Flashpoint is set in the Chicago area in 2036. Due to a number of events chronicled in a
timeline in the front of the book, fundamental Christians are labeled as terrorists by the
One State government. As a result, these believers--referred to by the One State as
“Fundis”--have established an underground known as the Body of Christ. The believers
are helped in their struggle for survival by the process of re-formation, which is
described as “God’s giving us back a little of what it was like to be human before the
fall.” The main characters are Calamity Kid and e-girl, who enter the Body of Christ after
their parents are arrested for holding church meetings in their home.
After joining the Body, they spend the majority of the book devising a plan to rescue
their parents from a One State “rehab” center, which amounts to a brainwashing
facility. Calamity Kid takes on the role of a Sandman, combating the One State’s force
with tranquilizer darts, while his sister e-girl becomes a Hack, providing technical
support for her brother’s missions. As they search for their parents, they also adjust to
their re-formation and to their newfound status as wanted criminals.
Overall, the book is excellent.Creed does a great job of writing for his intended
audience of biblical/science fiction/cyberpunk fans, and he displays a good
understanding of his hybrid genre. In his dialogue, he has created a sort of futuristic
slang that, while intentionally different from its modern counterparts, is easily
understood (words like “ace” and “spiff” are high praise). Most importantly, Creed
manages to balance techno-punk sci-fi and Christianity to near perfection. The
characters are growing in their faith while dealing with situations of almost unimaginable
pressure, yet they are portrayed so well that the reader can easily relate to them. This
not only applies to Calamity Kid and e-girl but also to minor characters; the character of
Legacy is particularly well drawn. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who
likes biblical fiction or science fiction.
Flashpoint
Frank Creed
Biblical Cyberpunk
2007, The Writer’s Café Press
216 pages
$9.95
Review of FlashPoint, author Frank Creed
By —Stoney M. Setzer
|