The Crucible Trilogy by Sarah Douglass

The Crucible Trilogy, including The Nameless Day, the Wounded Hawk and the Crippled Angel, by Sarah Douglass makes for an alternate history trilogy experience that is certainly... different. Topics of note include medieval Europe, Joan of Arc, the role of God, Christ and the angels, and allusions to Shakespeare's plays about King Richard the Second. A complex battle between angels and demons for the future of humanity, questioning what is truly good and truly evil, you know, good hearty stuff. I admire the multi-layered characterization and the thoroughly researched storyline, but the entire trilogy goes a little overboard with the shock value, what with someone or something getting horrifically raped every 10 pages, it seems. I know it's trying to be realistic of the times, but shock is not really my thing, even if there was an explanation. I am not sure I would recommend this series to anyone but the most devout of medieval history buffs with a strong stomach.

the Samaria Series by Sharon Shinn

The Samaria series, including Archangel, Jovah's Angel, the Alleluia Files, Angelica and Angel-Seeker, by Sharon Shinn is a lovely combination of science fiction and romance and guess what? More Bible stuff! (I must seem like a total Christian freak, hah hah.)

I was browsing the fantasy/science fiction section in the bookstore when I came upon Archangel and was immediately captivated by the romantic prose and what I term "fantastic science": science that is so totally preposterous, it might as well be magic. The trilogy initially seemed to fall under the "trilogy trap," when the last books do not quite hold up the high standards of the first book, a common affliction nowadays, but the fifth book stepped up in quality and has met with my approval. Because you know, I am such a literary critic.

The focus of this series is romance between angel and human on a distant planet colonized and then left alone for millenia, but there are a lot of politics, history, philosophy and fake science going on as well. The theme of music's importance to God is also very beautifully explored. The books progress chronologically, so that Archangel takes place in an ancient biblical era, while Jovah's Angel takes place when technology has advanced quite a bit and so on. The last two books jump around and explore other aspects of the world set up in the first three. The books are perfectly readable without an encyclopedic knowledge of biblical names and places and angels, but the more you know, the more you'll get.

I thoroughly and unashamedly enjoyed this series. My favorite books are Archangel and Angel-Seeker, but they were all rather good. I rarely read science fiction because it is usually so depressing, but this series is refreshingly pleasant.

the His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman

The His Dark Materials trilogy, including The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, is an intriguing fantasy-ish/sci-fi-ish series for young adults. Set in an alternate London, it follows the adventures a brave young girl and her daemon familiar, fighting to either save the world or maybe destroy it. The first book I consider a literary work of art, very imaginative and elegant and charming, a must-read for all children. The rest of the series... maybe not as appropriate for youngsters, as the subject and tone starts to befit a cynical pre-teen or teenager who needs yet another reason to hate the world and The Man.

What I like best about this series is its unique view on concepts of Christianity. It is unusual, thought-provoking, daring even. Again, if you are not versed in the Bible or Bible-related literature such as Milton's Paradise Lost, this trilogy's thinly veiled criticism may be totally over your head. But from a purely secular view, the action, mystery, philosophy and drama are worth checking out. Despite my misgivings about the later books, this series definitely ought to be listed as one of the classics of children's literature, and Lyra a role model young heroine, at least for smart and sophisticated children.

The movie looks like it won't live up to the book, that is as I expected. But Nicole Kidman is always worth watching, in my opinion.

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

Good Omens is, for obvious reasons, one of my favorite novels of all time. It's about the End of the World as we know it, vaguely reminiscent of the movie, The Omen. Besides being absolutely hilarious (to anyone familiar with the Book of Revelations in the Bible, anyways), it is a very hip and umm... educational treatment of an otherwise very serious subject, the Apocalypse.

As someone who pretended to be very studious about the Bible, I read Good Omens over and over again because I find something new to laugh about each time. My favorite characters are definitely that comedic duo of devil and angel, Crowley and Aziraphale. The entire cast is quirky, the plot fast-paced and full of "fracas" or "rumpus." My only complaint may be the fact that there is only one book, and there can be only one. Also, the Britishisms take a while to translate and fully appreciate if you're unfortunate enough to be an American.

I hear rumors of a movie all the time, and hope against hope that Johnny Depp plays Crowley. Even if it is only half as funny as the book, that is funny enough.