When the new catalog came in the mail, my mother was upset. She had signed up with this company because it produced very good quality vitamins and herbs that had helped her health. But now the company had swept all that to a couple of pages in the back of the catalog, clearing the way for all the cosmetics that it had added.
She wasn't opposed to looking good but she watched the company leave its first mission of helping people feel good.
We in America worship the physical more than we want to admit. We judge people by their clothing selections and by their makeup. Have you seen the videos showing how models are not only airbrushed these days, but their bodies totally re-sculptured into whatever will have the most appeal?
This is the issue in The Personifid Invasion that intrigued me. (Check out yesterday's post for a review).
In selecting an artificial body, people were able to avoid all the hassles of a weak body. Instead, they had the chance to get the body they wanted (depending on their budget, of course). They avoided death and also avoided aging, fatigue, and weakness. This artificial body was virtually indestructible.
Interestingly, one of the side effects in the storyline was that those personifids who were not able to keep their bodies in good repair were eliminated because their ugliness offended others.
In fact, one of the characters in the story (I won't identify because that might be a spoiler) tried to destroy her personifid body by bashing it against rocks. She was trying to break into the inner core which housed her soul, thereby committing suicide. She failed but her body was mangled. The response from others was to look away or to send out robots which cleaned up the distasteful in appearance.
I cheered when the followers of Tri-Une reacted with compassion, helping her repair the body.
But the book raises an interesting question: how do we view our bodies? In America, I think we expect perfection while trying to hide our own imperfections. We value the body too much.
Paul told the church at Philippi that God had generously granted them the privilege of suffering as Christ suffered. (Phil 1:29 -Some versions dilute the word to "granted" but the original Greek is clear that it was an honor to be granted this privilege.)
How did Jesus suffer? He suffered more than on the cross. He suffered from tired feet, hunger, fatigue, sore muscles. He took on a human body and he had to live with the weaknesses of it.
The Personifid Invasion reveals the vanity of ditching our frail bodies for something that seems to be more perfect. In the end, it doesn't matter how ideal the physical is. It matters how rich the soul has become.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?Mark 8:35-36 Note: The Personifid Invasion will be available for purchase at Lord Marcher Press on Oct. 1. Be sure to check out the site for more books and prizes.
Imagine a world where there are no more headaches, no back problems, no aching muscles. No death.
Imagine that your soul could be preserved in the core of an artificial body, invulnerable to the weaknesses of flesh and bones.
That’s the world of the personifid, which are humans transformed. A simple procedure, after paying your fee of course, captures your soul as your body perishes and places that soul in a safe impenetrable core of a body you choose.
That’s the world explored in R.E. Bartlett’s The Personifid Invasion, which follows her first book The Personfid Project.
We follow the story of two adult siblings in search of their lost sister. In entering the city of San Edhem, they discover a city overrun by interterrestrials. On ancient Earth, these “inters” were known as demons.
While a sister is drawn to the clever deceptions of the inters, Followers of Tri-Une use courage and prayer to battle the interterrestrials.
I found The Personifid Invasion’s storyline engaging, one of those books that keeps you up til 2 am, turning the page while knowing you should turn out the lights. The computer technology was engaging while never distracting from the plot. There’s plenty of humor to balance the harshness of life in San Edhem with a little romance tossed in for spice.
But especially I was intrigued by the ideas presented in the book. Why would people exchange physical bodies for artificial ones? Or, why would any refuse to accept this potential for immortality? Why endure the pain of emotions or pangs of hunger when one could simply float in a body that endures forever?
It’s a fascinating idea and one that I will examine further tomorrow.
The Personifid Invasion will be released by Marcher Lord Press on October 1 as we all celebrate the birth of the “premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction.” Get your copy and settle in for a great read.
Most actors sing the praises of playing a juicy villain, savoring the richness of the evil when compared to a hero’s role. Sure, they get the girl when they play the hero, but the character is often vanilla-bland.
I want to look at JRR Tolkien’s classic, The Lord of the Ring,
in that context. Tolkien includes vivid descriptions of evil in his tale. Sauron’s darkness seems to march incessantly. And aren’t the orcs evil personified? The malevolence is palpable in the story and hope seems dishwater-thin against the power of evil.
Yet Tolkien’s heroes are not bland and their eventual victory comes because evil cannot fathom good and therefore can’t defend against it.
How could Sauron understand the sacrifice of two little hobbits? How could the Nazgul defend against those who were willing to die for the larger good? The villains were motivated by greed and fear. They didn’t understand the inspiration of loyalty and selflessness.
In LOTR, good and evil battle on fields of swords and bows, but the real battles happen on another plane: that of character. Evil doesn’t understand character. Evil trusts in power and deceit but, in the end, is utterly destroyed by courage and sacrifice.
Many authors paint a compelling picture of evil but Tolkien, who walked a life of faith in God, understood virtue well enough to compose an even-more compelling picture of good.
I have a preview copy of The Personifid Invasion by R.E. Bartlett, about to be released by Marcher Lord Press. The prologue is up at Marcher Lord Press and I'll be posting a review soon.
But for now, think about this: what would you do if you opted for a new body, nearly indestructible, which housed your soul? Would it be a good trade-off? What are the ramifications of that decision? And what about the Tri-une Followers who won't join in the new opportunities? More to come on these questions soon.
Be sure to visit Marcher Lord Press often in the coming days. They've got lots of things going on as they launch their new indie company. You can sign up for prizes and put yourself in the starting blocks for launch day on Oct. 1!
I'm not sure if Jeff Gerke has a split personality or if he's just beside himself (OK, enough of the dumb cliches), but he's interviewing himself over at Where The Map Ends. He's rushing around preparing for the launch of his Indie publication company, Marcher Lord Press. This may explain his need to have two of himself... or more.
Anyway, it's a great interview and he shares some insights about Lord of the Rings - obviously one of our favorite speculative novels as well.
We'll be posting updates on Marcher Lord Press in the coming weeks and be watching for a review of the first book out by Marcher Lord Press. We have a pre-pub copy that we're reading now and planning to tantalize you with later! Stay tuned....
If you can imagine time travel, a Scottish warrior, sword fights, evil masters, chocolate chip cookies, and true love wrapped into one epic story, then you’re ready for Time Masters Book One: The Call by Geralyn Beauchamp.
Starting in year 3698, we move back to the 1600’s and then 2000’s with great ease due to the abilities of the Muiraran people. Technology is not the key to this epic but people are. We empathize with Dallan McDonald, the Scottish Weapons Master snatched from 1672 and brought to the future for preparation.
Added to this is the mysterious Maiden, whom Dallan met as a boy in what he assumes was a dream. But she owns his heart and, although Dallan doesn’t know it, is the key to his future as well as the future of the world.
Mixed in the adventure are the counselors John and Lany, who must first verify that Dallan is the right one for the call, and then convince him to pursue the Maiden, who is Muiraran but believes she is human.
The characters draw you in with humor and emotion. Blended with that are lively action scenes, including several where Dallan must battle the evil Philip trying to steal the Maiden forever.
Beauchamp’s novel was a finalist for India Excellence Book Awards. Her website gives more details about the book as does her blog. Also, the book is available at Amazon.
Time Masters is a rollicking run through time, with true love - or maybe saving the world - the goal at the end. Check it out.
