The Tripods Attack!

Years ago, I edited a tiny Catholic 'zine devoted to science fiction, both classic and contemporary; one of the things I hoped to see in the future were Catholic science fiction novels that were both authentically Catholic and authentically science fictional, the sort of book that both Catholic readers who truly live and love their faith and readers of well-written science fiction could both enjoy. I may not have achieved that vision before reality obliged me to shut down publication, but this book definately makes that vision real! I cannot get over how excellent this book really is. Author John McNichol brings together elements that you wouldn't think would fit together at first, but which wind up working excellently, much like a well-made anime series, and I could see this book brought to life as an animated series or a big-budget Hollywood blockbuster, in the order of Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (Widescreen Special Collector's Edition). There are echoes of all kinds of things: the real G.K. Chesterton's own Father Brown is a main player, as is a character eeriely like the insidious Professor Moriarity from the Sherlock Holmes series; the plot heavily evokes both H.G. Wells's "The War of the Worlds" and also C.S. Lewis's "Space Trilogy" (Out of the Silent Planet, and Perelandra, especially); "gosh-wow!" technology straight out of Hugo Gernsback appears, but it's promptly given a Chestertonian "gosh-wow, it's soul-sucking when man becomes it's servant instead of it's master" nudge; an alternate United States of America straight from the pen of Harry Turtledove is alluded to; there are steampunk computers straight out of William Gibson and Bruce Sterling's "The Difference Engine; a shadowy organization turns up, that would put SEELE of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" to shame, and the whole story resounds with G.K.C.'s own blend of swashbuckling derring-do and intelligent wry wit. This might make the story sound like a grab-bag of ideas, but McNichol manages to bring all these concepts together into something wonderful. G.K.C. would heartily approve and probably chuckle over his heavily fictionalized doppelganger. I could use pat phrases like "It's impossible to put down" and "It's the kind of book that both adults and young adults can enjoy", but they fall short of the mark. Read it and rejoice!

Didn't realize this book was intended for "teens" until after my almost 10 year old started the book. He had no problem reading, understanding and following the book. 2 thumbs up from him with a great story to learn from.

(following review written by my 9 year old) - I LOVED The Tripods Attack because there was lots of violence. I liked how it had sadness in the end, like most of the books I read. Finally, I loved how they had the flame thrower and the .45 colt.

Steampunk *and* GK Chesterton as the protagonist? What's not to like? While The Tripods Attack is definitely geared towards the YA audience, I thoroughly enjoyed it without any guilt or hesitation. Father Brown and (perhaps) Professor Moriarity as the adults and competing moral pulls on Chesterton and Wells were inspired choices. The characterization of all four, and the mysterious Red-Headed Girl, were engaging and the style of the book as a whole should make it a fun read for anybody who picks it up. I also enjoyed the references to Elwin Ransom and Malacandra from C.S. Lewis' sci-fi trilogy (which I also recommend - those who liked it will like this, and vice versa). The conspiracy and eugenics-flavored metaplot that bubbles up here and there, especially in the epilogue, definitely has me hooked. I can't wait to see where the series goes.

The book, The Tripods Attack!, by John McNichol, is definitely a book worth reading. Very discriptive, so you know exactly what's going on, laugh-out-loud funny for relief from the dark and eerie plot line, and above all, Catholic! The idea of putting a well-known author, G.K. Chesterton, in the shoes of a teenage boy with no parents, yearning for a better life is amazingly clever and I have no words to describe it further. Mr. McNichol has further enhanced the book's quality by placing our world in a different history than what actually happened, so be prepared for some early confusion. He also makes the characters reflect other real people, such as H.G. Wells. A fascinating book, I couldn't put it down for three days(I finished it in that time, thick as it was)! The series will be a trilogy, and I can't wait for the next one!