John B. Olson & Randall Ingermanson, Oxygen

Oxygen

John B. Olson, Randall Ingermanson

Bethany House, 2001, 368 pp.

ISBN: 0764224425

In 2013, NASA prepares the first manned mission to Mars: five months out; 18 months on the hostile angry red planet, and five months back. However, the four person crew is shook when the commander Josh Bennett abruptly resigns from the mission apparently due to something the key member Dr. Bob Kaganovski said in a psychological profile. Bob knows he lied about always obeying Josh's orders, but his friend is off the team and is replaced by a religious rookie, microbiologist and ecologist Dr. Valkerie Jansen. The other two crew members also resent the change especially since Jansen does not hide that she is a devout Christian in a sea of scientific disbelievers.

The Ares runs into problems from the start, but remains a go until in space a bomb destroys their power source. While everyone spins culpability on someone else, OXYGEN will be depleted before they arrive at their Martian base camp where air awaits them. Valkerie, who has gained a first hand understanding of the trials of Job, is the only one who can save their lives and she depends on her deep religious convictions to guide her to a miracle.

Anyone who thought that a Christian science fiction thriller is an oxymoron will change their minds with the action-packed OXYGEN. The story line combines classic Apollo 13-like life threatening troubles with the "savior's" deep religious beliefs. The superb story line enables the audience to understand what makes each of the prime players breath including the "fired" former mission commander. Though the launch occurs about half way into the novel, readers will take delight with the proof that religion and science (fiction) are not necessarily anathematic enemy combatants.

Harriet Klausner