The Harvest War by Martin Davis
What's It About?
“In war, life doesn’t change gradually — it flips on a dime before you can say ‘puke.’ You have to be ready.”Such is the case in the intriguing novel, The Harvest War (Gatekeeper Press), where author Martin Davis flips the switch from a friendly football toss to an apocalypse triggered by an alien invasion of Earth. More than an exciting science fiction adventure, Davis wrestles with big-time themes of good and evil, questioning the story of Creation and the foundations of religion, and even considering the extreme effects of technology.
So what war? And why “harvest?”
Earth is attacked by multitudes of Seraphim, larger-than-human creatures perhaps ironically in the image of Christianity’s fabled winged celestial beings that do God’s work. So why are these aliens destroying Earth and its inhabitants and taking many captive?
FIRST DISCOVERY OF INVASION
The story is told by an old man, some 88 years in the future, who recounts events to a young interviewer. Readers sense the old man had some role in the actual story, but there are few clues to reveal his identity.
The first discovery of the invasion is by the protagonist Alex Shephard, a Marine tossing a football around with his girlfriend Kate and some other off-duty Marines. All is serene until they hear a humming sound from the sky and see an unusual light — the first signs of invasion.
As news of the attack breaks, before understanding the wherefore and the why, one radio announcer focuses on the religious implications: “At first, most of the world’s religious leaders condemned the ridiculous notion that there could be intelligent life outside of the earth. Nowhere in the Bible, the Torah, or the Quran was there ever mention of God creating life beyond the planet. But now that narrative might be shifting.”
Alex and his colleagues are charged with seeking out and “awakening” three Special Forces sleeper agents, who have been off the grid for years, awaiting activation in the event of a global emergency or catastrophe. The information carried by the agents will set in motion a plan to get at the root of what’s going on.
SCI-FI THRILLER WITH PHILOSOPHICAL BENT
The mission at hand is an exercise in danger and discovery, with a thrilling, fast-paced plot along with advanced themes and theories: Who created the aliens? Who created man? And what to make of God, Jesus, the Garden of Eden, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection?
Says the old man telling the story, “Whether we were put here by a loving God’s design or the machinations of an alien race, the fact remains that we are here. That isn’t changed by the details of our origin.”
The younger man ponders, “I guess what confounds me is … God is supposed to be unknowable.”
Says the elder, “Who’s to say what’s supposed to be and what isn’t?”
For those so inclined, The Harvest War can be read as a satisfying sci-fi adventure with the usual twists and turns. But Davis is hunting bigger game. The book is well-plotted and written, but, like any science fiction, raises questions about the world as we know it and requires some buy-in to its logic to accept the premise. While the work, we think, is not meant to change beliefs or age-old doctrines, it’s a fun ride while considering the alternatives.
The Harvest War is available for purchase at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
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