Get 50% off Catholic Books & eBooks

Discover the Next Tolkien & O'Connor

Join Here for FREE to Never Miss a Deal

Find new favorites & Support Catholic Authors

Genre
Science fiction, mystery
Audience
6th grade and up
Author’s Worldview
Catholic
Year Published
2021
Themes
Free will, Thomistic philosophy, Good and Evil, the problem of evil, choice, responsibility, murder, sentience, AI Technology, Artificial Intelligence

Reviewed by

A. R. K. Watson

The people of New Athens are done with religion. Fleeing a world ravaged by religious terrorists, the self-proclaimed-utopia of the world’s first space colony requires all citizens to revoke any religious affiliation and practice upon entering. All religious leaders are barred from entry. And yet, when a priest shows up dead in their precinct and his murder seems tied up with both the shackled AI printers who build most of the station and an excommunicated Catholic terrorist on Earth, colony leaders must turn to Fr. McCellan, a man who might understand all three forces at play. Though not an action thriller, this mystery has so many plot twists and revelations that I binge read it in less than a week. Interweaving themes of free will, Thomistic philosophy and artificial intelligence, A Printer’s Choice is both an intellectual and escapist delight.

Even though the government of New Athens dislikes religion, they are not cruel to their visiting investigative priest. They go out of their way to be polite and even build him a chapel to say Mass in during his investigation. Of course, civilian attendance at these Masses is akin to professional suicide, but a few curious people show up. It’s also understandable why so many people are adverse to religion. There is hardly a character present (Fr. McCellan included) whose life has not been touched in some way by the Armies of the Soldados de Salvación.

The “Sals,” as they’re called, were started by Juan Carlos Solorzano, a Mexican Catholic and member of a local cartel group. He quickly rose in the ranks of the cartels and started his own personal crusade, inspired in part by the rampant Islamic terrorists that were boldly attacking countries around the world and in part by his objection to the Pope’s statement on self-defense. The Pope of that time issues a statement about “the moral rights of Christians to defend themselves and to wage just wars if civil authorities did not, followed by firm boundaries on what was meant by defense that such defense cannot include inflicting harm for personal gain or against innocent lives.”

Solorzano wrote back that “for those who wish to survive, who wish his people to survive, there can be no limits to war and power.” Of course, the Pope excommunicates the warlord and all his followers but to outsiders with little understanding of Catholicism or Christianity, that distinction is vague and confusing. Most people of the world only know that where once they were fighting ruthless Islamic terrorists, now they fight the far more ruthless Catholics. Part of what impresses me about the world that Patenaude has built is that every character, regardless of their beliefs or religion, is given relatable motivations and is in some way a good person—excepting members of the Sals whose thirst for survival has twisted them into ruthless enemies. This is a world where atheism and Christianity sometimes collaborate and sometimes clash but neither is demonized or idealized.

For this reason, it makes for an excellent read for anyone. Though a Catholic reader will more readily recognize the philosophies drawn from I see nothing in here that will not also be a delight to Protestant or Secular readers. If you’re looking for a good book to bring some quality ecumenical dialogue, this is an excellent choice for both science fiction and mystery fans.

Get Catholic Books & eBooks for as little as $1 to FREE

The Pre Persons by Phillip K. Dick

The pro-life Phillip K. Dick story so prophetic it was buried.

Gelen by Colleen Drippe

Fr. Ruiz has little idea what he’s getting into when he takes a post on the isolated and pagan planet of Fen.

Murder in the Vatican by Ann Margaret Lewis

Sherlock Holmes teams up with Pope Leo XXIII to solve crimes in the Holy City.

Freedom & Responsibility in “Citizen of the Galaxy” by Robert Heinlein

One of the masters of science fiction delivers a story exploring the limits of freedom and the ongoing battle against fallen human nature.

Nowhither by John C. Wright

Ilya Muromets fights off a dozens of tempting sirens and finally grows into the man he needs to be to defeat the Dark Tower.

Shadow in the Dark by Antony Barone Kolenc

An immersive mystery and an amateur sleuth set in the walls of a 12th century English monastery

Please Don’t Feed the Dinosaurs by Corinna Turner

A series of dino adventures that has been doing better what the mainstream Jurassic Park series only recently attempted.

Best Books of 2022

Our favorite book finds of the year!

Do Carpenters Dream of Wooden Sheep? by Corinna Turner

A poignant retelling of the Holy Family in a cyberpunk universe.

Soul Cycle books I – IV: by Brian Niemeier

In a evil universe a band of space pirates begin a journey of revenge that instead takes them in search of the true, the good and the beautiful.

Ad Limina by Cy Kellet

The Bishop of Mars faces intergalactic espionage on his journey from the frontier of space to the ancient halls of the Vatican.

Breach! by Corinna Turner

Isaiah’s got a T-rex size problem, but this time, it’s not a dinosaur.

Why Reading Fiction Made Me a Better Catholic

How reading fiction became a crucial step in my conversion to the Catholic Church.

Nephilim Corruption by Ann Margaret Lewis

Jedi Adventure meets Christian Epic

Gevaudan Project

This fun monster story takes themes of God, man, and environmentalism to places deeper than any newsroom can go.

Feel-Good Books For Pandemic Summer

Book Therapy to chase the blues away

Hell Spawn by Declan Finn

What does it look like when an every-man saint battles a demon?

Dying for Revenge by Barbara Golder

After her husband’s murder Dr. Jane Wallace moves to Colorado to nurse her grudge against the world and ends up tracking a serial assassin.

Dying for Compassion by Barbara Golder

This is the feisty lady-doc origin story I have been waiting for. Golder proves herself to be an excellent character writer in the mystery genre.