Display Review

Disoriented

By Michael Ritchey

Reviewed by Darvell Hunt
On 6/29/2000

Cornerstone , 1999. Hardcover:
280 pages.
ISBN: 1-9292810-3-X
Suggested retail price: $14.95 (US)

I recently found an interested book here in my Las Vegas Deseret Book sotre. After resisting the temptation to buy because of the price (it was hardbound, but is now on sale in Deseret Book's Advantage program) I picked it up and spent a little time reading it. It's Disoriented by Michael Ritchey, published by Cornerstone. An email discussion with the editor Richard Hopkins prompted me to read it. I'm glad that I did!

I would highly recommend it. I have never read an LDS novel quite like it, tho I'm not terribly well-read in the LDS marketplace. I've had a hard time with some books, like the Tennis Shoes series, because they seemed so youth-oriented, and even The Hope and the Glory series, even tho it's targeted toward adults. Disoriented can be enjoyed by youth as well as adults.

Disoriented is about a return-missionary physicist who discovers that matter can be disoriented by "temporarily confusing" the matter. It's an interesting idea that conforms to LDS beliefs, referring to how matter follows the command of God. It's a great LDS romantic thriller, the likes of which I haven't seen yet. I've been very disappointed with some of my latest LDS fiction reading, but this was very refreshing and quite entertaining, with reasonably good writing and interesting plot twists.

There were a few things about the story that really bothered me, but for the most part it was believable and intriguing, almost in the realm of science fiction, but not quite.

Apparently this book is going to be reviewed in the new issue of Irreantum, so I'll keep this short. (See http://www.adherents.com/lit/book_Disoriented.html ) I just thot that I'd mention that I really enjoyed it. Congrats to Michael and Richard! You got a winner here!