The Sheepish Scribe

Legendary Space Pilgrims by Grace Bridges

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book was very different from any I have read in a long time. I haven't delved into a true sci-fi book in ages. It's an interesting idea of taking "Pilgrims Progress" into outer space. That's a tall order, to be sure, but Grace Bridges does a nice job of making it all believable. The reader follows the pilgrims from their life of slavery toward what we assume will end in salvation. However, the book ends abruptly - leaving one unsatisfied and with the need to look for the sequel to find the answers. Sometimes I find cliffhangers exciting, but because we know what the outcome should be (if we've read "Pilgrims Progress" anyway), this ending seems to drag out the inevitable.

I had a little trouble getting into the characters in the beginning of the book. They are slaves on a planet that attempts to wipe out all emotion. Since emotion is generally what I connect to with a character, be it good or bad, I struggled to work up much empathy or interest in what was happening to Mario and Caitlin. But I'm glad I stuck with it. The emergence of emotions is slow but steady as this pair breaks free of their emotionless bondage and learns to accept and deal with their feelings.