Billy Graham in Heaven

A Sci-Fi Novel a La Vonnegut

There are three main plots in "Billy Graham in Heaven." Each has its own character developments and its own sci-fi innovations that are scientifically predictable, yet magically enchanting. All intertwine seamlessly to provide a rollicking and profound read. The plot advertised by the title involves a respectfully presented, Heaven-dwelling Billy Graham. Turns out that Heaven's souls mostly just hang out, being conscious or not if they wished, or playing in one of the many Heavenly playgrounds. Except for two days a week at what would be 10 a.m. on Earth, EST. Then almost everyone convenes in millions of their respective Recapitulation Chambers for two hours and watches, discusses and participates in the ramifications of their actions on their home planets. These include consequences that occurred after their death. For Graham, these include Presidents from Truman to Trump, Nietzsche, Liberace, Ayatollah Khomeini and Christopher Hitchens, with cameo appearances John Wayne, Peyton Manning, Charlie's Angels and many others. The most pervasive figures however are preachers Reinhold Niebuhr, A.J. Muste and Martin Luther King. Niebuhr is considered America's number one theologian by many and is Graham's most important religious critic. Muste advised King on nonviolent resistance tactics, as well being one of Niebuhr's main critics. The preachers discuss whether Christianity should be used primarily to achieve eternal life, or to try to achieve heavenly conditions on Earth. Their arguments about America's wars, racial and sexual struggles, and labor strife are explored in concrete detail and abstract ideal. The shimmering setting of Heaven and constant comic-relief prevents didactic or clunky moments. While this is occurring, Graham has to decide whether to continue the discussions or stand in a meet-God line that might take months or even years. Many funny and discerning adventures occur while he's waiting including visits to Revelation's Trinity Amusement Park and the Galactic golf courses. These are courses such as those on planet Carnoustie, where you can hit billion-mile drives that are accelerated as your ball orbits around other planets. The Earth-bound, human plot mainly involves the romance of two couples and their personal and political development. Rarely-employed journalist Jake Cortez courts lawyer Cathy Webber while trying to get her more interested in transformational politics and less interested in good works. Their romance plays out over decades spanning from 1990 to 2028 and involves many botched trysts often due to apps of the Holographic Spectrometer. A combination of advanced holograms and computers enables the development of this Spectrom for short. Like Star Trek's holodeck only with no censorship, it can project life-like characters using all their recorded biographies and voice patterns. Thus, specters can interact with great historical accuracy with actual people. The programs include, among many others, Kissinger and Einstein and The All or Nothing Dating Service. With the All or Nothing, participants can make virtual love in order to know more about potential relationships. The third plot is the historical evolution of America from 1991 and the First Gulf War, to 2028. In 2026 the U.S. declares the Hemispheric War with Ecuador, Chile and Peru, partly to fix a lagging economy, and partly to stop cocaine smuggling. The U.S. wins the war easily, but the economy resumes its downward plunge. New President Hannibal McGraw returns almost all power to the 50 laboratories of democracy, the states, in hopes they can provide new approaches to the economy. Things start to get out of hand as New Jersey, Michigan and Louisiana abolish the police and declare vigilante justice, encouraging their citizens to pack laser pistols in holsters, Wild-West style. Texas raises the fifth largest army on Earth and equips it with intercontinental missiles. South Carolina becomes a Christian theocracy.