From archive (archive) Subject: Waiting for the Galactic Bus by Parke Godwin From: dant@mrloog.LA.TEK.COM (Dan Tilque;1545;92-101;OPUS_SW;) Organization: Scalp Tonic Interdiction Agency Date: 27 May 89 22:54:01 GMT _Waiting for the Galactic Bus_ by Parke Godwin A review of sorts by Dan Tilque This book, while technically sf, is really a comentary on life in America in the late 1980's. As far as I know, Parke Godwin is a mainstream author but has found sf a convenient vehicle for exploring American ideas about religion and the afterlife. The book is mainly a comedy, although people who take religion seriously may not find it too funny. The story starts with two brothers who are abandoned on the prehistoric earth. These aren't just any mortal brothers but belong to a race of energy beings who can take any material form at will. They soon get bored and start monkeying around with the local primates' genes. Pretty soon (by the brothers point of view) along come Bic Macs, John Wilkes Booth, neo-fascist white racists and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Oops, the Mormons don't get involved in this book, but the rest of that stuff does. Anyway, the brothers find that the evolved primates are starting to hang around after they die. To keep them (the deceased primates) occupied, the brothers create two fantasy worlds (Topsides and Below Stairs) where the dead souls get what they expect. However, all is not paradise in paradise (so to speak). It seems the evolutionary kick in the butt the brothers gave is against the rules of their original society. The brothers know that eventually they will be rescued, and that there will be (ahem) hell to pay if things are not going smoothly. This leads the brothers to start intervening in certain peoples lives more directly. This is a good book; I give it a +3 on the -4 to +4 scale. Please, don't take the puns in the above as examples of the humor in the book. The book has few belly laughs, it's just a lighthearted look at American society. According to an ad in the back, there will be a sequel called _The Snake Oil Variations_ out this summer. --- Dan Tilque -- dant@twaddl.LA.TEK.COM Path: news.ifm.liu.se!news.lth.se!feed1.news.luth.se!luth.se!feed2.news.erols.com!erols!newsfeed.internetmci.com!192.88.144.6!news.kei.com!eecs-usenet-02.mit.edu!ai-lab!news.media.mit.edu!not-for-mail From: harstan@ix.netcom.com (Harriet Klausner) Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.reviews Subject: Review: Lord Of Sunset, Parke Godwin Followup-To: rec.arts.sf.written Date: 22 Jun 1998 15:33:14 -0400 Organization: ICGNetcom Lines: 36 Approved: wex@media.mit.edu Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: tinbergen.media.mit.edu X-Newsreader: Gnus v5.3/Emacs 19.34 Xref: news.ifm.liu.se rec.arts.sf.reviews:1933 Lord Of Sunset, Parke Godwin Review Copyright 1998 Harriet Klausner Following the Battle of Hastings, William of Normandy turns to Lady Edith, the handfast wife of his enemy Harold of Wessex, to show him the corpse of her beloved. Edith looks back over her two decades of her common law marriage to Harold. Harold was the second son of one of the more powerful nobles. He was extremely loyal to his father, family, and King Edward. However, Harold's goal was to unite the divided Saxon lords under one ruler. Harold fell in love with Edith, but due to Church law could not marry her except with the old rite of handfasting. They were a team for the next two decades as he reluctantly rose in power. They jointly raised a family together and ultimately claimed the throne of England. They were together on the battlefield when William completes his destiny. In defeat, Harold's dream of a unified England comes true. LORD OF SUNSET is an intriguing narrating of the legendary but true love song of Harold and Edith. The exciting story line is told mostly from Edith's perspective as she looks back over her life with her beloved Harold. This writing technique works quite well as it provides the reader with a flavor of the period and demonstrates the story-telling talent of Parke Godwin. However, the book turns a bit eerie when a dead character speaks of his life. Still, anyone who enjoys a historical novel that humanizes myths should try Mr. Godwin's books (this one and his Robin Hood tales SHERWOOD and ROBIN AND THE KING) because they are terrific. %T Lord of Sunset %A Parke Godwin %I Avon %D Jul 1998 %O $13.00 %P 480 pp. %G ISBN 0-380-72675-0 Harriet Klausner