Archangel Protocol

After the dropping of the next big bomb called "Medusa" the world and its politics made a major change. Now all government is religiously affiliated and if you don't have a religion, you're breaking the law. Added in to the mix is the new world order of the LINK. More than the internet, it is a cyberworld that can suck you in and make you a cyberjunkie. A world, which has for many, taken over reality and become a religious experience itself, complete with cybernetic angels and a Second Coming Messiah.

Deidre is a former cop turned professional investigator after her partner went haywire and killed the Pope, leading her to be excommunicated. No longer part of the LINK Deidre is considered to be a subversive Jezebel, when all she really show more wants is to go back to her life as it was. When Officer Michael Angelucci shows up at her office and offers her the chance to not only get back on the LINK but to expose the hoax being perpetrated on mankind through it, she is understandably suspicious. What he is proposing goes against everything she has believed in and holds a death sentence if they are caught.

This story is a bit of an amalgamation of worst case scenarios. What if another bomb with the destructive force and lasting consequences of the nuclear bomb was dropped? What would happen if we become exceedingly dependent on technology? What would happen if the internet takes over everyday lives? What would happen if religion takes over the politics of the world? It is an interesting speculative piece in that respect. The action part of the story is the pretty standard sci-fi running around dodging laser blasts and driving futuristic vehicles. I did have a little trouble with suspension of disbelief of the cyberworld created but then again I'm not a techie and am not really sure what really can and can't be done. I really enjoyed Michael and thought that the author, in rather short fixes, created some interesting facets to his personality. He was not at all the traditional romantic hero with all the answers and seemed much more realistic for it. I also liked Page, the AI mouse with a heart of gold. Unfortunately I didn't like the main character of Deidre quite as much. I found her a bit abrasive and closed minded.

I'm pretty sure that anyone who doesn't have an open mind about hot button topics such as politics and religion might find the book a bit offensive. I thought it was a unique, rather enjoyable story although cluttered in parts which made the reading somewhat slow-going. I would recommend it to lovers of sci-fi who can stand alternative viewpoints to some sensitive issues. show less

Trite pseudo-religion in a fairly well-thought-out (albeit cartoonish) cyberpunk future. Deirdre McMannus was kicked out of the force, excommunicated from Catholicism, and outcast from the LINK (an uber version of the internet) for her role in a Pope's assassination. Since then, she's been barely squeaking by as a freelance detective while trying to come to terms with her partner's betrayal and the loss of her normal life. Then in walks Michael Angelucci, a preternaturally handsome detective who wants her to investigate the phenomenom of angels in the LINK. It is immediately clear that Michael is a real angel--within a few pages of his introduction he has a showdown with his "older brother" "Morningstar". (Morningstar is a jumbled show more character who gets terrible, anvil-y lines. For instance, Deirdre asks, "Where the hell did you come from" and and he responds, "Exactly.") Deirdre is a well-rounded character with a detailed persona, but the other characters don't fare so well. Michael is a bare sketch of a romantic love interest, while the motivations of the various antagonists are never revealed. I figured out the entire plot (to which Deirdre remains drearily blind for hundreds of pages) within the first thirty pages--I spent the rest of the book shouting "oh come on" and chortling in disgust. show less

This book made me feel like I was watching a grade-B sci-fi cop thriller filmed in the 80's.
In a post-war New York, theocracy has been imposed.
Everyone except the down-and-out have been hooked in to the LINK - a cybernetic brain implant that gives one access to the Internet (basically).
Lately, everyone's been buzzing about the appearance of 'angels' on the LINK. But are these angels a miracle or a hoax? Things get more complicated when our protagonist, a private investigator who's been kicked out of the police force and off the LINK, meets some all too corporeal (and hunky) 'angels' herself.
Some may be annoyed by this book's somewhat pro-Christian stance - others may find some aspects of the story totally blasphemous. Still others may show more be offended by its favorable portrayal of Israeli terrorists. Anything else? hmm. Not that I can think of offhand. Not too many people are offended by portrayals of corrupt politicians. wink.gif
But really, it's just fairly cheesy, light reading. show less

I have to admit it, I never really warmed up to Michael. I always go for the geek. But I really liked Deirdre and found the world Morehouse created a lot of fun.

