Fiction Addict

Genre: Sci-fi

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: July 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Commander Chris Burke and his crew have just made history by being the first to visit and explore Mars. Looking forward to home, they set out not anticipating the rough journey home. After an endless stream of problems they finally touch down at Kennedy Space Center. A quick assessment of their situation reveals a terrifying quandary. The entire population of Earth has completely vanished.

Robin Parrish is known for epic tales chocked full of intense action sequences, global conspiracy, and reluctant heroes called out to save the world. Offworld certainly brings those familiar elements to the table, but in a very unique way. This time the story revolves around four intriguing characters who must answer the toughest questions in the midst of the most overwhelming circumstance imaginable.

As the story progresses we slowly are treated with more questions and answers, all leading to a mind boggling explanation that really gives this story a nice sci-fi edge to it. The action scenes are fun and shamelessly over the top, effectively allowing us to escape into this captivating dilemma Parrish has created. Some might complain that this story is too off the wall and implausible to be taken seriously. However, I admit that those are some of the elements I loved the most. I love to escape into my fiction, and Offworld delivers splendidly.

Robin Parrish is fast becoming one of my favorite authors and I truly hope others will give his writing the chance it deserves.

We recently asked author Ace Collins to share his experience of transitioning from non-fiction to fiction. Enjoy!

Ace Collins:

For three decades I had been exclusively a nonfiction author. Writing about four books a year left me little time to dip into anything else. Yet during this period of my life, I was always jotting down ideas and concepts for novels. By the time Zondervan fiction editor Andy Meisenheimer chatted with me about my attempting a novel for them, I had more than twenty outlines in my files. As I had always dreamed of writing a novel, it took very little convincing for me to jump into the new genre.

One of the things that made the transition easier was that I have always been a storyteller. The most consistent line I read in reviews of my nonfiction projects was, “It’s like sitting down at the table and having Ace tell you a story.” So in that sense, my writing style had been preparing for the move for years. Yet writing fiction is about more than style. It was a few other gifts I had been given that assured me I was ready to make that move.

One of my early editors in magazine work had instructed me to think of each story I wrote as a television movie. He had me picture the main scenes, find the strongest visual, and begin at that point to tell a story that read like a motion picture. This was the kind of advice that not only worked well in doing “Drama in Real Life” features, but in visualizing and producing a work of fiction. Without the vision Ric Cox gave me, the transition would have been much more difficult and I might have hesitated.

Another thing that prepared me for the jump into the genre was a background in sports. Sports are all about starting and restarting. They are about finding a rhythm and staying the course. Preparing to play games is also about embracing self-discipline. Sports combine fundamental skills with imagination. Sports teach that paying attention to the little details is the difference between winning and losing. Discipline, fundamentals and details are important in writing fiction as well. Hence, I had to have them anchored inside me before I made that move and my nonfiction work provided them in large doses.

There is another thing my athletic background gave to me as well. In sports I learned that an individual is only as successful as his team. In writing the team consists of everyone who has directed and encouraged you, coupled to editors, publicists, artists, designers, the sales department and members of author relations. I learned over my years of writing that those folks are vital to having success. Thus, when I finally made the move to fiction, I was ready to listen to them and plug their advice into the project. I was more than willing to be a part of their team. As I had written many books for Zondervan’s nonfiction side that had been successful, I was trusted the group completely. Having a team behind you trust and will listen to means you can pick up new skills in a hurry.

Yet to fully answer the question as to why it was important for me to take a detour from an area where I had been successful and dive into a world that was new to me goes back to the fundamental nature of who I am. I am a storyteller and a person who loves new challenges. The perfect place to use these attributes is in fiction.

I am so glad I made the move because I so enjoy being a part of a genre that allows me to create entertainment that contains an underlying message. In a sense, nonfiction works come from just the opposite viewpoint — you push the message first. So I relish the chance to have no limits placed upon creativity, to be able to soar as high as my imagination will take me and to have characters that reflect people who fascinate me. That is what makes this kind of writing so compelling and that is why I made the move.

Don’t miss our interview with Ace Collins.

Recently Tim George sat down with Ace Collins to discuss his new novel, Swope’s Ridge, the transition from non-fiction to fiction, and what’s on the horizon for the author. A special thanks goes out to Ace Collins for his time and to Jessica Secord at Zondervan for setting up this interview.

More about Ace Collins:

Ace Collins is a master storyteller and an award-winning author with over sixty books to his credit. Collins released three new books in 2008, has four releasing in 2009 and two slated for 2010. The mystery and action-packed Farraday Road (Zondervan, Oct 2008) is Collins’ first novel, followed by Swope’s Ridge (Zondervan, Oct 2009), part 1 and 2 in the trilogy based on the exploits of Arkansas lawyer Lije Evans. 25 Days 26 Ways comes on the heels of his Stories Behind books, the newest being Stories Behind Men of Faith. Collins’ is also working on developing two additional fiction series for release in upcoming years.

Collins has made scores of television appearances, including Good Morning America, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, CNN, Fox and Friends, The NBC Nightly News, Entertainment Tonight, Court TV, E The Untold Story, At Home Live, The Early Show and Crook and Chase. Two of his books have been made into network TV specials, while he also hosted the ABC holiday offering “Lassie 280 Dog years On TV” on ABC. His book Father Does Know Best was made into a NBC movie of the week, while he averages more than 250 radio interviews.

In addition, Collins has also penned more than 2,000 magazine features for the likes of People, Us, Plus Magazine and Guideposts. For the past twenty years, he’s also been he editor and graphic designer for WME Magazine. He also hosts the nonprofit charity organization’s radio and television broadcasts. Collins has won numerous awards for his writing, including three Golden Quills, an America’s Writing Award and the Angel of Excellence Award. He has spoke to many groups and was a feature lecturer at the National Archives Author Series in Washington DC.

The Texas-based writer has been married for thirty-three years to Kathy Collins, the Associate Director for the Center for Learning and Development in Waco, Texas. The couple has two sons; Clint, a graduate of Baylor University who lives in Austin, and Rance, a student at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas.

