Thea Plym Alexander

I would have far fewer gripes with this book if it were not an introduction to a pop philosophy disguised as a science fiction story. This book is used to introduce the reader to Macro Philosophy, a product solely of the author's mind and sounding too much like Scientology for my personal taste.* If this book helps someone lead a better life, I won't disparage them, but I think there are more established ways to come to the same realizations.

In the book, we meet a permanently injured Vietnam Vet. Only in his dream state does he become whole again. In his dreams, he is introduced to a Guide who takes him to a Utopian Society, Macro City. As reviewers elsewhere have noted, it seem odd that in this Utopia, people are still bound to a common vision of physical beauty. It seem if we are truly freed and enlightened beings, the physical appearance is not overly important. Besides, who is to say what *is* physically beautiful?

If you divorce yourself from the philosophy espoused in the book, the story is mediocre, but entertaining. There are much better Utopian novels out there and it has none of the stylistic appeal of stories by more established authors.

* At the risk of being chastised for my above comment, let me explain. What I am objecting to is not the philosophy of Scientology, but the copy cat nature of what Ms. Alexander is espousing. If Scientology helps you be a better person without causing harm to someone else or prohibit their beliefs, I have no gripe with it. I do not necessarily subscribe to their beliefs, but that's just me. What I do object is someone coming along saying, "Yeah, me too", and trying to give it a different name.… (mer)