A Pagan's NightmareA PAGAN’S NIGHTMARE
by Ray Blackston

Who’s ever heard of a reverse rapture?

Believer’s can buy gas for twelve cents a gallon. The pagans have to pay $6.66. The radio stations have altered all the songs to conform to certain standards. The Beatles sing I Wanna Hold Your Tithe. Abba’s Dancing Queen becomes Dancing’s Wrong. Even French Fries are now renamed McScriptures.

Larry Hutch thinks he’s created a new masterpiece. His latest manuscript is being marketed to Hollywood . Larry’s agent, Ned, thinks that this novel is fantastic, and everyone else who handles it finds it outrageously hilarious. But Ned’s wife, Angie, a devote Southern Baptist thinks that it’s heresy and she’s prepared to stage protests to convince Ned to reject this manuscript…even though Hollywood is already sitting up to take notice.

The characters in Larry’s manuscript are named Lanny and DJ Ned, and they parrot their real life counterparts. However, their adventures are interesting. The religious right is pursuing them, offering rewards for their capture and conversion. When they flee, they are stalked. And everywhere they go, painted signs are appearing, reminding them that they are not the fortunate ones—the redeemed. And they are doomed to eternal destruction.

A PAGAN’S NIGHTMARE is the latest novel by Ray Blackston. It has an interesting plot, one that held my attention from the beginning even though I found it a bit disturbing in places. The characters are well developed, and the setting is expertly portrayed. I’m not even going to venture a guess about the faith message…Marvin could be construed to be a …god, of sorts, but I’m a bit confused as to whether he’s supposed to be the one true God, or a false god. (I’m not the best judge of books that could be considered sci fi or fantasy.)

However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading A PAGAN’S NIGHTMARE, and there is even a fun (and short) list of discussion questions—for believers, for non-believers, for marrieds, for singles, and even for a possible title for the next book…and an invitation to email with title suggestions. Fan’s of Mr. Blackston’s Flabbergasted will not want to miss A PAGAN’S NIGHTMARE to get a taste of a world ruled by…the fortunate side. I literally couldn’t put this book down. $22.99 hardcover. 241 pages.

Laura V. Hilton