Collins’ hobbies include restoring and driving classic cars. He currently owns a 1934 Auburn 652Y Sedan, a 1936 Cord 810 Westchester, a 1937 Lincoln-Zephyr Sedan, and a 1965 Mustang Fastback. He’s also a huge college basketball fan and a collector of movie memorabilia from the Golden Age of Hollywood and enjoying Art-Deco design.

On the non-fiction side, Collins recently released Stories Behind Women of Extraordinary Faith (Zondervan), followed by a companion book Stories Behind Men of Faith (Zondervan, 2009). Collins’ work with “The Stories Behind” series date back to 2001, with the bestseller The Stories Behind The Best-Loved Songs of Christmas and The Stories Behind The Great Traditions of Christmas, which topped the charts and has been translated and released in China, among others.

Also in 2009, Collins released Sticks & Stones: Using Your Words as a Power Force!, a book he has wanted to write for over a decade. The book shares stories of the incredible people Collins’ met over his illustrious career. His writing career began twenty-five years ago, and he has since penned more than sixty books, including bios of Evel Knievel and The Dixie Chicks, autobiographies with Lauren Chapin and The Cathedral Quartet, how to books, a book on the star players of the old Negro baseball league and two bestsellers with one of the biggest stars in entertainment history, the legendary Lassie.

This interview can also be downloaded from our iTunes page.

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We’re thrilled to be partnering with Zondervan for our big Ace Collins Giveaway.

5 random winners will receive autographed copies of Farraday Road AND Swope’s Ridge.

To enter:

1. Send an email to contest@fictionaddict.com with the subject line, “Ace Collins Giveaway”.

2. Include your mailing address (where you want the books sent if you win).

3. Tell us where/how you found out about this contest.

That’s it!

This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Winners will be notified via email and announced on our homepage on October 5th. Entries received after 11:59pm (Central) on October 4th will NOT be eligible.

Don’t miss our interview with Ace Collins and his blog post in our Author Spotlight.

Congratulations to the following winners of our Lost Mission Giveaway! They will each be receiving a copy of Athol Dickson’s latest novel:

Rosemary Crabtree (Arkansas)

Neppie Hay (Florida)

Crystal Fulcher (North Carolina)

Bradley Curtwright (Arkansas)

Dave Wagner (California)

Genre: Drama, Romance

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date: September 22, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Anita Shreve’s previous novels explore the complexity of human relationships and the deeper end of emotions that everyone shares. Her latest novel, A Change in Altitude is no different. Throughout the book Shreve explores the question of whether a marriage can survive misunderstandings wrapped around tragedy.

Margaret and Patrick have a young marriage full of hope and dreams when they move to Africa. They quickly discover that the human aspects of 1970’s Africa are as untamed and unruly as the wildlife itself. Robberies, rape, attacks and a misunderstood political society all confront Margaret in a very short time, making it difficult for her to acclimate to this new life she’s chosen.

When it’s decided that Patrick and Margaret should join some other couples in climbing Mount Kenya, Margaret isn’t interested in the adventure, but she chooses to go along with it so that she can be with her husband. As they hear about all of the dangers and difficulties involved in the climb, Margaret remains unsure of the trip but continues in preparations anyway.

Then tragedy beyond comprehension strikes and Margaret must learn more about herself and her life than she ever believed possible. How does she move on? CAN you move on in the face of something like this?

Shreve does not shy away from the hard topics in this novel. As she explores marriage, friendships, internal struggles and the alienation of a foreign land, she plumbs the difficult paths that many refuse to acknowledge in their writing.  Sometimes this makes it difficult to read. A few times I was tempted to put it down and give myself a break from Margaret’s thoughts. In fact I did do that a few times. But the journey, though difficult, was as many things are in life, a beautiful one. Africa was far more than just a setting in the book. It was a character, many times more three dimensional and full of life than some of the other human characters in the book.

Reminiscent of  “Out of Africa” and even making a few references to Karen Blixen herself, the book is a journey of not only self discovery but life discovery. It’s a journey that works as any other good journey does.  It leaves you changed when you reach the end.

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Howard Books

Publication Date: September 2009

Jake Chism’s Review:

Athol Dickson has given us such a rich and complex tale that any meager plot synopsis on my part wouldn’t do this novel justice. This story is simply too good to be described in such a way, and should only be experienced through your own eyes. Dickson’s previous works have awed fans and critics alike with his deft prose, endearing characters, and just the right doses of the supernatural. Lost Mission gives us all that and more, making this a must read for any true fiction aficionado.

Very few are able to heighten the reading experience as well as Athol Dickson. Usually I want to speed through a novel at light speed longing to know how it all will end. As with Dickson’s previous works, Lost Mission caused me to slow down and enjoy every savory bite of this gripping journey. When I arrived at the end I was left feeling like I’d taken part in an epic voyage that had completely consumed my imagination.

Athol Dickson is a breath of fresh air in a market that is often saturated by manufactured plots, spurious characters, and inauthentic spiritual conversions. Lost Mission is redemptive storytelling at its highest level and once again Dickson proves that he is a true master of the craft.

Tim George’s Review:

Lost Mission is vintage Athol Dickson. In his new release, the ultimate storyteller invites us to join him as he spins a tale of grand visions and dismal failures. Four people, sensing a compulsion to do something great for God, learn greatness is not something God calls any of us to; transparency and faithfulness are.

Our story begins with a Benedictine priest in the late 1700’s and his quest to do a work for God in the new world of California. As his life nears its end in seeming abject failure the priest creates an object of devotion that will remain locked away for 250 years. Thus, in modern day Mexico, a woman of deep faith is given the object to carry with her on her quest to tell all those in America about her Savior. Lupe’s wanderings bring her into contact with a young seminary graduate seeking his own vision in the Arizona desert and a billionaire convinced of his own righteousness and faithfulness to God.

The twist in Lost Mission is in identifying the heroes and villains. Lupe’ is the purest of the four but even she has to enter the States illegally to pursue her vision. The billionaire seems the worst but he is driven by grief more than hatred. The seminary graduate is willing to forsake all to follow his vision yet becomes a thief to fulfill it. It is in the priest’s burden, as Lupe calls the object she carries, that we discover the true nature of these four people. Be forewarned, if you allow yourself to peer into the burden Lupe’ carries you will see yourself as well. I did.

