alli Rangarold adores her big brother Meeka, so much so that when he
chooses a career in law enforcement, she follows his example, becoming a
member of the elite avalanche soldiers of Shadene. When Meeka accidentally
kills a civilian during a riot, Salli agonizes over his guilt and public
exposure. And when her brother abandons his post and religion to follow a
radical prophet, Salli vows to bring him back to his faith and his
people.
Shadene is the lone secular state in a united group called Creation. All the others are governed by orthodox religious authorities. Shadene is also the home to the most important shrines of both orthodox and heterodox worshippers. Though there is as much agreement between the two
faiths as disagreement, their respective followers lead lives which are
largely segregated from each other. As a result, the ramifications of Salli's search go well beyond the
personal. Meeka has yet to answer for the riot killing, and Shadene's
underlying religious and political tensions have become polarized because
of the civilian's death.
Deserting her unit, Salli tracks Meeka through a wilderness that would be barely recognizable to modern-day readers as Earth. When she finds him, though, Salli faces more difficulties. A teacher named Varrick has converted Meeka to the heterodox faith. Salli is dismayed to see that Varrick shows every sign of being the Holy One that orthodox believers have waited for. Salli must decide
whether to follow her brother's lead yet again, giving up career and
cherished beliefs in support of possible terrorists, or to abandon a leader
who may well be the living incarnation of God.
Intricate and engaging
Avalanche Soldier is a novel about
conflicting allegiances. Over and over, Salli is forced to choose between
roles--her upbringing, her faith, her brother and duty all pull her in different
directions. The course she pilots through this emotional minefield is
careful and principled, and author Matthews vividly captures the harrowing
consequences of Salli's internal division. Readers who enjoy watching
characters squirm amid unpalatable choices will enjoy this book
enormously.
This novel has other virtues that recommend it to a wide range
of readers. It has a likable heroine and an unconventional romantic
story line. The plot's structure is appealingly symmetric, and the book
presents some fascinating science about avalanche control and the dynamics
of falling snow. The intrigues and terrorist plots, though occasionally hard
to follow, have moral dimensions that move beyond simplistic good-vs.-evil fables.
The most fascinating element of Avalanche Soldier is the ambiguity
surrounding Varrick. Is she indeed guided by God? Matthews
leaves plenty of room for secular readers to be cynical, to believe that her
miracles, devastatingly convincing to Salli, are nothing more than charisma
and stage magic. Politically, she is equally hard to pin down: though she
claims to be a woman of peace, she refuses to publicly repudiate a group of
men who commit violent acts in her name. False or real, Varrick's effect on Salli and Creation make for some highly rewarding reading.
