Sinner, A Paradise Novel by Ted Dekker; 2008; 374 pages; Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN; 978-1-59554-008-9; 1/1-1/6

A direct sequel to Saint and Showdown and a tie  in to the Circle Trilogy, we find out what happened to Johnny Drake, Billy and Darcy after there last appearance.  All of them have supernatural powers, Johnny can show you the truth if he can look into your eyes, Billy can read your mind and Darcy can persuade you to do something, if it something you really want to do deep down.  Billy and Darcy work with parts of the U.S. Government to pass the National Tolerance Act, which restricts free speech and makes hate speech illegal.  Then it defines hate speech as far as saying your way is the only right way, Johnny and the inhabitants of Paradise, Colorado defy the law, insisting that Jesus is the only way.  Billy and Darcy try to wipe Johnny and his 3,000 followers out.  They are being manipulated by Marsuvees Black, a being of pure evil, that Billy created earlier in the series.  After Billy and Darcy join the Kingdom of Light Billy is able to defeat Black.  This is a interesting conclusion to the Paradise trilogy.  Although with Ted Dekker, nothing ever seems to actually end.  He has three new books coming out, which I am looking forward.  Dekker manages to keep the suspense going right up until the climax, I wasn’t sure where he was going.  The suspense is high and it is an interesting supposition of restricting speech and tolerance may take us.  RRRRR

Rogue Warrior, Dictator’s Ransom by Richard Marcinko and Jim DeFelice; 2008; A Forge Book, New York, NY; 383 pages; 978-0-7653-1793-3; 12/28-1/1

Another supposedly fictionalized adventure of Demo Dick the Rogue Warrior, this one pushes the envelope of beleivability.  Richard Marcinko is supposedly approached by a representative of North Korea dictator, Kim Jong il to meet with him.  Marcinko turns down the request and then is pressured by several members of the US goverment intelligence agency to meet with il.  Dick and team member Trace Dahlgren meet with the dictator who offers them $64 million to rescue one of his sons  who supposedly is being held by the Chinese.  Through a series of circumstances Marcinko, Trace and various other members of Red Cell help rescue the son and return him to il.  Then as if enough action hasn’t ensued, more action takes place in a bunker in North Korea, where Kim Jong il supposedly store some of his alleged nuclear devices.  Through all this action Demo Dick finds out that he may be a father, and the son is a new member of Red Cell.  This is a fun action read, that serves no purpose but to entertain.  RRRR

The Irresistible Revolution, living as an ordinary radical by Shane Claiborne; 2006; Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI; 367 pages; 978-0-310-26630-3; 12/24-12/28

It is a simpler way of living together, of doing community together, of getting back to the roots of Christianity.  It was written in 2006, but it could have been written in 1966, everything old is new again.  Shane Claiborne lives in a community in Philadelphia with a group of people, who share everything, who barter for what they need, who try to live biblically and live more simply.  I would like to live like this, sometimes, but other times I like my life.  Because I don’t live simply and in a commune, does that mean I don’t love God and don’t have a life in a community.  No.  We are supposed to share God’s love and we have different ways of ministering to each other.  Yes we have neglected those in the margins of society, but do we all have to join them?  We can minister to people without being exactly like them.  This way works for Shane and the members of the Simple Way, but it is not necessarily the way for all of us. This book does something very important, it makes us think.  We need to think about how we live, not just live.  As William Wallace said “All men die, but not all men truly live.”  RRRRR 

I want to know what you want to see in a review?  Do you want to know what the story is?  Do you care what I think of the book?  Should I compare it to other books I have read?  I want to know what you want?  Thanks, Rod

Superpowers by David J. Schwartz; 2008; Three Rivers Press, New York, New York; 377 pages; 978-0-307-39440-8; 12/22-12/22

What would you do if you were snowed in?  I read and I read a good and interesting story today. 

One night Charlie, Jack, Mary Beth, Caroline and Harriet share a batch of homebrew and an evening together.  As the night ends they get rained on and just before they get inside there is a crack of thunder and a flash of lightning.  They go there separate ways and the next morning they each wake up with a hangover and a superpower.  Charlie can read minds, Jack is a speedster, Mary Beth is superstrong, Caroline can fly and Harriet can turn invisible.  Each of them initaly keeps quiet and doesn’t share with the others that they have.  They each begin to ponder the question, what would you do with superpowers?  After awhile they decide even though Madison, Wisconsin doesn’t have any supervillians there are plenty of ways they can help.  As they begin to help the community reacts in two different ways, those who applaud them for there help and those who criticize the vigilantes.  There is are several subplots involved but the key point is should I use these powers and how best to use them.  It is very thought provoking and the time it is set is also very interesting as it surrounds 9/11.   It kind of reminds me of Leap of Faith which kind of asks the same question from a different perspective.  As you read this think, What would you do? RRRR