Lost Mission is reminiscent of Dickson’s earlier work, River Rising. The prose is powerful and the story has depth. This is a parable told on a grand scale yet with intensely personal implications. Every chapter begins with events that led to the demise of a Spanish mission in 1767 but quickly segues to the lives of the three modern day believers. Dickson’s method of scene shifting is unique. Though it may take a few chapters to grow accustomed to it, you will soon see the power of his method.

If you’re planning on a quick afternoon read, this is not the book for you. Some novels are like freeways. When you need to get somewhere in a hurry, they are the way to go. Dickson’s works are more like an old state highway that passes through every little town along the way. Here you see and experience all the great characters and places you would have missed had you not come this way. Believe me it’s a trip worth the time.

Genre: Thriller, Dark Fantasy, Mystery

Publisher: Jove

Publication date: August 25, 2009

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Damnable, the surprising debut novel by Hank Schwaeble, is well written, intricately crafted, highly imaginative, and edge-of-your-seat suspenseful. It features a likeable and sympathetic hero, a diabolical villain, and a cast of supporting characters that enhances the fast-paced plot. It’s a quick, enjoyable read.

But the book has a big problem in its sexual content, which is so overdone and explicit that the narrative seems more like erotica than thriller in spots. This unfortunately detracts significantly from the otherwise highly engaging story.

The plot centers on Jake Hatcher, a wrongly imprisoned ex-military man. When he receives word that his brother has died—a brother he didn’t even know he had—he is temporarily released to assist his grieving mother with funeral arrangements. The trouble starts when he begins investigating the circumstances of his mysterious brother’s death. As Hatcher uncovers a series of increasingly confusing and disturbing clues, all signs seem to indicate that something very sinister is unfolding. Soon Hatcher comes face to face with true evil, and when he does, all bets are off as to whether he has what it takes to prevail.

There’s a lot to like about this book. The writing is good. The hero is sympathetic, realistic, and displays an appealing combination of street-honed toughness and cerebral dexterity. Schwaeble does an admirable job of building the suspense and tension from the first pages right to the climactic conclusion. The story contains a nice blend of mystery, fantasy, and dark thriller characteristics. But the positives are seriously marred by the overdone sexuality and crass language. The depiction of evil in the book is stark and graphic as well.

The title is derived from Jake Hatcher’s description of himself when he reveals why he was imprisoned: after a politically sensitive operation, someone in his special-forces unit had to take the fall, and he was chosen—the damnable one.

In the end, the book’s positives don’t outweigh its negatives. Hopefully, with his next book, Schwaeble will focus more on the aspects of his writing that almost make this book really good and less on the explicitness and vulgarity that overshadow it.

Genre: General Fiction

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: March 1, 2009

Reviewed by Ashley Barrett

When fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper leaves his best friend Daisy Chance at their hangout he has no idea what is about to happen. Daisy mysteriously vanishes. The citizens of Defiance, Texas, grow anxious as days roll by with no trace of the young girl. Everyone becomes suspicious, even of the newer resident Muriel, Jed’s friend who is battling cancer.

Jed’s last conversation with Daisy torments him. He aches to be a hero, to rescue his friend, save his mom and sister from the controlling wrath of his father, Hap, and pray the cancer out of Muriel. But Jed’s prayers for Daisy, his family, and Muriel seem to bounce off the clouds.

Where is God in all this turmoil and who is He anyway? Is He the harsh judge Hap always warns about or the tender friend to whom Muriel speaks freely? Jed bounces back and forth between wrestling these questions and worrying about Daisy.

Daisy Chain grabbed me at the beginning and wouldn’t let go until the last word. It submerged me in a world of conflicted people stunned by the disappearance of a spunky young girl in their small, sweltering town.

Mary DeMuth has written both fiction and non-fiction. Daisy Chain begins the Defiance Texas Trilogy. I would certainly recommend Daisy Chain for readers who appreciate well-told, engrossing stories about real people. The second book in the trilogy A Slow Burn comes out in October and I can’t wait to dive in!

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: October 2009

Reviewed by Tim George

Warning! If you haven’t read Farraday Road yet stop here.

Swope’s Ridge continues the story Ace Collins began in his riveting debut work of fiction, Farraday Road. Lije Evans and his cast of characters follow the mystery of Swope’s Ridge to places none of them could have possibly imagined. What began as the hunt for the murderer of his wife becomes Lije’s quest to stop something far bigger than the individual pieces of the mystery.

The stakes are raised as we realize what happened in a sleepy corner of Arkansas was only the precursor to something much more sinister than first believed. The author expands the story this time to include international terrorism and the last soldier of the most infamous of all terrorists, Adolf Hitler. This time around we are carried from Arkansas, to England, to Germany, to Mexico, to Kansas, and back home again on a wild ride of suspense, mystery, and espionage.

Though the stage is much bigger than the first novel, Collins still manages to keep us close to the characters; something that is often lost in sequels. Swope’s Ridge is not a book for readers looking for stereotypical cut outs of characters. Through all the adventure we are presented a sobering look at racism, betrayal, and misplaced loyalties. Once again the plot is tight and the dialogue, engaging. And the really good news … there is no “to be continued” at the end of this one. Though Lije Evans may be back another day, you will be satisfied with the conclusion of the mystery of Swope’s Ride. Very satisfied.

Genre: General Fiction

Publisher: Windblown Media

Publication Date: September 25, 2009

Reviewed by Ashley Barrett

Steven Kerner cannot watch his marriage, career and relationship with his daughter fall apart. So he looks elsewhere, to a bar near his childhood home, where he meets Andy Monroe. Andy knows a lot about Steven and Steven leaves the bar feeling very uneasy about this insightful stranger. Later that night, an explosive argument erupts between Steven and his wife, Lindsey. He flees his expensive southern California home and takes refuge in a nearby hotel. While separated from his family, Steven develops a surprising friendship with the mysterious Andy and his Buick Electra. Andy soon introduces him to shrimp cocktail at Bo’s Café, and a group of Christians unlike any he has ever met. Through their conversations, Steven learns God’s grace changed the lives of Andy and the rest of the Thursday deck group at Bo’s Café. They believe grace can transform Steven’s life, too.

Will this odd community help Steven save his marriage? Can Steven receive the grace that can release him from the grip of shame and anger? Bo’s Café provides an original look at how God uses offbeat, unexpected ways and people to rescue the hurting in all facets of society.

Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol and John Lynch collaborated on Bo’s Café. They run an organization called Leadership Catalyst that promotes the type of grace community described in Bo’s Café.

Windblown Media, also published The Shack by William Paul Young. Like The Shack, Bo’s Café alternates between large chunks of description and dialogue. Unfortunately, both books demonstrate poor craftsmanship. The writing of Bo’s Café did not match its excellent message and liberating ideas. The authors used the characters as talking heads to make their points, giving the book a glaze of insincerity.

That said, I would recommend Bo’s Café to readers who weren’t distracted by the less-than-perfect flow of The Shack. Some readers will enjoy the great thoughts on grace, shame and anger in Bo’s Café. Others may struggle with its fragmented and clunky style. I’m willing to try another book by these authors and/or Windblown Media, hoping for better editing in future volumes.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: September 2009

Reviewed by Tim George

Terri Blackstock has delivered a number of best selling series including Restoration, Cape Refuge, Northpoint 911, and Suncoast Chronicles. Over the past few months she has stepped away from that formula to offer two excellent stand-alone novels in a row. First, in Double Minds, Blackstock carried us into the world of the Christian recording industry. Now, Intervention opens up a world every parent fears and too many have experienced.

Barbara Covington is a widow doing her best to raise two teenage children without their father. After years of fighting to save her daughter from her own destructive drug habit, Barbara calls in an interventionist from a high priced drug rehab center in Atlanta. What begins as a mother’s fears and prayers for her daughter’s rehabilitation in a distant city transforms into an unbelievable nightmare when the interventionist is found murdered and Emily, her daughter, missing.

This is the story of one woman’s determination to find her daughter and prove her innocence. Whatever the cost. At every step I asked myself, what would I do as a parent to save my child in a similar situation?  Be careful before you answer. What we learn from Barbara and Emily is that no family crisis occurs at some convenient time in some easily solved manner. Well meaning people sometimes offer the tritest words of, what they mistakenly think is encouragement. Sometimes it feels as though no one understands and that the heavens have grown silent – for both parent and child.

The characters are people struggling with their faith in the crucible of extraordinary circumstances. Knowing that the author has personally worked in ministries to women just like Emily only makes the story more compelling. Intervention is an intensely personal and spiritual novel; one that quite possibly will garner the label of “preachy” by some. As far as this reviewer is concerned it is a message that needs to be heard by all parents and their children. We are all works in progress in need of the ultimate Interventionist. Thank you, Terri, for reminding us of that truth.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: September 2009

Reviewed by Tim George

Nick Polchak is a forensic entomologist who understands one thing well … bugs. Everything else about life and people, not so much. And that is what has made Dr. Polchak such an interesting character in all of the novels in Tim Down’s, Bug Man series (Shoo Fly Pie, Chop Shop, First the Dead, and Less Than Dead). In this installment, Nick faces terrorists, possible global disaster, and most frightening of all, the attention of two women demanding he make a choice between them.

In Ends of the Earth, Tim Downs does a good job of telling a big story in a very personal way.  Eco-terrorism is something that is a very real threat and Downs paints the picture of its possibilities with frightening clarity. Few of us realize how fragile our agricultural system is and what the ramifications are if it should collapse. That story is told on a global scale. And, Nick is up to the task to finally identify the threat and help stop it.

It’s the personal side of this story that leaves Nick stymied. Two women from his past are intricately involved in Nick’s investigation. One is vulnerable (recently widowed and about to lose her farm) while the other is tough as nails. The question is, can Nick see beyond his thick-as-lead glasses and read his own heart. That is a asking a lot from a guy, who in seeking to compliment a friend’s wife, said she had the mystery and beauty of a dung beetle.

Give Nick a chance and read Ends of the Earth. The plot is tight, the action intense yet believable, and the characters memorable. In the end, this is a fun read that leaves you thinking about some things you may not have before.

Genre: Comedy, Chicklit

Publisher: David C. Cook

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

It’s not often that you see a coming of age novel that isn’t about a teenager, but Stretch Marks fits the bill. Mia Rathbun is nearing the end of her twenties, set in a career and a relationship. Even though she seems to have everything going her way, she’s not quite settled in her life. The two main relationships in her life are rocky at best. Her live in boyfriend, Lars, is a free lance writer who’s more often free than lance these days. Their relationship is familiar, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s comfortable or better yet, growing. Mia has a habit of suppressing concerns and masking issues in order to keep the peace. This is a habit that most likely developed due to her mother’s decision to leave the family when Mia was younger. This brings us to that other big relationship in her life…

Mia’s mother, a cruise director on a ship, has been an in and out influence in her daughter’s life. More often than not she has a million things going on and calls Mia to dispense advice in a manner not too different from a candy machine in a grocery store lobby. A few hits. A few misses. And every now and then you get something good.

This is the life into which Stuart introduces a new character and with it, much conflict. Mia’s baby. As with real life, a pregnancy changes everything and it can really challenge where you are in your life. Mia’s views on the world and her relationships all begin to come into question. Especially when she shares her unexpected pregnancy with Lars… And things don’t settle down any further when her mother decides to visit. Can we say chaos?

From there, everything spirals into control. That’s right. As life seems to be spinning further and further out of control, Mia’s focus sharpens and she finally begins to pull things together and face issues she never even realized she had.

With a heavy topic like unplanned pregnancy, Stuart could have gone easily into the dramatic realm and preached a hard line. Instead, she infused the story with humor and light dialogue while balancing serious topics. The result is an enjoyable journey that deals with real life stress and chaos in a very relatable way.  Stuart’s sharing of other people’s faith is never heavy handed or preachy and the book leaves you feeling very hopeful. People make mistakes every day. We all do. And yet no matter what the mistake is, there’s always hope that we can learn and grow through what we’ve done. Perhaps we can even come out better for it on the other side.

Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Publication Date: July 2009

Reviewed by Kaci Hill

I’ve been a fan of Karen Hancock’s from the beginning, and it’s been two years since her last book, Return of the Guardian-King, which wrapped up her Legends of the Guardian-King series. So, suffice it to say, her fans have eagerly waited this new book, which returns to earth in the present day and, like Arena, engages the worlds of science and faith. But both lovers of  the Arena style and lovers of the Legends style will be pleased, I think, and get a taste of both worlds, in some sense.

