Where to start? This is a very unusual book.

What do you get when you cross sci-fi /fantasy as in “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy”, with a budding romance, ambitious philosophical yearnings, theological history, Mexican drug cartels, murder, money laundering, and last but not least, an earthly visitation by God?

It all begins on a intergalactic moon station with our introduction to God, an ambitious but sarcastic new Milky-Way-Galaxy Inc. recruit who will take over for the retiring New Testament God, who has reigned over Earth for the past two thousand years. Without giving all the intricacies of this very clever plot away, let me just say that these opening scenes were my absolute favorite in the book. Hilarious, witty, and incredibly original, I can’t imagine a more compelling start to this story.

The pace and mayhem that follows is everything you might expect from the intro above. God may act in mysterious ways, but in this novel, he makes his earthly expectations crystal clear. Working through two selected humans mandated to see His ask through, we meet Ram and Brendali, two young T.V hosts, who must broker world compliance to the divine ask through command of video, social media, and other communications with key delegates as God’s plan for earth unfolds.

Other wonderful characters include Griff, the FBI agent, who claims to be “downright humorless” (that’s why, he says, he joined the FBI) and a whole cast of players representing religious leaders from every major faith and religious sect across the globe.

With considerable skill, the author manages complex and controversial religious and theological questions deftly, working a good deal of interesting religious history and scholarly insights into the story that expands to include themes such as:

- Just how far apart, really, are the worlds major religions (eg. Muslim vs Judaism vs Catholicism)
- Can an organized religion serve both a national agenda and one’s personal conscience.
- Is a unified view, endorsing tolerance for diversity across all faiths even a moderately realistic goal?

(Don’t let the heavy questions scare you off - the book itself reads mostly like a romp, or crime caper, with dashes of humor and many unexpected other-worldly side jaunts. )

A big thank you to the author for a review copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts provided are my own. ( )

I don't review my own books, so here are a few editorial review quotes and testimonials:

“First Second Coming has a fascinating premise that builds up in effortless fashion. It takes a talented writer to create characters you care about in a plot that makes sense while going at breakneck speed.” -- Literary Titan magazine. (This magazine bestowed a Gold Award for writing excellence on First Second Coming.)

“Innovative, irreverent and ultimately thought-provoking, First Second Coming is a slightly futuristic romance/fantasy imbued with a sense of wit and wonder.” – IndiesToday.com

“First Second Coming captivates from the start with a fascinating premise that never lets go, packs a powerful punch for a debut novel and sets the stage for an exciting new series!” – InD’tale magazine. (First Second Coming received a "Crowned Heart of Excellence" review, which is this magazine's highest review.)

“Jeff Pollak’s debut novel, First Second Coming, combines suspense, romance and theology in an imaginative, unique adventure!” – Mark Moses, Actor (best known as Paul Young on Desperate Housewives and Herman “Duck” Phillips on Mad Men)

"The creativity of the story line will leave you thinking about it months after you finish reading the last page. I highly recommend First Second Coming, an ingenious and exceptional novel!" -- Adena Bernstein Astrowsky, author of Living Among the Dead. ( )