Mini-mini reviews

Black Snake Moan - Heavily concerned with morality and religion, in spite of (or perhaps because of) the graphic sex, violence and cussin'. I think it was trying to say something subversive (subversive to modern culture, that is) about how we need to be freed from ourselves in order to be saved.

"Murder in the Flying Vatican" - An enjoyable novella by Albert E. Cowdrey, found in the August issue of The Magazine of Science Fiction & Fantasy. It's a murder mystery, set aboard an orbital monastery which is dedicated to a mish-mash of Eastern faiths. Other religions make cameo appearances. Some clever observations. It is set in a future time in which the United States is mostly a blasted desert, and 'The Christian Era' is viewed as ancient history.

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Third Annual Collection contains at least three interesting religiously-themed stories: "A Case of Consilience" by Ken MacLeod, "Deus ex homine" by Hannu Rajaniemi, and "Angel of Light" by Joe Haldeman. I've discussed the first story here already. The second concerns people who can attain a sort of godhood when their personal technology runs out of control. Of course these new gods are immensely dangerous to everyone else, and must be stopped. The story seems to be asking the question: "Is divinity simply a matter of power, or is it some moral quality?" The third is about a religious man living in a future enclave of "Chrislam," who finds an old science fiction magazine. I seem to recall Arthur C. Clarke speculating about "Chrislam" as well. It doesn't strike me as very plausible, but who knows. The collection also contains Gene Wolfe's "Comber," and a story by Ian MacDonald entitled "Little Goddess," which I didn't read.

Storm Front, by Jim Butcher: Harry Potter meets The Maltese Falcon. Harry Dresden, private dick, undergoes all the trials and tribulations a film noir hero must, except in this case he's a wizard, too. Very entertaining. I recall reading an article somewhere about how 'film noir'-style detective stories are essentially about a lone existentialist hero making moral choices in an amoral world where authority and society can't be trusted. There's a lot to that interpretation, actually, and it comes through in this book. It makes sense to me that later volumes in the series portray a friendly Christian as a supporting character, as Mir reports, because in this book at least Butcher is very much concerned with morality. I think he'd be somewhat sympathetic to traditional Christian ethics.

Nine Parts of Desire, by Geraldine Brooks: A disturbing and educational look into the worlds of Muslim women. All the more disturbing because Brooks tries hard to be even-handed and show both sides of the story.