Michael fabers new novel, which he says will be his last, was. A longawaitedand brilliant and disquietingnovel of faith and redemption by scotlandbased writer faber the crimson petal and the white, 2002, etc. The book of strange new things by michel faber the. In michel fabers novel, a pastor heads off to take up a new ministry. Books by michel faber author of the crimson petal and the. The book of strange new things will blow you away io9. The story opens with pastor peter leigh driving to the airport with his wife, beatrice leigh. If michel faber s phenomenonturnedbestsellerturnedminiseries the crimson petal and the white is the only fiction of his that youve ever read, his newest novel, the book of strange new. The work was first published in the united states on. A monumental, genredefying novel that david mitchell calls michel fabers second. Each month ramona koval chooses a book, provides reading notes and posts a video interview. Faber s sixth novel, the book of strange new things, was published in 2014.
Michel fabers book of strange new things the new york times. The book is called the book of strange new things, in which a christian missionary, peter leigh, applies for a posting with a company called usic. Fabers use of a humanalien meeting as a cauldron for theological inquiry situates the book of strange new things in a long line of carefully crafted, awardwinning novelsfrom a case of conscience 1958, by james blish, in which a jesuit biologist encounters a race that seemingly has attained moral perfection with no notion of god or. Hillary kelly is the digital media editor at the new republic. Michel faber, author of book of strange new things will. The book of strange new things by dutchborn, englishspeaking author michel faber is a science fiction novel about an english pastor, peter leigh, who is hired by american corporation usic to teach the native population on a faraway planet called oasis the principles of christianity.
The book of strange new things or tbosnt for short, tells the tale of peter and his wife bea. The book of strange new things, a book by michel faber. Its one of those genre books that have managed to convince the mainstream that its more mainstream literature. All page numbers provided correspond to the eversion of the work. The book of strange new things by michael faber beckys. His work introduces him to a seemingly friendly native. Michel fabers latest and quite possibly his last novel is truly a strange story or at least premise, when taken at face value. Peter is about to embark as a missionary for the mysterious group, the usic. The book of strange new things by michel faber, paperback. It begins with peter, a devoted man of faith, as he is called to the mission of a lifetime, one that takes him galaxies away from his wife. Click show more for info on the books mentioned in this video hello. A monumental, genredefying novel that david mitchell calls michel fabers second masterpiece, the book of strange new things is a masterwork from a writer in full command of his many talents. This momentous novel, fabers first since the crimson petal and the white, sees him at his expectationdefying best. Peter leigh is a christian missionary recruited by an organization known as usic to be the pastor on a distant planet called oasis.
Michel fabers bestseller, the crimson petal and the white, captured the feel of victorian london. Like every fiction of fabers, the book of strange new things is. Peter becomes immersed in the mysteries of an astonishing new environment, overseen by an enigmatic corporation known only as usic. Faber s sixth novel, which cuts between earth and a faroff planet, has a lot of religious, linguistic, philosophical and political freight to deliver m john harrison thu 23 oct 2014 05. The book of strange new things book pleasanton public. The work was first published in the united states on october 28, 2014 and concerns an english pastor who is sent to the planet of oasis to teach its reclusive native inhabitants about christianity. The book of strange new things is a wildly original tale of adventure, faith and the ties that might hold two people together when they are worlds apart. The book of strange new things is a microscopic look at two people, a husband and wife, who separately bear witness to the end of the world and the birth of another. The book of strange new things by michel faber goodreads.
In michel fabers novel the book of strange new things, a missionary dispatched to a faraway planet gets desperate missives from his wife. His astute observations make this novel a worthwhile read totally dublin the book of strange new things succeeds as science fiction, because it examines the effect of unfamiliar, imaginary situations on the human psyche its a laboratory for the soul, and thats a workplace for which michel faber has shown himself to be particularly. Michel fabers book of strange new things the new york. I plumped for this having read and enjoyed two previous michael faber novels under the skin and the crimson petal and the white and been intrigued by the synopsis. With the book of strange new things, michel faber tackles really big epistemological and existential issues through the journey of an english preacher to outer space.
At the outset of michel fabers latest novel, the book of strange new things, its. Id suggest you read mary doria russells novel the sparrow and its sequel, the children of god. Michel fabers the book of strange new things certainly lives up to its title. It begins with peter, a devoted man of faith, as he is called to the mission of a lifetime, one that takes him galaxies away from his wife, bea. He leaves behind his wife to work with both the usic employees stationed on oasis and the planets natives. The book of strange new things michel faber ramona koval november, 2014. At first blush, science fiction and religion might seem awkward bedfellows, the one priding itself on its hardheadedness and. Eschatological religion and apocalypse make a natural fit.
