Afterparty

Afterparty is the latest book from one of the most promising new science fiction/fantasy writers to emerge over the last ten years. Having treated us to the inner turmoil of a family dealing with a zombie as adoptive son, we now have a completely different novel in which the ability to design new drugs gives humanity the chance to reprogram its behavior and beliefs.

In this case, the focus of our attention is a drug that gives people faith and personal contact with a deity or divine being matching their culture. So Christians might acquire their very own angel, while Hindus might be able to talk things over with Ganesh. For those who do not realize they have taken a drug, this just seems like a spontaneous conversion to, or deepening of, their faith. For those taking the drug knowingly, it creates an inner conflict in which the mind tries to reconcile the perception of a divine presence against the knowledge this is drug-induced. The result is a terrific pursuit from Canada to America as the originator of this drug tries to discover who is now manufacturing and distributing it. After all, it can’t be good for society to suddenly become deeply religious, can it?