bad boy, Morningstar--which is the name that Satan chooses to go by in Morehouse's universe--will no doubt emerge as the novel's hero. For me, though, the protagonist will always be Page, an A.I. who has been separated from his creator and left to sort out his own identity as best he can. Page's search for his own soul is, IMHO, far more engaging, compelling, and indeed realistic than Spielberg's treatment of the same theme in A.I. Through him, we learn more about the LINK and its universe-within-a-universe than we did from the previous novel, and Morehouse has done an excellent job of enabling even a technological moron like myself to vizualize and experience this VR/web reality.

In addition to all the things that make it an entertaining, thought-provoking, and addictive read, one thing I really appreciated about *Fallen Host,* in this post-Sep. 11 world, is the fact that it includes several fully-realized, sympathetic, devout Muslim characters. My guess is we're not going to see a whole lot of that in popular culture for the next few years, and that's another reason to pick up both of these books and spend some time in this universe. It'll warp your mind; but it'll do you good.

Rating:
Summary: Apocalyse Is Coming - Religion Runs the World - Scary Future
Review: I closed this book with a silent moment of thanks to the founders of the United States who insisted on the separation of church and state. In Lyda Morehouse's dark, dystopic future religion causes more harm than the devil and the only freedom is to be outside of the law one way or another.

Told from multiple view points, that of Morningstar (Satan); Emmaline, a papal Inquisitor; and Page, an artificial intelligence, the reader is swept into a complex world of hackers, mutant creatures, musicians and organized crime. There are so called smart cookies that trigger personal hologramic advertisements, superstar fusion polka bands and the fabulous Dragon of the East. Themes from pagan myths twine through Christian and Muslim theology.

The author, Lyda Morehouse has an interesting web site in which she says that her first book, Archangel Protocol was written and rewritten over a period of years, this book was written in a relatively short period of time, but I definitely felt that this book was the more demanding of the two, chock full of pleasurable moments and treasures for the reader to discover.

Oh, yeah, and it's real scary. I'ver redicated myself to that Separation of Church and State thing.

Rating:
Summary: Apocalyse Is Coming - Religion Runs the World - Scary Future
Review: I closed this book with a silent moment of thanks to the founders of the United States who insisted on the separation of church and state. In Lyda Morehouse's dark, dystopic future religion causes more harm than the devil and the only freedom is to be outside of the law one way or another.

Told from multiple view points, that of Morningstar (Satan); Emmaline, a papal Inquisitor; and Page, an artificial intelligence, the reader is swept into a complex world of hackers, mutant creatures, musicians and organized crime. There are so called smart cookies that trigger personal hologramic advertisements, superstar fusion polka bands and the fabulous Dragon of the East. Themes from pagan myths twine through Christian and Muslim theology.

The author, Lyda Morehouse has an interesting web site in which she says that her first book, Archangel Protocol was written and rewritten over a period of years, this book was written in a relatively short period of time, but I definitely felt that this book was the more demanding of the two, chock full of pleasurable moments and treasures for the reader to discover.

Oh, yeah, and it's real scary. I'ver redicated myself to that Separation of Church and State thing.

Rating:
Summary: Funny, honest, and insightful -- well worth reading.
Review: I just finished Fallen Host by Lyda Morehouse. This is her second novel and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It is as well writtin as the first and the ideas and plot are just as good, but I really disliked one of the three POV characters and it made it hard for me to relax into the book. I think you were supposed to like the woman, but I'm not sure. I found her abrasive, still that did not keep me from liking this book more than most.

How can you not get caught up in a book where the three main characters are - A self aware computer program who wants to make a pilgramage to mecca. -The devil, who just want God to admitt that making humans was a mistake. -And a female Catholic priest who was raised in a Chigago mob family (An interesting character even if I didn't like her as a person).

You don't see a plot like that everyday.

If you like a little something different in your SF you should love Morehouse. She makes you think, sets cliches on end and entertains all at the same time.

Rating:
Summary: Another intriguing book
Review: I just finished Fallen Host by Lyda Morehouse. This is her second novel and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It is as well writtin as the first and the ideas and plot are just as good, but I really disliked one of the three POV characters and it made it hard for me to relax into the book. I think you were supposed to like the woman, but I'm not sure. I found her abrasive, still that did not keep me from liking this book more than most.

How can you not get caught up in a book where the three main characters are - A self aware computer program who wants to make a pilgramage to mecca. -The devil, who just want God to admitt that making humans was a mistake. -And a female Catholic priest who was raised in a Chigago mob family (An interesting character even if I didn't like her as a person).

You don't see a plot like that everyday.

If you like a little something different in your SF you should love Morehouse. She makes you think, sets cliches on end and entertains all at the same time.

Rating:
Summary: reminiscent of Huxley?s Brave New World
Review: In the future when war broke out, the scientists were so eager to win that they unleashed the Medusa Bomb, a weapon of mass destruction that turned whole cities and its in habitants into crystal. They forgot to put in a fail-safe so the mass of crystal is still spreading. People turned away from science and embraced religion once again.

The net is replaced by the Link, a sophisticated form of the web accessed by implants or external neural jewelry. To have access to the Link, one must be a citizen, but to be a citizen one must belong to a recognized religion. The pope had a dream involving Page, an AI who lives in the link and Emmaline the Inquisitor. On the strength of his dream, the pope charges Emmaline with the task of finding out if AIs have a soul. In the course of her investigation, she meets and is attracted to Morningstar, otherwise known as Satan, who wants to corrupt the AI for his own purposes. Morningstar, Emmaline and the Page are linked together in ways that become apparent as the world hurtles towards Armageddon.

