Kirk Outerbridge

A mystery/thriller with a Christian cyborg as the protagonist? Sign me up.

I read this a few years ago, and here's what I remember: the prose is thriller-style forthright, the setting is all kinds of cool, the plot is tight and fast, the romance makes no sense whatsoever, Rick Macey is a cool yet humanly fascinating character (other than his inexplicable insta-love for annoying Sheila), and the friendship between him and his long-lost fellow cyborg is the absolute highlight of the story. I bought [b:The Tenth Crusader|9557887|The Tenth Crusader|Kirk Outerbridge|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1328361058s/9557887.jpg|14444498] not long after finishing this one. I really ought to read it (maybe Sheila is less annoying in that one). Though some of the characterization could be deeper, I have a lot of respect for this book for breaking molds and exploring themes of age and eternity and salvation in a way I haven't seen anywhere else in Christian fiction.… (más)

Christian science fiction was, to me, quite the oxymoron. Christianity and science have not had the healthiest of relationships, so it stands to reason that faith-based science fiction would not exist. However, Eternity Falls pleasantly proved me wrong.

Taking place approximately 100 years into the future, Eternity Falls revolves around technology that sounds completely plausible based on today's technology. Unfortunately, the technology piece of the science fiction also became the most cumbersome in that it was quite difficult to follow at times. This is especially true for the action sequences, which quickly became too cerebral to be thoroughly enjoyed.

Eternity has always been of interest to humanity. Eternity Falls feeds off of this desire to end death, making it sound like a dream come true. Yet, it also reveals the downside of eternity. What does one live for when one lives forever? This is where the faith discussions come into play. These were done in such a way as to find a nice balance between believers and non-believers, focusing on the idea of forgiveness versus vengeance. It still sends the message that only those that believe in God specifically will go to heaven, which I personally find disconcerting. Still, Mr. Outerbridge presents some very thought-provoking ideas about faith and humanity's fear of death.

Overall, Eternity Falls is a decent stab at Christian science fiction. The science was plausible but not overly realistic while being the backdrop for the real weight of the novel, the exploration of faith in a technology-driven society. The characters are a bit one-sided, and while character development is minimal, it does not detract from the suspense and pure action of the story. The language is simple and easy to follow, except for some of the technical jargon. The result is a pleasant action adventure that posits certain ideas about faith.… (más)