The Enclave follows geneticist and former military (how’s that for a combination) Cameron Reinhardt and fellow scientist Lacey McHenry as they try to unravel the secrets behind Kendall-Jakes Longevity Institute.  At the bottom of physical attacks, seduction, secrecy, deception, genetic manipulation, and psychological warfare lies a disturbing reality of men playing gods. And caught in the middle is a group of children just praying they survive.

For me, reading The Enclave was akin to visiting an old friend. Hancock has a wonderful method of combining the physical and the spiritual so that they complement each other. Faith is woven into the story naturally, underscored and developed as the story progresses. Rather than be in conflict, faith and reason move as one, rather than hammer truth, it unfolds readily. Even the subplot in New Eden serves as a mirror as well as a means for the reader to engage the children affected unwittingly by those inside Kendall-Jakes.

Hancock’s characters are also memorable, from the awkward but steady Cam to the endearing, sweet Zowan, to the wholly depraved villains. The characters struggle through decisions, trying to align their faith and the world around them, working through almost impossible scenarios that don’t seem to have any desirable outcome. And, as a personal side note, I love how their faith plays out in ways I could actually envision real, full-time working Christians actually doing. Some bend over backwards just to read their Bibles; others succumb to the routine and neglect the reading of the Word. The same environment, whether hostile (and believe me, this one is  malicious) or benign, produce in  different people different results. There is no cookie-cutter faith. They struggle to answer questions, wrestle through real-world dilemmas, and, in the end, hold God faithful.

And that, really, I think is the beautiful mingling of the Legends of the Guardian-King and the Arena worlds—the harmony of the spiritual and the physical, the real-world playing out of things unseen. There are other things as well, but the stark reality is that I Am is here.

So, hat’s off to Karen. I look forward to whatever comes next.

Recently Tim George caught up with novelist Athol Dickson. The author was gracious enough to give us some insight into his new novel, Lost Mission, the use of magical realism in writing, and a sneak peak at what’s to come. A special thanks goes out to Athol Dickson and Jennifer Willingham of Howard Books for setting up this interview.

Athol Dickson’s novels have been favorably compared to the work of Octavia Butler (Publisher’s Weekly), Daphne du Maurier (FaithfulReader.com, by Cindy Crosby, Christianity Today fiction critic), and Flannery O’Connor (The New York Times). His They Shall See God was a Christy Award finalist. River Rising was selected as one of the Booklist Top Ten Christian Novels of 2006 and was a Christianity Today’s Best Novel of 2006 finalist. Both River Rising and The Cure won Christy Awards for best suspense novel. Winter Haven was a finalist for the 2009 Christy Award in the suspense category, making four novels in a row to receive that honor. His seventh novel, Lost Mission, was released in September, 2009. Athol lives with his wife in southern California.

This interview can also be downloaded from our iTunes page.

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Genre: Drama, Romance

Publisher: Mariner Books

Publication Date: May 27, 2004

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Romance. It’s usually a very simple formula. Boy meets girl. Girl and boy fight then make up. Then it’s happily ever afterland.

In the case of the Time Traveler’s Wife, Girl (Claire) meets Boy (Henry) when she is six and he is in his late 30’s. Henry, on the other hand, doesn’t meet Claire until he’s in his early 30’s and she’s in her early 20’s. Confused? Yes. I know. It can take a bit of mental acuity to follow along, but the effort is paid off in spades by the end of the story.

Henry DeTamble is a time traveler. He’s not some scientist or great inventor who has come up with a brilliant new way to bend time and space. He’s a librarian who has a genetic disorder that makes him unable to hold on to his place in time. He travels through time without choice, often leaving or returning at the most inopportune moments. Worse yet, Henry’s clothes don’t travel with him. Imagine appearing naked in an alley where a gang is mugging a helpless victim. Or finding yourself in the middle of a restaurant with no clothes. At the least it’s embarrassing. At the worst it can be life threatening.

By the time that Henry meets Claire for the first time, she’s been in love with him for her entire life and yet he has no idea who she is. It’s a surreal experience for Henry but it turns into the best moment of his life. For the rest of the story, Claire and Henry’s lives are interwoven through time with tragedy, drama and some of the most heart rending scenes you’ll ever read.

This book isn’t titled The Time Traveler though. It’s about the Time Traveler’s Wife. And I think that is a key to the whole story. Henry didn’t choose his time traveling nature. It was genetically instilled within him. Claire, however, DID choose this life. She wanted Henry. Even knowing what life would be like, she wanted Henry. She chose it. Perhaps my role in life as a military wife made this story more heartfelt for me. It’s not easy to be in Claire’s shoes and be the one left behind.

I am in awe of Niffenegger’s accomplishment as a writer and storyteller. As I read, I bounced back and forth through Henry and Claire’s lives in a manner not dissimilar to his time traveling. I never knew when the next chapter would be in the course of their timelines, but I knew that no matter what, it would fill in necessary gaps and details.

Niffenegger doesn’t whitewash the realities of time travel and make it ‘exciting’ or adventurous like many science fiction writers do. Instead, she places it firmly in the context of everyday life and trials. This makes it a challenge that Henry and Claire need to work through for their marriage to survive. Everyone has issues in their life that they need to work through. Henry and Claire’s are really no different from our own. We just find the circumstances more fascinating.

The story is beautifully crafted and brilliantly woven. This book will move you. It will shatter you. Beyond that, it will make you want to hug the people that you love. Right now.

We present to you our latest podcast episode featuring novelists Eric Wilson and Robin Parrish. Calvin Moore and Jake Chism were along for the ride as we discussed reader expectations within and without the Christian market. We probably ended up with more questions than answers, but nevertheless it made for an intriguing conversation. A special thanks goes out to Eric Wilson and Robin Parrish for their time and their candid discussion. We invite you to weigh in with your comments below or you can send us an email. Enjoy!

(This podcast can also be downloaded from our iTunes page).

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It’s time for yet another Fiction Addict Giveaway! We’re partnering with Howard Books to offer 5 lucky winners a copy of Athol Dickson’s Lost Mission.

