Galactic rapture / Tom Flynn.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Flynn, Tom, 1955-

Language:

English

Genre:

Religious fiction.

Science fiction.

Satirical literature.

Fiction.

Physical Description:

500 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Amherst, N.Y. : Prometheus Books, 2000.

Summary:

Earth in the year 2344 has two lucrative exports: a perversely engaging mass entertainment medium known as "senso"; and Earth religions, of which the jaded Galactics, the owners of the universe, can't get enough. Earth's greatest success story, the Universal (Roman) Catholic Church, has left its birth planet to thrive on one of its own, fittingly called Vatican, where priestly sex abuse and imperial corruption take on astonishing new forms. A theology called "serial incarnation" teaches that God incarnates his son over and over, sending him to planet after planet. The Church has grown rich from this doctrine by charging huge fees to reveal to individual planets who their Messiah is and whether or not their historic religious leaders are genuine.

All is well until celebrated mathematician and recent convert Fram Galbior is overheard telling the pope that his new formula can predict where God will send his son next -- a planet where most Galactics, even those in power, are forbidden. Attention centers on the rumored new Christ, named Arn Parek, a con man who becomes hotly sought by the Galactics.

This novel is an iconoclastic, darkly hilarious epic, packed with hypocritical cardinals, scheming Mormons, religious bunco artists, and cynical media manipulators. Called a landmark in the new alternative science fiction, Galactic Rapture is an engaging satire on the power of religion, worship, and "infotainment" in the future.

ISBN:

1573927546

OCLC:

42619722