A chat with michel faber author of the book of strange. The book of strange new things is a meditation on the. A missionary is sent to spread the gospel to a distant planet, and the the very notion of. That said, theres no doubt in my mind that the book of strange new things will be remembered decades hence, for its few failings are far outweighed by the heft of. The book of strange new things treads familiar territory michel faber s bestseller, the crimson petal and the white, captured the feel of victorian london. In my opinion the book of strange new things is michel faber s second masterpiece, quite different to the crimson petal and the white but every bit as luminescent and memorable. A monumental, genredefying novel over ten years in the making, michel fabers the book of strange new things is a masterwork from a writer in full command of his many talents. Peter has been picked to go on a mission to the planet oasis as a missionary for the locals as they will only trade for medicine and teachings from the bible aka the book of strange new things. In two separate pieces, michel fabers editor talks about the book of strange new things 2014 and faber talks about the book in a short video. The book of strange new things was shortlisted for the arthur c. With interstellar distance between them, faith and devotion are pushed to the limits. Fabers sixth novel, which cuts between earth and a faroff planet, has a lot of religious, linguistic, philosophical and political freight to deliver.
In his afterword the author talks about the inspirations he. The book of strange new things by michael faber posted on april 4, 2016 by beckylindroos to me this feels like its solidly in the best tradition of scifi brave new world by aldous huxley 1931 or mary doria russells the sparrow from 1996. For all its galactic wonders, the book of strange new things is a subtle, meditative novel that winds familiar spacealien tropes around terrestrial reflections on faith and devotion. Its safe to say that the book of strange new things is not at all what i was expecting. In two separate pieces, michel fabers editor talks about the book of strange new things 2014 and faber talks.
A married christian preacher man is launched into space the jump intended for the distant planet of oasis, in order to pacify and proselytise the local alien populace, in what we eventually learn is a corporate arrangement between usic the guys. A monumental, genredefying novel that david mitchell calls michel fabers second masterpiece, the book of strange new things is a masterwork from a. The book of strange new things, is itself quiet strange. The book of strange new things book douglas county. The book of strange new things, by michael faber, study guide is written using the kindle version. The novel tells the story of a british missionary to an alien world. In addition to the whitbreadshortlisted under the skin, he is the author of the highly acclaimed the crimson petal and the white and undying, his first poetry collection. The book of strange new things is a slowburning novel in paredback prose. In this sciencefiction novel, humanity is cast as the main character. The monthly book november 2014, michel fabers the book.
Fabers books are published in 35 countries and have sold more than 2 million copies. It is a portrait of a living, breathing relationship, frayed by distance. The book of strange new things, by michael faber robert a. Review of the book of strange new things by michel faber. The book of strange new things summary supersummary. The book of strange new things, by michael faber a. I must admit that its also not a bad example and will certainly not do the reputation of science fiction any harm. The book of strange new things michel faber bibliobeth. Michel fabers latest novel is about the search for comfort in the face of lifes tragedies. The book of strange new things, by michel faber the. The book of strange new things treads familiar territory.
Peter, our protagonist, is sent by a mysterious corporation called usic to be a pastor to the alien race on a planet trillions of lightyears away called the oasis. At the outset of michel faber s latest novel, the book of strange new things, its protagonist, peter leigh, is about to venture into space. The book of strange new things is a 2014 science fiction novel by dutchborn author michel faber. The book of strange new things by michel faber world. A monumental, genredefying novel over ten years in the making, michel fabers the book of strange new things is a masterwork from a writer in full command. Fabers sixth novel, the book of strange new things, was published in 2014. Michel faber on the writing of his final novel sydney morning herald. Clarke award and won the 2015 saltire book of the year. Yet theres little doubt there have been few science fiction novels as explicitly concerned with the meaning of faith as michel fabers the book of strange new things, a book that features a missionary despatched to an alien world to preach the gospel to the natives while what looks suspiciously like the end of days consumes our own. Now, hes written a new one called the book of strange new things. At the outset of michel fabers latest novel, the book of strange new things, its protagonist, peter leigh, is about to venture into space. The only book id read by michel faber previously was under the skin, and to me, this was vastly different. The book of strange new things by michel faber kirkus. After its publication, faber announced that he would retire from writing novels for adults.