To Enter:

1. Send an email to contest@fictionaddict.com with the subject line “Lost Mission Giveaway”

2. Include your mailing address (where you want the book sent)

3. Please let us know how you found out about this giveaway.

That’s it!

This contest is limited to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Winners will be notified via email and announced on our website on September 28th. Entries received after 11:59pm Central on September 27th will NOT be eligible.

Stay tuned to Fiction Addict for our Lost Mission review and an interview with Athol Dickson.

Recently Lori Twichell caught up with New York Times Bestselling Author Nicholas Sparks to discuss his new novel, The Last Song. We invite you to listen in as he shares some insight into writing from a screenplay, working with Disney and Miley Cyrus, and his upcoming movie plans. A special thanks goes out to Miriam Parker of Hachette Book Group for setting up this interview.

See Lori Twichell’s review of The Last Song here.

About Nicholas Sparks:

Nicholas Charles Sparks was born in Omaha, Nebraska on December 31, 1965. As a child, he lived in Minnesota, Los Angeles, and Grand Island, Nebraska, finally settling in Fair Oaks, California at the age of eight. He lived in Fair Oaks through high school, graduated valedictorian in 1984, and received a full track scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.

After breaking the Notre Dame school record as part of a relay team in 1985 as a freshman (a record which still stands), he was injured and spent the summer recovering. During that summer, he wrote his first novel, though it was never published. He majored in Business Finance and graduated with high honors in 1988.

He and his wife Catherine, who met on spring break in 1988, were married in July, 1989. While living in Sacramento, he wrote his second novel that same year, though again, it wasn’t published. In 1990, he collaborated on a book with Billy Mills, the Olympic Gold Medalist and it was published by Feather Publishing before later being picked up by Random House. (It was recently re-issued by Hay House Books.) Though it received scant publicity, sales topped 50,000 copies in the first year of release.

He began selling pharmaceuticals and moved from Sacramento, California to North Carolina in 1992. In 1994, at the age of 28, he wrote The Notebook over a period of six months. In October, 1995, rights to The Notebook were sold to Warner Books. It was published in October, 1996, and he followed that with Message in a Bottle (1998), A Walk to Remember (1999), The Rescue (2000), A Bend in the Road (2001), and Nights in Rodanthe (2002), The Guardian (2003), The Wedding (2003), Three Weeks with my Brother (2004), True Believer (2005), At First Sight (2005), Dear John (2006), The Choice (2007), and The Lucky One (2008). All were domestic and international best sellers and were translated into more than 40 languages. His newest book, THE LAST SONG will be made into a movie starring Miley Cyrus, in theaters in 2010.

The movie version of Message in a Bottle was released in 1999, A Walk to Remember was released in 2002, and The Notebook was released in 2004. The average domestic box office gross per film was $56 million — with another $100 million in DVD sales-making the novels by Nicholas Sparks one of the most successful franchises in Hollywood. The film version of Nights in Rodanthe was released in the fall of 2008 and starred Diane Lane and Richard Gere. Forthcoming movie adaptations of Nicholas Sparks’ books include DEAR JOHN, THE LUCKY ONE and THE LAST SONG.

Nichols Sparks is an avid athlete who runs daily, lifts weights regularly, and competes in Tae Kwon Do. He attends church regularly and reads approximately 125 books a year. He contributes to a variety of local and national charities, and is a major contributor to the Creative Writing Program (MFA) at the University of Notre Dame, where he provides scholarships, internships, and a fellowship annually.

He lives in North Carolina with his wife and children.

This interview can also be downloaded from our iTunes page.

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Congratulations to Shanna Taylor of Broken Bow, OK. She has won the complete autographed Travis Thrasher library.

Stay tuned for a brand new giveaway!

Recently Jake Chism caught up with Steven James, author of The Pawn, The Rook, and The Knight. In our interview Steven discusses his love for his characters, the use of emotion in the thriller genre, and he gives us a little taste of what’s to come. A special thanks to Steven James and Claudia Marsh of Revell for setting up this interview.

More about Steven:

Critically acclaimed author Steven James has written more than twenty books, including the bestselling thriller series The Bowers Files. One of the nation’s most innovative storytellers, Steven developed his skill as a performer at East Tennessee State University (MA in storytelling). He lives in Tennessee with his wife and three daughters.

You can also listen to this interview via iTunes.

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Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Henry Holt

Publication date: September 1, 2009

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Richard North Patterson, acclaimed for his character-driven political thrillers, makes a departure from the major issues of previous novels like Eclipse and Exile and turns out a straightforward campus mystery in The Spire.

Mark Darrow has made millions practicing law after graduating on a football scholarship from Caldwell College, a fictional but familiar-seeming formerly Christian school in small-town Ohio. Sixteen years later, his alma mater is asking for his help. The school is embroiled in a financial scandal involving its president, and Lionel Farr, Darrow’s mentor and the school’s provost, asks Darrow to return to Caldwell to fill the now empty position. Darrow agrees, but upon his return, he quickly finds that all is not well at the little college.

The story follows Darrow as he adapts to his new job, but between fundraising calls to prominent alumni and meetings with faculty, he finds time to investigate not only the financial scandal for which the former president was ousted but also a 16-year-old murder for which his best friend is still serving time. For some reason, no one in town, from the police chief to the local attorney, seems to think it the least bit odd that the new college president would be investigating a murder that took place a decade and a half earlier.

As a mystery, The Spire mostly succeeds. Patterson does a good job of setting up multiple plausible suspects early on, and the ending delivers a predictable but satisfying twist. But the story, while interesting, is flawed by uncharacteristically careless writing. The transitions between story elements are jarring at times, and much of the book’s first half contains confusing memories of memories and flashbacks within flashbacks. The plot is frequently interrupted by lengthy sections of dialog that, while they serve to build character depth, are largely unsupported by any real drama in the story.

Like most of this author’s books, the story is told from a purely secular viewpoint, and the objectionable content that exists stems from that fact. It is either interesting or unfortunate, depending on one’s point of view, that Caldwell, a purportedly Christian institution, exists in such an environment that things like rampant drug and alcohol abuse and even a professor’s affair with a student are viewed as wrong only insofar as they affect the school’s reputation among wealthy alumni.

