Official Review: Heaven Above Us by Richard Tyson

[Guda Lydia]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Heaven Above Us" by Richard Tyson.]

---

3 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Heaven Above Us by Richard Tyson is the second book of the Spirit Life Sci-fi Adventure Series. It tells of the story of Faith Dyer, who has just awakened in Gannicus, an off-world planet, in the year 2038. She was born in colonial America in the seventeenth century, abducted, tortured, and put in a cryogenic state by a highly advanced alien race known as the Mantis. They are an evolved insect species who use humans as mercenaries and slaves in their wars. The Gannicuns, who are also fighting for their freedom from the Mantis, saved Faith and bestowed upon her powers to defeat the Mantis, re-unite their feuding tribes, and free earth from torment.

The Gannicuns are a race of supernatural and spiritual beings that have passed on from the physical realms. They draw their power and abilities from the Creator. Faith meets archangel Metatron, who fills her with spiritual gifts necessary to prepare her for the imminent war. To aid her is her son Trueman Dyer, who is also a marvel in his own right, and her fiancé Prince Bodhidharma. Trueman’s DNA contains angel energy and unknown alien genetic markers; he is highly gifted with continually evolving physical and supernatural capabilities. Bodhidharma also has a Sentinel angel within him, making him powerful too. Both men additionally command various armies and allies that will help in the fight against the Mantis. This fight will prove to be full of surprises and threaten to drain them of their essence and lives.

The book is pleasantly descriptive, taking the reader through unimaginable technological advancements and ingenuity, tactical warfare, and various unique landscapes. The vivid nature of the descriptions allows for visualization and one to experience the interplanetary travels and imagine the several beings depicted. The characters are numerous, but each is unique and distinctly contributes to the development of the plot. Their distinguishing physical attributes and personality traits are also in exquisite descriptions.

The aspect of the book I enjoyed most is how the author combines science and Biblical teachings. The depiction of angels and Heaven combine with human nature and scientific developments into one powerful and pure entity, like Faith. However, I felt the author rushed the characters, introducing them quickly and with no in-depth background as to their origin. Additionally, there are instances of repetition of stories, for example, how Trueman and Bodhidharma came to be. This is stated more than twice.

The book is excellently edited; I found only two grammatical and spelling errors. The language employed is intelligible, and the scientific terms carefully explained, enabling anyone to comprehend them. The book also has no instance of profanities, therefore, suitable for any interested reader. However, the book may not appeal to all readers since it heavily references Christianity (teachings about Heaven and spirituality) and specifically the Quakers denomination. Nevertheless, the issue of character development takes away from the depth and flow of the storyline. I, therefore, award Heaven Above Us a rating of 3 out of 4 stars and recommend it to those looking for an intriguing alien-themed novel with some thought-provoking concepts on spirituality.

******
Heaven Above Us
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Maríe Wamakima]

This is such a great review, so detailed. So science and biblical teachings in one book? Sounds like a fun read.

[ValeriaU]

I love aliens, but I'm not that into religion. The book sounds a little convoluted for my taste. The review was really good though. Very easy to understand and explained very well the book.

[NetMassimo]

I have mixed feelings about this series because it has some interesting elements but mixing religion and science fiction is tricky. Regardless, thank you for your great review!

[Guda Lydia]

I have mixed feelings about this series because it has some interesting elements but mixing religion and science fiction is tricky. Regardless, thank you for your great review!

It is an interesting book, I've also never read such a combination. But it work. Thank you for your kind comments.

[Guda Lydia]

I love aliens, but I'm not that into religion. The book sounds a little convoluted for my taste. The review was really good though. Very easy to understand and explained very well the book.

Thank you for your kind comments.

[Guda Lydia]

This is such a great review, so detailed. So science and biblical teachings in one book? Sounds like a fun read.

Thank you. I was also shocked that the two can combine. It is definitely an interesting read.

[Raluca_Mihaila]

It seems like quite an interesting book! Thank you for your engaging review and recommendation!