The War in Heaven is a openly evangelical novel which nevertheless remains firmly within the fantasy tradition. It is a modern re-telling of Paradise Lost seen from the point of view of a bitter young teenager who travels through time and space at the invitation of a fallen angel to join in Lucifer's rebellion against Heaven. Hot on his trail are his twin sisters, who are recruited by his guardian angel to stop him. Much of the story takes place, not on Heaven or on Earth, but on an older planet where Lucifer has largely been successful in obtaining the worship of the populace.

The story is a wide-ranging one, complete with massive battles of angel battling angel, but the focus is on the protagonist, whose wounds are shown not only through his bitterness but also through the unbalanced nature of his relationship with his two sisters. Like most Christian novels, this is a tale of redemption but the descent into evil is both palpable and remarkably enthusiastic - understandable considering the company of the sleekly cool fallen angel and his sidekick, an irresistible Temptress.

Style: The author's vision often exceeds his abilities, as there is an amount of the usual first novel clumsiness here. Interesting avenues are left unexplored and the plot continues to drive, drive the novel inexorably forward, even when the reader might benefit from a rest from being plunged into another new aspect of this continually expanding universe. The environments are described in some detail but unfortunately are never truly brought to life, however, the dialogue is interesting, even humorous, without being too self-consciously witty

Story: The grand scope of the story is belied by its more personal feel. This is both a strength and a weakness, as one gets the opinion that the author was intending a more epic novel instead of a small quest played out upon an epic background. The war to which the title refers is seldom on the center stage here, instead, this is really the story of a battle for an individual soul. But it is interesting, and although the outcome can hardly be in doubt, the author succeeds in leaving the reader totally in the dark as to how the issue will be resolved until the final chapters.

Characters: The supernatural characters are more vivid than is the norm in most fantasy fiction, and yet they are not reduced to being little more than humans with wings. The peek behind the veil into their world is interesting and the author makes clear that these, too, are beings with their own idiosyncracies, agendas and weaknesses. One indeed wishes for more here, although the author would have been well advised to avoid giving the devil his due as he comes off as more of a petulant and deluded whiner instead of the grand architect of Evil. The human children are a little less well-developed; with the exception of the singular portrayal of the twins as two distinct individuals with an uncommon bond, their personalities appear to be driven by the exigencies of the story instead of being revealed more naturally.

Creativity: While the angels and demons are very conventional, there are some interesting fantasy elements that make them feel a little more realistic, or more human, than the deus ex machina that they often represent in other novels. There is not a role-playing game element, but a wargaming vibe that pervades the book which complements the mass battles, and a hearty sprinkling of myth and obscure Biblical references which enliven the book for the more intellectual reader.

Text Sample: “It’s just an expression, you know.”

“Oh, is it?” Holli thought for a moment. “Well, why did you call me a daughter of Lilith, then? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That you’re a human.” Khasar wrinkled his nose. “You are, aren’t you? You see, Lilith was the first woman, and so that would make you her daughter, by extension. It’s another expression, you see?”

Holli rolled her eyes. “Lilith wasn’t the first woman, dummy. That was Eve.”

Khasar shook his handsome head and smiled. His teeth were very white, and Holli wondered if he used a special toothpaste. “No, Lilith was the first mortal woman. Trust me on this one. And I don’t know who this Adam character is, but I don’t think Lilith was ever anyone’s wife. She wasn’t exactly the marrying kind, as I remember. A most unpleasant woman.”

He seemed pretty sure of himself. Holli looked up at the sky. For the first time, she wondered if the yellow sky wasn’t just some new kind of pollution or something, and if perhaps she wasn’t on Earth after all.

“Khasar, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, you can ask. But I won’t promise that I’ll answer it.”

Holli stamped her foot. “Be serious for just a second, will you? I was just wondering if this place was, like, Oz or something.”

“No, it’s not Oz. What an odd name!” He gestured about the hilltop. “Behold Ahura Azdha, as it is called by the humans who live here, but among the Host it’s usually called Rahab, after the old name of the great city. Rahab the wicked.”

“Now I know how Dorothy felt.” She looked back at Khasar, startled. “Did you just say, ‘the wicked’?”

“Yes.”

“Why is it called that?”

The Archon yawned again. Even in his human form, he reminded Holli of a big cat.

“Because this is a very, very bad place, my dear.”



Reader reviews of The War in Heaven