Readable Fiction: September 2006

General Cruz gets what he wants. Always. But in this thought experiment continued, this is put to the ultimate test. Scott Adams has created in God's Debris and it's sequel The Religion War something that he dubbed a "thought experiment". It dives into the controversial and deeply wound ideas of religion and belief.

Although nonreligious at heart, The Religion War makes it a large part of the story; basing many ideas on the theory of God.

Based in the forties--2040's that is--it places you in the lives of General Horatio Cruz, a Christian Infidel in command of the entire Christian world (making him more powerful than any president); al-Zee, the leader of the Muslim world; and the Avatar, an all-knowing former package delivery man (read "God's Debris"). A terrible war was brewing between the two leaders' territories.

Al-Zee, who in 2007 came to power, was now waging small scale war with the Christian World: bombing no one of major importance, or anything irreplaceable. But when Cruz became the leader of the Christian Alliance, he could not allow this to continue. He was planning something no one was expecting, something horrible, something only a pervicacious mad-man would consider: extermination.

The Avatar, being all-knowing and able to recognize deep patterns where others saw none, is trying to do his duty: stopping the largest scale war in history. But first he must find the one person who can influence the necessary changes: the Prime Influencer.

The Religion War is a magnificent work by a cartoonist, although there isn't any of Dilbert here.

Quote From Book

"'Before I turn your guts into jam, how about you tell me everything I need to know. It's a little courtesy I like to extend to my guests. No one has ever taken me up on the offer, but I feel it's only fair to put it out there. Let's say that you figure out what questions I need to ask and then you just answer them. If you make me ask the obvious questions over and over, I'm going to get tired. And that makes me cranky. You don't want that.'

"'Very well,' replied the Avatar. 'And again, I am truly sorry.'"

Author Biography

Other Books

The Dilbert Principle

Dogbert's Top Secret Management Handbook

The Dilbert Future

The Joy of Work

God's Debris

Dilbert and the Way of the Weasel

Information Links

Google Books--preview of book and links to sellers.

This most recent creation by Robert Newcomb, title Savage Messiah, is a stirring addition to the lives of Tristan and Shailiha; the Chosen Ones. This is the fourth book in the series started in 2002 by Robert Newcomb. The first three books make up The Chronicles of Blood and Stone, while Savage Messiah starts off the next chronicles titled The Destinies of Blood and Stone.

Savage Messiah continues the lives of Tristan, Shailiha, Wigg, Fagean, Celeste, et al. around a month from when we last encountered them in The Scrolls of the Ancients. In this miraculous leg of their lives, Newcomb continues to ensorcell the reader, presenting him with an unending torrent of masterful literature.

The group's amazing battle starts with the discovery of a tear in the orb of the Vigors, causing massive destruction and death to thousands. The group is tossed into a horror they wouldn't have dreamed of. A new creature known as a K'ton is attacking, savage unfeeling captains sail the land and sea in their great black ships, and an accursed, long-thought-dead enemy is bringing them endless torment.

You will not be disappointed in Robert Newcomb with this book. It's a story that will take you places you've never been, answer questions you've had from the beginning, and give you a hundred more to hold on to until the next book.

Quote From Book

"And I say you're wrong!" Tyranny bellowed at the chagrined Minion warrior. Her chin stuck out like the prow of her flagship. "What you're telling me is impossible! No vessel ever built could do such a thing! When a ship goes down, she goes down for good, and that's the end of her!"