A Different Kind Of Escape From Tyranny -- Review of Swanee Ballman's "Exodus From America"

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Reviewer: Forrest Schultz schultz_forrest@yahoo.com 770-583-3258

Blog Address: http://newsciencefictionandfantasyreviews.blogspot.com

A Different Kind Of Escape From Tyranny

A Review of

Swanee Ballman Exodus From America (Newnan, GA: Jawbone Publishing, 2009)

                            $14.95     247 pp     ISBN-10: 1590941837     ISBN-13: 978-1590941836

In Swanee Ballman's latest story, as the Federal Government becomes ever more tyrannical and as hopes at reversing this course evaporate, a group of Christians devise an ingenious plan of escape. The leaders are Dave and Tess Embry. Tess is a naval architect who designs an enormous island-sized ocean vessel capable of housing hundreds of thousands of people, and incorporating all kinds of ecologically sound principles. Her husband Dave is a great leader and organizer and inspirer, who was recently elected as a Senator from Florida.

Although there are many differences in its design, the concept of this project, which is called New Salem, is reminiscent in certain respects of the ocean colonies in Marshall Savage's Millennial Project, which sets forth an ambitious space colonization programme, which begins with the construction of these ocean settlements. Savage includes a great deal of science and engineering in his book, although social factors are also dealt with. This priority is reversed n discussions of New Salem in Ballman's story -- the emphasis is on the social (and spiritual) factors, with only sketchy discussions of the architecture and ecology and engineering factors. But it is stressed that Tess is a very brilliant naval architect whose project is successful. It works and it floats!

Marlene Kelly has noted that "The characters are well developed and believable. The author’s style sets the framework for the characters to grow, evolve and change. The facts presented are well researched to the point of a convincing perception of the “end” of the United States . It was entirely believable with a cleverly constructed escape." Kelly also in her review remarks on how skillfully Ballman has woven christian principles into the story in a way that is believable and not offensive.

This story is well worth the read!