Before I share today’s sci-fi book review, may I offer a brief perspective? The bigger picture, if you will?

One of the privileges of being a sci-fi author is helping to spread the word about other up-and-coming authors. Especially those who want to write adventures that are clean and compelling, like I do.

They avoid stories drenched with sex and gore—and thus don’t get much press. But these authors also infuse their works with hope. In the sci-fi genre, nihilism runs rampant (that’s a fancy word for “nothing really matters in the end.”) So I like finding books that buck that trend.

Okay, enough introduction! On to the sci-fi book review!

Above the Circle of Earth (affiliate link) is the debut novel by veteran podcaster E. Stephen Burnett. He is the cohost of the Fantastical Truth podcast, which explores the intersection of speculative fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, and others) with the Christian faith.

It should come as no surprise, then, that Above the Circle of Earth has overt Christian themes. So if that sort of story doesn’t appeal to you, feel free to stop reading this review.

But let me say this—especially to those who aren’t Christians. This novel explores the natural outflow of anyone with a sincere religious belief. If you had a strong conviction that your faith was “good news” for others, wouldn’t you want to share it? Even if you were on Mars?

Which brings us to the premise of Above the Circle of Earth.

The protagonist, Brock Rivers, has been exiled with his family on Mars because of his beliefs. A secular regime known as CAUSE runs Earth—and has expanded its reach to the heavens. CAUSE, which is basically a humanist religion, loves to evangelize for its own purposes. And they don’t appreciate Brock and others who want to bring the Christian faith out of hiding.

Especially when that involves launching a spaceship on a missionary outreach.

What follows involves political intrigue mixed with very personal stakes. If Brock presses ahead, his own family will suffer.

Here lies a core strength of the book. The author immediately introduces an “average” family with a committed marriage. Brock and his wife talk about the usual issues of raising kids…and the unusual circumstances they face that risk their quiet life on Mars. It is refreshing to see a story where the family dynamics aren’t the driver of the conflict. Instead, family is shown as a stabilizing force when the world around them is going crazy.

Another strong point is the worldbuilding. While interesting worlds are common in speculative fiction, what isn’t as common is the overt tension between the secular and religious elements of this future human society. Christians aren’t the only ones oppressed in this world; Muslims are also presented as suffering under the restrictions CAUSE imposes. The opening scene, during which Brock is performing his job as repairman on a Mars habitat dome, also immerses us in the state of society and technology from the get-go. There is a good blend of the familiar with the fantastical (e.g., the usual sci-fi trope of anti-gravity tech).

Every sci-fi book is entitled to as least one use of “hand-wavium”: that unexplainable technology that is necessary to the story. In this case, it’s a “quantum” version of a Star Trek teleporter. While I understand the need for this device (as a plot device), the super-futuristic tech pulled me away from the “hard sci-fi” vibes established at the beginning of the novel. It made me wonder why, if humanity can build such an advanced thing, we’re not already colonizing interstellar space rather than being stuck on Earth and Mars.

But that’s a quibble in an otherwise well-crafted story. The mix of true friends and false allies makes for good intrigue. And the theme of persistence in the face of opposition resonates well. It’s something anyone who is sincerely trying to do good will experience. We do see Brock’s internal struggle amidst the external pressures that threaten the family he so loves. If anything, I wanted Brock to fail more in that battle. He faces setbacks galore…and yet remains heroic. What more might be learned if that hero falls hard?

Perhaps that’s a story for a sequel to Above the Circle of Earth…which I hope is forthcoming! E. Stephen Burnett has cleared the launch pad in great form in his debut. Where is that missionary spaceship headed next? 🚀

I want to know!