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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
Parting the Veil by Jay Davis



Forge, Jul 2004, 24.95, 382 pp.
ISBN: 0765309505

John Creed was driving his convertible when a school bus made an abrupt turn smashing his vehicle. John was clinically dead as his heart stopped beating and his brain showed no activity. His doctors manage to get the heart pumping, but he lived because of a machine.

Ten days later, a miracle occurs when John awakens in the ICU. After a time his memory of his fatal day and aftermath begins to return in vivid detail. Soon he begins to see the pain of other people whose lives seemed desperate. John has gained a gift from his time on the other side. He might be able to provide solace to some who are suffering, but the dark knows about John and plan to try to use him to shift the balance between good and evil.

The story line is fast-paced and at its loftiest when John struggles with helping people cope with their problems, not an easy task to achieve.



Plot & Themes
Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy story on current Earth
Inner Struggle Yes
Plotlet: - coping with mental/magical powers
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Religious overtones? Yes
Descript. of chases or violence - 20 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 %

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
If magical mental powers: - healing

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Earth setting: - current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript
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