Ian Stewart & Jack Cohen, Heaven

Heaven

Ian Stewart & Jack Cohen

Aspect, May 2004, $24.95, 343 pp.

ISBN 0446529834

On the planet of No-Moon, the dominant sentient life form is an aquatic squid known as a polypoid and they are all males. The females that they mate with are coral known as reefwives. The reef is a collective conscious being, aware that coming soon is a space armada belonging to the Cosmic Unity, a religion that preaches kindness, benevolence, and love. The reef is aware of the true purpose of Cosmic Unity and makes arrangements to get their husbands off planet with the help of the Neanderthals.

They land on Aquifer and the males are put in a special salt water environment but unknown to them or the Neanderthals, Cosmic Unity has a topic secret base on the planet. Servant of Unity XIV Samuel is a devoted member of Cosmic Unity who obeys his superiors as he rises in the hierarchy. However, Sam sees that the church does not practice what it preaches and begins to doubt that the religion is any thing but evil. Sam and polypoid Second Best Sailor conclude they must stop the invasion of No-Moons.

HEAVEN is a philosophical compilation woven into a cerebral speculative fiction that compels reader to ponder concepts and ideas put forth by the authors. The alien species are very unique and readers will find their belief systems fascinating. COSMIC UNITY is a religion that is determined to spread its beliefs to all sentient life forms using whatever means necessary to attain its goals. The two protagonists of HEAVEN, especially Sam, are willing to risk their lives to stop the invasion of No-Moon, making them true heroes.

Harriet Klausner