My obsession actually started in book two. :)

This is the first book in a series that currently contains 4 books. The books are set in a sort of post apocalyptic United States of America, where everyone has the LINK and America is now a theocracy.

In this book Deidre is an ex-cop who has been excommunicated from her religion because of a crime her cop partner committed. Since government and religion go hand in hand, when she is excommunicated from her religion she has her LINK deactivated and is thrust out of standard human society. The LINK provides access to everything; money, jobs, etc. As someone who is un-LINKed she is forced to eke out a living as an investigator to other unLinked individuals. Another cop Michael saunters into her office and asks her to help show that the show more miraculous LINK-angles are not actual miracles but a hoax; despite the risk Deidre, is tempted to take the case since Michael offers the one thing for payment that Deidre would give anything to have, he offers to reactivate her LINK. Deidre gets much more than she bargained for.

This book is an interesting blend of post-apocalyptic sci-fi, cyber punk, and paranormal genres. Unforunately for me, although it was an interesting blend, it fell short of fulfilling any of those genres. The world that Morehouse creates, is semi-believable, but feels somewhat contrived. As a more personal paranormal novel; the main character falls short of being believable and comes off as a bit stiff.

I will admit the novel has an interesting premise; although towards the end the mixture of religion and cyber-punk got a bit strange and forced. Also the idea of "the leader of the freeworld" falling into a theocracy is eerily believable and creepy. For the most part this idea of religion taking over everyone's live and religion stunting free-will (woman must where regulation length dresses, birth control is a huge no-no, etc.) makes for an uncomfortable and distrubing read. Sadly though this is a sci-fi topic that has been overdone and has been seen in numerous plots before.

Although I did like the warmer more personal approach to sci-fi that this author took, I still struggled through this book. The book never really grabbed me and pulled me forward; I had to push through it. I would find myself rereading paragraphs just because I lost interest in what I was reading.

Despite all the above cons I have to applaud the author for trying to create a new niche in the sci-fi genre. The world created is also very creative. The main heroine is pretty believable. I own the next two books in the series, so I will probably read them. I hope, though, that they are better than this book. I do think this could turn out to be a great series. Sometimes the initial book has to spend too much time explaining a new world, so maybe that is part of what made this book a bit boring for me. show less

'Archangel Protocol' is Lyda Morehouse's first novel and it is a commendable effort that few wanna-be-writers accomplish. I won't mention any names.

The story centers around a never seen in the flesh U.S. presidential candidate in a post war America where all parties must have a religious affiliation, where all citizens are connected to cyberspace by an implanted link and where recently, 'angels' have begun making appearances.

The author's metaphors always were just a smidgen off the mark. Her descriptions rarely left me with the feeling that I was there, although she did chose one of the very hardest destinations possible: Cyberspace, where, like the movie Tron, characters found themselves wandering cyberspace represented by an avatar. show more And try as she might to get the reader to gin up affections for her people, well it just did not happen.

Reading 'Archangel Protocol' Christians will be surprised to learn an angel impregnated Mary, mother of Jesus, rather than the Holy Spirit. Muslims will likewise be startled to read that Allah did not dictate the Quran to Mohammad, but the angel Jibril did. Yes, I know it is a work of fiction.

Once again, what may have dulled my reading enjoyment, was the fact that I read the book a very few pages at a time. However, I think the author simply had too many things going on, too many plots, too many characters for someone like me to keep track of. show less

Despite the fictional status, it's very thought provoking. The world designed by Lyda Morehouse is intricate and intriquing. A good read for anyone who likes sci fi and religion all mixed together.