For all its problems, however, this book was still penned by one of the great fiction authors of our time. So while it falls short of the bar set by Patterson’s best-sellers of previous years, it nevertheless manages to be compelling right to the final page.

Genre: Drama

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Publication Date: September 8, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Summer vacation is usually a time that people look forward to with much delight. Throw a beachfront property in there and you have what many people would consider a perfect vacation. Ronnie Miller is not most people. The last thing she wants to do is go to the North Carolina shore and spend the Summer with her father.  When Ronnie’s parents divorced, her anger at him took her life to a very different place. She refused to speak to him for three whole years. So when he calls and invites her and her younger brother Jonah to spend the Summer with him, she’s not interested in the least.

Still, her mother insists and her brother is excited about it. So this is how Ronnie finds herself spending her Summer away from all of her friends and her favorite NYC haunts. She soon finds out that a girl who prefers to wear black all the time and has a bright purple streak in her hair doesn’t fit in very well in North Carolina. As the Summer progresses though, she begins to learn more about her family, herself and her life as she’s always known it.

One thing that Nicholas Sparks does better than any other contemporary author is emotional journeys. Anyone who has read “The Notebook”, “Message in a Bottle” or “A Walk To Remember” can tell you that.  This book is no different.  Sparks writes from the heart and does it with no remorse. Relationships between parents and children, friends and God are all dissected, examined and explored with little editing.

The book moves slowly at first and there are a lot of characters to keep track of as everyone gets introduced. There’s also a lot of back story involved so that we can have a deeper understanding of where characters have been or why they make certain decisions. The character’s stories come together so that by the end, each one has made an emotional journey that changes them. (Warning: Since Sparks pulls no emotional punches, you may want to read this one with a box of tissues handy.)

Though it’s a book about a summer at the shore, The Last Song is no light summer romp. It will challenge you to view the world outside your comfort zone and examine your own responses to life’s twists and turns at the same time it’s giving you a beautifully scripted story.

Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Adventure

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: September 1^st, 2009

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark set the hearts of Panem on fire when they found a way to both win The Hunger Games and defy the evil Capitol. As they return home they discover that an uprising among the districts has begun and President Snow is doing everything in his power to quench it. Katniss and Peeta are beginning to realize that winning the Hunger Games by no means assures them of safety. In a desperate move President Snow wipes out any hope of protection and security for the two champions and their loved ones. Can the hope of a nation be silenced before the nation fights back?

Suzanne Collins left me in utter and complete awe with her phenomenal debut, The Hunger Games. With reckless abandon I tore into this sequel with strong hopes that I would be enthralled yet again. Thankfully, Collins does not disappoint. Not even close!

What I loved about Catching Fire was that Collins didn’t try to top herself. Instead of attempting to write a better novel, she focused on giving us even more story. The Hunger Games brought us so much action, romance, adventure, and suspense and all of those elements are found in perfect doses here. We’re actually treated to more character development this time around, making the aforementioned elements work seamlessly together.

I’ll admit that I expected the story to head in a different direction and I was a bit surprised when I realized exactly where Collins was taking us. Some might suggest this is a somewhat gimmicky move for a sequel, but Collins’s strong writing sold me completely on the idea and I never looked back. In the end we are left with a gut wrenching longing for the finale, where it seems like things are heading towards an explosive ending.

I am totally hooked on this series and I can’t wait to put these novels into everyone’s hands. If you’re looking for sharp storytelling, characters to root for, villains to loathe, and relentless action then this is the series for you.

UPDATE: We’ve extended the contest until September 13th.

We love doing big Giveaways at Fiction Addict, and this is our biggest yet. In partnership with novelist Travis Thrasher we are thrilled to announce that one lucky winner will win a complete autographed Travis Thrasher library. That’s 12 autographed novels!

Titles include: The Promise Remains, The Watermark, The Second Thief, Three Roads Home, Gun Lake, Admission, Blinded, The Promise Remains/The Watermark (repackaged), Sky Blue, Out of the Devil’s Mouth, Isolation, and Ghostwriter.

To enter:

1. Send an email to contest@fictionaddict.com, subject line “Travis Thrasher Contest”

2. Provide us with your mailing address (where you want the books to send if you win)

3. Tell us how you found out about this contest.

That’s it! This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. The winner will be notified via email and announced on our homepage on September 14th. Entries received after 11:59pm (CST) on September 13th will not be eligible.

Check out our reviews of Isolation and Ghostwriter.

Don’t miss our recent interview with Travis.

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication date: May 19, 2009

Reviewed by Jeremy Taylor

Lee Child delivers another winner in his thirteenth Jack Reacher novel. Though more cerebral and less action-oriented than some of Child’s previous books, Gone Tomorrow gives Reacher fans everything they’ve come to expect.

Jack Reacher is sitting in a mostly empty subway car in New York City in the middle of the night when he realizes that one of his few fellow passengers is exhibiting all twelve characteristic signs of a suicide bomber. He approaches her, she reacts, and just like that, Reacher is thrown into the middle of another unlikely but oh-so-entertaining series of challenges and solutions, this time pitting him against the NYPD, the FBI, and an Afghanistan-based terrorist organization.

For pure escapist fiction, you can’t do much better than Lee Child and Jack Reacher. In this book, Reacher plays the role of investigator, working at odds with the authorities to solve a mystery with roots going back to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Along the way, he not only exhibits deduction abilities that would make Sherlock Holmes envious, he manages to escape federal custody, track down and apprehend bad guys in a city of over 8 million people, and first threaten and then team up with a United States senator.

Though far-fetched at times, the plot is exciting, and Jack Reacher is at his investigative best. Readers familiar with Child’s books won’t find anything unexpected; there’s violence and some language and one sex scene (unnecessary but not unexpected—Reacher always gets the girl). One description of torture is gruesome enough to make even the protagonist a little queasy.

For pure escapist entertainment, thriller fans can’t do much better than Lee Child. Gone Tomorrow will certainly please his regulars and may well generate new readers. An interesting additional element is a short-story prequel published in the New York Times and accessible through the author’s Web site.

