I had a chance to read an early copy of Infinite Space, Infinite God II last year, and it was just as awesome as I expected it to be after loving the first collection. Today, I’m honored to host Karina Fabian, who shares about each of the stories in this fabulous volume. Enjoy!
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Infinite Space, Infinite God II has twelve science fiction stories that span the gamut of the genre, from time travel to alien abduction, space opera and near-future space exploration stories. The stories all have one twist in common: each features a Catholic hero or theme. Just like with Infinite Space, Infinite God I (known as ISIG), the Fabians had a three-fold requirement: great sci-fi, great story, and great display of the Catholic faith. The combination garnered ISIG literary and popular acclaim; it won the EPPIE for best science fiction and was a top ten finalist for best science fiction in the Preditor and Editor polls.
“ISIG and ISIG II look at faith and the future in a unique way,” said Karina Fabian. “Science and faith are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they can work together. In both volumes, you see wonderful examples of faith informing the moral use of science, and of giving the characters the courage to act upon their convictions. Both are very positive books–not only about faith and the progress of Man, but of our future in general.”
Fabian said that this book differs from its predecessor in that the stories are more hero-centered. “In ISIG, we were thrilled by the ideas our contributors explored, although the characters were great, too. Here, however, the conflicts seemed more individual and less issue-oriented.”
Here’s what Karina Fabian had to say about the contributors:
ANDREW SEDDON:
In Seddon’s “Ghosts of Kourion,” Professor Cragg travels in time to a doomed city and learns that although he cannot save the ghosts of Kourion, he can at least ease their sufferings.
“Andrew paints a vivid portrait of ancient Kourion, which I loved because I studied ancient history in college. He made it come alive–and made you care about Professor Cragg. You want to beg him to escape, but you have to admire how he stays to help in a helpless situation,” Fabian said.
BARTON PAUL LEVENSON:
In Levenson’s “An Exercise in Logic,” An Ursuline nun uses logic to convince an alien race to divert an asteroid away from a human colony planet.
“Sister Julian is so…human,” Fabian said. “She’s very smart and full of faith, but she gets very frustrated when she seems to be banging her head against a wall arguing with these aliens. The aliens are fun, too, because they are so infuriating calm about the whole situation. Even if you figure out the answer to the puzzle before Sister Julian, you’ll enjoy the logical arguments.”
TAMARA WILHITE:
In Wilhite’s “Cathedral,” Katarina discovers the medicines she created are drugs to control the population and spends her last tortured days righting her wrongs.
“I cry every time I read the ending,” Fabian said. “Tamara has created a very real character and given her a very terrible wrong to right. Incidentally, this story has the least action by Catholic characters, yet the influence is very strong.”
ALEX LOBDELL:
Lobdell’s “Battle of the Narthex” is a hilarious mix of a royal assassination, alien militia and the Saturday night Mass-and-spaghetti dinner.
“Alex has a wicked sense of humor,” Fabian said. “A great sense of irony and a wonderful way of making the ordinary into something weird. He also has a way of weaving in some very touching moments and serious thoughts about faith, aging and sacrifice.”
COLLEEN DRIPPE’:
In Drippe’s “Tenniel,” Bishop Tenniel fights the Wolfbane clan leader to win the conversion of the tribe to Christianity.
“Even though this is thousands of years into the future, it’s also a look at a more primitive time,” Fabian said. “Bishop Tenniel comes from a barbaric tribe and finds faith, but in order to saves lives–as well as souls–he must revert back to his barbaric ways. Is it the right choice, or just the expedient one? Tenniel will be a long time coming to terms with what he’s done.”
J. SHERER:
In Sherer’s “Tin Servants,” Father Paul impersonates an android to enter war-torn Ghana and becomes embroiled in a plot to make the andorganics soldiers.
“You feel sick for Father Paul’s plight,” Fabian said. “As he aches over his people’s situation and his inability to really help, you ache with him. Jay’s a fine writer and Rob and I enjoyed working with him on some of the political elements of this story, as well.”
DERWIN MAK:
In Mak’s “Cloned to Kill,” Baptism helps a clone programmed to kill find her humanity– Father Markham must protect his new ward.
“What I loved about Derwin’s story was how he combined a very ordinary teen with a killing machine. In some ways, she reminded me a little of Cameron in The Sarah Connor Chronicles, but Lorraine has a lot more human innocence within her,” Fabian said.
JOHN RUNDLE:
In Rundle’s “Basilica,” Father Carpizo discovers a derelict spaceship designed to destroy planets. As two enemy empires race to reclaim the prize, he sacrifice himself to keep it away from them both.
“This is one of our most action-filled stories,” Fabian said. “Father Carpizo is hero in both the moral and physical sense–and he pays a hefty price for his courage.”
KEN PICK AND ALAN LOEWEN:
In “Dyads” by Ken Pick and Alan Loewen, Cathuria blames the Catholic Church and Earth when a failed missionary’s desperation boils over into terrorism. Father Heidler negotiates a delicate maze of politics and religious convictions to restore peace.
“This is our longest story–a novella, but it’s worth every word,” Fabian said. “Ken and Alan are master worldbuilders. What I love about their aliens is how they aren’t just humans-in-different-skin. Their cultures, their mannerisms, their religion, are all affected by their biology. Thus, Ken and Alan weave a fascinating story. Their main character, Father Heidler, appeared in ISIG, and it’s great to see him in a different role.”
Infinite Space, Infinite God II came out in trade paperback and e-book on November 15 from Twilight Times Books, and is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble online, or by order from Catholic or secular bookstores. For more information, go to www.isigsf.com.
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Want to read more? Be sure to check out the book’s blog tour:
18-Nov http://www.fabianspace.blogspot.com/ Tour schedule, info
20-Nov http://www.margaretfieland.com/ Writing Faith-Filled Fiction
21-Nov http://caroleannmoleti.blogspot.com Interview
22-Nov http://janverhoeff.com/blog/ Interview
23-Nov http://tributebooks.blogspot.com/ Review
23-Nov http://afortnightofmustard.blogspot.com/ Interview
24-Nov http://www.fictionalworlds.net Interview
25-Nov http://literary-equine.livejournal.com/ Interview
26-Nov http://frederation.wordpress.com/ Interview
29-Nov http://www.thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/ Interview
29-Nov http:// www.fabianspace.blogspot.com/ About Karina’s stories
30-Nov https://www.snoringscholar.com/ Karina Talks about the stories
1-Dec http://spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com Interview
2-Dec http://writersandauthors.blogspot.com Interview
2-Dec http:// www.fabianspace.blogspot.com/ About Contributors’ stories
3-Dec http://catholiconceagain.blogspot.com/ What is Catholic Fiction?
3-Dec http://timewithtannia.tripod.com/ Interview
4-Dec http://www.scificatholic.com/ Interview
5-Dec http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com/ Interview with Contributors
6-Dec http://blog.frankcreed.com/ Information
6-Dec http:// www.fabianspace.blogspot.com/ Reviews
