Soulsaver

Set in Puerto Rico in 2099, Soulsaver features an all-too-believable future in which the U.S. has become a repressive Christian theocracy whose corrupt leaders use entertainment and technology to cement their power. In this world of televised miracles, overpopulation and poverty tempt ever-increasing numbers of people to suicide. Suicide remains a mortal sin, but most "self-inflicteds" can be restored to life--like it or not--by soulsavers trained in advanced medical procedures. Juan Bautista Lorca is a rookie soulsaver whose faith in the righteousness of his actions is absolute. But his faith is about to be tested by revelations. Or, rather, Revelations--the Biblical kind. The Last Days are at hand, and the Second Coming will be televised, "with extra special guest: Our Lord Jesus Christ!"

Despite its SF trappings and satirical barbs, Stevens-Arce's tale is traditional Christian fare. Far from being the Orwellian satire it appears at first blush to be, Soulsaver comes to praise the Christian God, not to bury Him. Juan Bautista's journey from callow youth to mature manhood, and the concurrent tempering of his faith, may appeal more to young adult than to adult readers. Still, despite faltering at the end through a regrettable literalism that deflates much of what has gone before, Soulsaver is a fast-paced, amusing and often insightful first novel from a talented author. --Emerson Cooper