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Chicklit

Publisher: Random House

Publication Date: July 21, 2009

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

Lara Lington is having a mid-life crisis. Her boyfriend just broke up with her, her business is failing and her great Aunt Sadie just died. Well the great aunt Sadie part doesn’t really add into Lara’s crisis except that a twenty year old version of Sadie is now haunting her. Sound a little mundane and outrageous all at once? Then you know that you’re reading a Sophie Kinsella novel.

Lara is a simple girl. She’s not drop dead gorgeous and not a world class genius, but she is, most importantly, relatable.  As I mentioned previously, Lara’s great Aunt Sadie has died at the ripe old age of 105. Lara didn’t know Sadie nor does she really care about her when she attends her funeral at the beginning of the story. She’s more concerned with her ex-boyfriend and trying to figure out how she can get him back while trying to convince her family that she’s not deluded or a stalker. So when, in the middle of the funeral, a beautiful young woman in twenties style clothing sits next to her and starts talking, Lara isn’t impressed. It’s not until she discovers that the beautiful young woman is the same woman who is currently the corpse in the coffin that things start to get interesting. It seems that Aunt Sadie can’t go to her ‘rest’ without her favorite necklace and since Lara’s the only one who can hear or see her, it’s up to Lara to find it or be driven insane by Aunt Sadie constantly screaming in her ear.

In Twenties Girl, you get exactly what you expect from reading a Kinsella novel. Adventure, humor, romance and a brilliant way out of an utter mess are the formula for Kinsella’s books and Kinsella always pulls it off with aplomb and style. Though the situations in Twenties Girl are even more extreme than the normal insanity you’d expect, Kinsella still manages to keep belief just barely suspended enough to hold your interest throughout.

As with her other books, Kinsella discusses adult situations and there is some brief language, but she does it with grace and a lack of intimate details such as to make it not overwhelming or too uncomfortable for a conservative reader. All in all, I got everything I expected when I cracked open the cover on this book. It was a delightful read that gave me some laughs, some embarrassment on the heroine’s behalf and a nice warm fuzzy feeling when it all ended.  Sometimes this is all that’s needed from a book. When I’m in need, I’ll always happily turn to a Kinsella heroine for my entertainment getaway.

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Young Adult

Publisher: The Chicken House

Publication Date: September 26, 2008

Reviewed by Lori Twichell

What happens when the author of a story loses control of it? Does the story run amok? Or does the author? Does the author control the story or does the story control the author? These are some of the ideas explored by Cornelia Funke in Inkdeath, the stunning conclusion to her much loved Inkheart Trilogy.

When Fenoglio created characters that were evil incarnate and nearly too dangerous to be described, he never expected to find himself living under their rule in their Kingdom.  He never imagined that his world of fiction and fantasy would become life threateningly real to him. Even after arriving in his created world, he still doesn’t understand what bows to his words and what doesn’t, leading to even more mayhem and chaos as the story unfolds.

In this third installment of the Inkheart series, we again become reacquainted with our beloved friends from previous books. Mo, Resa, Elinor, Meggie and Farid all make their appearances in this book and in a much changed manner from how we met them in the previous books.  Where Mo began his journey through this tale as a bookbinder who believed that stories lived and breathed, he now finds himself a very real character in Fenoglio’s tale with danger and death following every breath he and his family takes. In an effort to make sure that Resa and Meggie are safe, Mo goes on a journey that appears to have salvation for everyone but himself.

Just as in her previous books, Funke weaves a gorgeous tale with words that come alive on the page and beg you to read them again and again. Inkdeath holds to the high standard that she set in previous books and delivers an ending that could move you to tears. Not because the ending is so utterly perfect and satisfying (even though it is) but because the story of these amazing characters and this brilliantly created world has come to an end.  It’s nearly heartbreaking to imagine that we won’t hear from Mortimer or Meggie or Resa again, but as Funke reminds us again and again throughout the Inkheart trilogy, stories don’t ever end. We just don’t know what happens once the book closes.

We’re kicking off our first podcast episode in a BIG way!

Recently Jake Chism and Frank Redman sat down with novelists, Robert Liparulo and Travis Thrasher to talk about “The Road to Publication.” We cover everything from publishing myths to writing tips and everything in between. Indeed Robert Liparulo and Travis Thrasher put on a mini Writer’s Conference and we were lucky enough to be along for the ride.

We’d love to hear your feedback on this episode. We have plans for more round table discussions in the future to cover a variety of fiction related topics. If you have ideas for potential guests or topics, or just general feedback, please drop us a line at:

podcast@fictionaddict.com

Meanwhile, sit back and soak it all in as we tackle that big, scary monster known as publishing.

You can also listen to the podcast via iTunes.

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Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Howard Fiction

Publication Date: August 2009

Reviewed by Tim George

An ancient disease, a modern pandemic, and the one person who offers hope for a cure has been dead for 350 years.

If that blurb on the back of TSI: The Gabon Virus doesn’t grab your attention then this book is not for you. For the rest of us, however, this first in a series of novels written by Paul McClusker and Dr. Walt Larimore offers an exciting new genre of Christian fiction. Thirty years ago, Michael Crichton warned of the potential for a deadly man-made pandemic devastating the planet in The Andromeda Strain. The Gabon Virus builds on that premise but raises the stakes in its introduction of eco-terrorists intent on not just taking the earth back to the stone age but in eliminating the human race altogether.

Though this is a big story taking place on three continents with a large cast of characters the authors do a good job of focusing on a couple of story-lines that are intensely personal and compelling. Dr. Mark Carlson has just joined the Time Scene Investigators after losing his own child to a deadly disease and his inner turmoil threatens to hamper his ability to contribute an answer to a raging epidemic of Ebola in Gabon, Africa. In Gabon, a lone teenage boy runs for his life from the horrors he witnessed in his family’s religious compound not realizing he is a carrier of the disease. And, an American general has issued a kill on site order to stop the boy not realizing the target is his own grandson.

Throw into the mix, a village in England with a graveyard full of black-death victims from the 1600’s and a local legend named the Blue Monk, and you have the makings of a great story. While one boy in Africa may unwittingly threaten death to millions, the body of a long dead monk in England may hold the key to the cure. The authors have revealed another in this series will appear in the near future following the exploits of the Time Scene Investigators to Siberia as they seek to thwart the madness of the Return to Earth eco-terrorists. That is good news. At least we can all sleep soundly until then.