Books I Love: The Parafaith War, L.E. Modesitt, Jr.

I really, really need to post here more often, so in that spirit, I’m going to start doing a kinda/sorta book review thing. Only, authors really shouldn’t do book reviews. We have a better grasp than most what criticism can look like and know that no matter how well-meaning (and let’s be honest, some isn’t) it can still suck. So, rather than criticize, I’m going to try to share books that I love. From a review standpoint, anything I share here has my hearty recommendation, Five Stars and all that jazz.

So, without further ado, let’s start with my first ever “Books I Love” review. Hearkening back to the halcyon days of 1996, I give you The Parafaith War by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.

I’ve made no secret that Mr. Modesitt is one of my favorite all time authors, so it’s no surprise that I’m starting here. I can’t say that this is my absolute favorite of his works (that’s like asking me which of my dogs I love the most, you monster), but I can tell you that I love this book.

Modesitt’s books address both social issues and ethics in a way that is subtle and impactful and Parafaith War is amazing for this reason. It looks at environmentalism, fundamentalism, colonialism and more. And Modesitt doesn’t present any of these issues in a clear cut-and-dried, we all know what we need to do and I’m going to preach at you about it kind of way. Instead, he treats each one with care and consideration, acknowledging the complexities of the issues themselves and their cascading impacts on society. He makes you actually think about the matters, instead of simply agree or disagree. That is a rare and precious talent in fiction.

And, on top of that, there’s a ton of kick-ass action. Explosions! Infiltrations! Laser beams!

If you’re looking for a mix of military sci-fi, ethics, and something that makes you think, pick up this blast from the past. Amazon carries it, but I’m sure you can find it other places as well.