FALLEN HOST is reminiscent of Huxley's Brave New World only the author uses the trappings of religion to show how those in authority repress the citizenry. The story line is intense, intelligent, and interesting. Lydia Morehouse is a very talented and creative writer who manages to use elements of theology, science fiction and sociology to construct a very believable world.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: reminiscent of Huxley¿s Brave New World
Review: In the future when war broke out, the scientists were so eager to win that they unleashed the Medusa Bomb, a weapon of mass destruction that turned whole cities and its in habitants into crystal. They forgot to put in a fail-safe so the mass of crystal is still spreading. People turned away from science and embraced religion once again.

The net is replaced by the Link, a sophisticated form of the web accessed by implants or external neural jewelry. To have access to the Link, one must be a citizen, but to be a citizen one must belong to a recognized religion. The pope had a dream involving Page, an AI who lives in the link and Emmaline the Inquisitor. On the strength of his dream, the pope charges Emmaline with the task of finding out if AIs have a soul. In the course of her investigation, she meets and is attracted to Morningstar, otherwise known as Satan, who wants to corrupt the AI for his own purposes. Morningstar, Emmaline and the Page are linked together in ways that become apparent as the world hurtles towards Armageddon.

FALLEN HOST is reminiscent of Huxley's Brave New World only the author uses the trappings of religion to show how those in authority repress the citizenry. The story line is intense, intelligent, and interesting. Lydia Morehouse is a very talented and creative writer who manages to use elements of theology, science fiction and sociology to construct a very believable world.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Funny, honest, and insightful -- well worth reading.
Review: It is hard to find books about faith that are both funny and insightful. "Fallen Host" (like Morehouse's first book, "Archangel Protocol") is one of this rare breed. Morehouse takes faith very seriously even as she skewers priests, rabbis, Imams, and the Prince of Darkness himself; though the story (told through shifting narrators) is often very funny, there is a core emotional honesty that is rare in SF. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Fallen Host Rises to Expectations
Review: Lyda Morehouse's second book, FALLEN HOST, continues the story she began in ARCHANGEL PROTOCOL. What a story it is. Deftly weaving in enough information that you don't have to have read the first book (though why you wouldn't want to, I can't imagine), Ms. Morehouse takes us on a journey of possibilities.

The End Time is nearing and Morningstar, AKA the Devil, is determined to win this final battle. His search for the antichrist takes him from Manhattan to Tokyo and ultimately to Mecca. With a brief stopover in Hell.

Page, an artificial intelligence who dreams of Mecca, has his/her own struggle, coming to terms with existence in the absence of his/her 'father'. He/she searches for atonement after betraying the man who wrote the program for the LINK-Angels.

Added to the mix is Emmaline the Inqusitor who is on a mission from the Pope to determine if the two artificial intelligences that exist in the world have souls. Some of her methods are unappreciated by the Vatican. She refuses to be pulled off the case and sets out on her own pilgrimage to find the truth.

The quests of these three characters intertwine, each reflecting the universal struggle of parent/child relations, making the right choices and finding one's role in the universe.

Utilizing in-depth research of the world's religions and today's technology, Ms. Morehouse has crafted a frighteningly believable forecast for Earth's future. Her characters, be they human, celestial or computer coded, are sympathetic, conflicted, and real.

FALLEN HOST will be flying off the bookshelves. If you're up for a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable read, stake out a copy for yourself. And while you're at it, you might as well pick up a copy of ARCHANGEL PROTOCOL. Word has it there will be two more books in the series and you'll want the complete set.

Rating:
Summary: Devils Advocate
Review: This book is simply amazing. It is easily my favorite book of all time(Up there with the other books of her series, War and Peace, and The Art of War, but her books are the top).

First off, its in the view point of 3 people(another genius move by lyda herself), Page(My favorite, a lost AI with nowhere to go and noone to pay attention to him, who throughout the novel wish's to spend more time with The Dragon of the East, another AI, and find himself), Morningstar(Ilbis himself, the devil, it is such an odd and interesting twist on the old classic horns and pitchfork character, by the end of the book you sympathize with him and see his point of view, which is shocking and beyond words of how it feels like you have finally opened your eyes), and Emmaline(a female inquisitor who seems to be losing her way, and struggles throughout the book against everyone and everything).

The book is simply an adventure in and of itself. I keep my copy in superb shape, I love it so. Page is an interesting and diverse character that changes over and over again throughout the novel, by the end you feel like he truly is a real person. The take on Morningstar is simply beyond words, the viewpoint of a devil who considers himself the most loyal of archangels.

And the Events and Messiah's that spring forth in this adventurous world simply spin out of control(realistically I might add), to a pinnacle point where you cannot imagine it all dying down, and then something bigger comes out, throwing everything into chaos. The ending is such an unexpected but loved event.

This is one of those books that while you love to travel with the characters and go off on an adventure with them, you don't want to, because then the story would end and you'd have to stop :( . I wish I could give this book more stars, as it truly is an amazing work of art. READ THIS BOOK! If you have read Archangel protocol and at least liked it a little bit, prepare to have your socks blown off by this one.

Raven