"Job: A Comedy Of Justice" by Richard A. Heinlein

"Job: A Comedy Of Justice" by Richard A. Heinlein is a novel which the author based loosely on the Book Of Job in the Bible. It was published in 1984 and, like several others of his novels, was nominated for most of the major awards available to writing in the field of science fiction and fantasty. It was nominated for both the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award in 1985 but won neither of them. It did win the Locus Award For Best Fantasy Novel in 1985. It is a truly unique book in many ways. But then it is possible to make that statement about many of Heinlein's novels over the years. After all, he won a pile of awards from nearly every organization which concentrates on science fiction and fantasy. He won four Hugo Awards for the best science ficiton novel during his lifetime. But this novel had aspects to it which probably prejudiced many voters and prevented it from winning as many awards as it might have otherwise. The pictures it presents of Heaven, Hell, and religion in general were not conducive of support from believers in anything remotely resembling a customary or acceptable view of religion. The novel begins with the protagonist Alexander Hergensheimer choosing to walk across a fire pit during a shore visit by the travelers on a cruise ship on which he is traveling. He successfully makes the fire walk but lapses into a faint or brief coma from which he is revived to find himself in a different world, returns to find his ship is different but with a similar name,and a totally different crew. But there is a bright side to that new crew which includes Margrethe, the steward assigned to his room with whom he begins an affair and eventually finds himself in love. The ship is apparently hit by an iceberg in tropical waters and the two find themselves afloat in the ocean on a pool float surrounded by sharks. This is just the first in a long series of events, or sudden changes in their world and lives, which happen spontaneously and always without warning. They travel the world trying to get back to Kansas where Hergensheimer, now Alec Graham, and Margrethe to whom he refers as his wife despite being married in his past life, hope to find the answers to why their lives are suddenly upside down despite being in love. The changes just keep coming and the only consistency is their devotion to each other, Graham's work as a dishwasher no matter where he is, and the unending upheavel in their worlds. The book moves on to their being swept up, but separated, by a Kansas tornado which turns out to be the Apocalypse. Graham finds himself not only in Heaven but promoted to sainthood and unable to find Margrethe in a Heaven which consistently is portrayed in ways which very fun traditional religious believers would accept as being based on the Bible. Graham chooses to be sent to Hell to hunt for Margrethe after refusing to stop seeking her. In Hell, he is somewhat befriended by Satan himself, given a high dollar suite in a hotel and constantly served in all ways by a different woman who actually turns out to be Rahab from the Bible. While it is a strange novel in many ways with polygamy, rampant sex, infidelity, and a multitude of what most religious believers would classify as sins, both minor and major, it is a highly readable book and pulls the reader from one change in the world to the next with no actual idea of where or how it is likel to end. Read it if you have an open mind and like science fiction! Don't read it if anyone has ever called you a prude!

"A Higher Loyalty Truth, Lies, And Leadership" by James Comey---Book Review

Comey, James. A Higher Loyalty Truth, Lies, And Leadership (New York, Flatiron Books 2018)

If you are only going to read one book this year, this is the book you should read!  

Once in a while a book comes along that is the most important book in print at that time.  For the year 2018, this is that book.  At this time (May 29, 2018), this book is ranked #3 on the New York Times Best Sellers List and has spent five weeks on the list.  I pre-ordered it, read it immediately, and should have written about it on this blog on the same day I finished it.  I apologize for that delay.  But "A Higher Loyalty..." is not the most important book of the year because it is a best seller.  The reverse is true.  It is a best seller because, Thank God, a major portion of the readers in America realize that is an incredibly important work.  This book is an autobiographical and historical work by one of the two most important men in the world, James Comey, who is literally standing in the breach protecting this country and the world from a would be dictator, TRAITOR Trump. 

Photo of Robert Mueller and James Comey by The Washington Times

Now let me put at least one of the major misunderstandings about this book to rest for you.  This book is not, in any major way, about TRAITOR Trump.  It is about James Comey, his life and career, and the important values and people who shaped him into the patriot, hero, attorney, public servant, and practicing Christian he is today.  In fact, TRAITOR Trump is mentioned only two or three times in the first one hundred pages of the book and only then to place James Comey, his life's work, and his incredibly unjust firing in their proper perspective.  The book is a masterfully written piece of work which is a fast read, enlightening in many areas, and very well constructed and fluid in its progress from opening to conclusion.  James Comey grew up in a devoutly religious home and was raised to be respectful, ambitious, hard working, and honest.  That is exactly who he turned out to be. The book progresses from his early childhood when he was heavily influenced by being a victim of a violent burglary to the day he was unjustly and criminally fired by TRAITOR Trump.  Mr. Comey discusses and explains the values he was exposed to by his parents, his long and loving relationship with wife and children, his exemplary career as a US Attorney and Director of the FBI, his successful career working for two duly elected presidents each from a different political party, and his deep commitment to the country. 

Photo Of James Comey & His Family by ABC News

Without much discussion of TRAITOR Trump at all, James Comey is able to skillfully elucidate the general public about the inherent differences between an American Patriot and a traitor, a committed Christian and a man who is irreligious at best, an absolutely honest man and a career criminal, a bastion of truth and a pathological liar, and an outstanding citizen and a self-serving representative of all that is evil in the world.  James Comey is a man who should be hailed as the hero he is and he will be as the full load of evidence mounts against TRAITOR Trump.  Buy this book as soon as you can get a copy in your hands.  Read it from cover to cover as soon as you have it in your hands.  Then pass it on to someone else with the stipulation that they must read it and pass it on ad infinitum.

If you are only going to read one book this year, this is the book you should read!