Most of the world has been destroyed by a deadly virus, followed by a nuclear war. Technology is useless without the utilities and infrastructure to support it. Survivors are so widely dispersed that nearly all "modern" knowledge and convenience has disappeared. 400 years later, groups of people have organized into medieval style villages and countries, producing food on small farms and manufacturing all their clothing, tools, and weapons by hand. If you're a prepper, a survivalist, or just a fan of the fantasy genre like myself, you will truly enjoy "The Sword", by Bryan M Litfin.
To these future humans, we are "the ancients". Worship of idols and corruption are not only rampant, but taught as the state religion. While trying to escape from "outsiders", Teo, a royal guardsman for the king of Chiveis, and Ana, a farm girl who saves his life, stumble upon an ancient book that turns out to be the Holy Bible. As it is translated into their language, they come to know a new God, the Creator, whom they come to understand as the One True God. Meanwhile, the High Priestess of the common religion takes steps to eliminate the new religion. The ending is a compelling set up for Book 2 in this trilogy, The Gift.
The deep, resonant voice of narrator Ray Porter captures and holds the attention, while his softer, higher pitched female renditions are a bit humorous, while the listener adjusts to them. Author Litfin succeeds in creating a future world that stands on its own in a genre which includes some tough competition. His characters play convincingly, with all their flaws, admirable qualities, and inner struggles. Ana eagerly embraces the new God, but Teo, accustomed to relying on his own strength and cunning, takes more than simple persuasion. His road to conversion is fraught with disaster, and when he does come to believe, it may be too late for the fledgling community.
This book does have some mature scenes (without being explicit), so I would not recommend it for the family bookshelf, but I think it is appropriate for a mature 16 year old, and older, use your discretion. It is entertaining, suspenseful, and illustrates what Christians must sometimes endure, especially in areas where the Word of God has never been heard.
The Sword, The Gift, and the third book in the trilogy, The Kingdom, are all available from www.christianaudio.com for $14.98 each.
Thanks to www.christianaudio.com for providing me with a free review copy of "The Sword". No other compensation was received for this review.
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