Where will you be when Eternity Falls?

Thursday Review
Eternity Falls by Kirk Outerbridge
Science Fiction – Marcher Lord Press

Rick Macey, a decorated war veteran, takes special jobs as a freelance private investigator. After a stellar career with the Department of Civil Defense and Intelligence he can now solve the crimes that interest him and pick and choose from jobs his old bosses throw his way.

When Rick first meets a new potential client by the name of Sheila Dunn it looks like this is a case he will pass on. He has seen it all, done it all, and feels no need to prove anything to anyone. Sheila, on the other hand, is Senior Executive Vice President of Gentech Corporation and expects everyone to be impressed with her.

At first Rick has little interest in the case but when he is shown a piece of evidence that belonged to a now dead movie starlet he changes his mind. The Bible, rarely seen these days, contains a name inscribed within its pages. And that name opens a floodgate of regrets from the past that Rick Macy cannot ignore.

In many ways Eternity Falls almost reminds one of the best of Raymond Chandler or Mickey Spillane. Rick Macy is a no-nonsense, time-worn, and take no prisoners kind of guy. Even his first name makes one wonder if the author didn’t watch Casablanca before naming the character. The action is relentless, the characters powerful but tortured, and the settings unforgettable.

But when Rick Blaine demanded Sam play that song one more time he just thought he had problems. You see Rick Macy is 140 years old, has fought in more wars than he can count, and has a nearly indestructible prosthetic body. And after over a century of fighting for his country has enough ghosts in his closet to drive 10 men mad.

Author Kirk Outerbridge does a masterful job of using this near future thriller to provide great escapist action while tackling some profound issues at the same time. Much of the plot revolves around Gentech Corporation’s Miracle Treatment, a drug that greatly extends the lifespan of those who use it. The death of a famous client requires Rick to find out if religious fanatics are trying to sabotage this product that offers eternal life?

Eternity Falls and its sequel the 10th Crusader are certain to not please everyone. Consider these two comments from reviews at Amazon.com.

• “I wish Amazon would create the sub-genre of “Christian Sci-Fi” so I can avoid them. I wish we did, indeed, have a Freedom from Deity law.”
• “It was very hard to tell if this book was favorable to Christian beliefs or not.”

So one reader thinks a law named in the novel that bans any mention of God in the public marketplace is a good idea. Another is unsure if the book is even Christian at all.

To both I would say, your mixed reviews tell me the author did his job well. Outerbridge explores the meaning of life and death and what is beyond from a variety of viewpoints. Like the culture around her, Sheila is a practical atheist. Life is all about grabbing all you can and figuring out a way to cheat death as long as possible. Others are so immersed in technology their connection to the real world is all but erased. And there are fanatical Muslims and Christians alike intent on imposing their will on others rather than trust in the one in whom they say they believe.

And then there’s Rick Macy. By reading these two novels together you find him to be a complicated man. On the one hand he is a technological marvel of a killing machine but on the other a man of faith. But even Rick’s faith is complicated. Sometimes he is certain of what he believes while at other times he seems to be a man who has lost his way.

What makes this action packed story refreshing is that it is populated with people who act like, well, people. You know – real people who struggle with real issues and sometimes even make sinful decisions. Kudos to Kirk Outerbridge  for creating a character who transparently deals with a double life time of  joys, sorrows, victories, and defeats.

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After college Kirk Outerbridge returned to his homeland of Bermuda where he reunited with his childhood friend and future wife, Ria. But before marrying his lovely wife, Kirk entered an even greater marriage and devoted his life to Christ in 2002. After much prayer and contemplation, Kirk purposed his writing for God’s Will, seeking to draw to Christ those who shared his passions for all things futuristic and Sci-fi. Kirk currently lives with his wife Ria and 18 month old son Miles in beautiful Bermuda.