The Dark Foundations by Chris Walley

The Dark Foundations continues the plotline of The Lamb Among the Stars as a direct sequel to The Shadow and Night, which I read in November.  As with the first novel, it posits a Christian society far in the future which is in a millennial state of grace, without apparent sin.  This period of grace, however, is being tested by the Lamb through the agency of the Dominion, the descendants of a splinter group which broke from the Assembly thousands of years before.

Right from the opening pages, Walley reveals the nature of the Dominion and its Lord-Emperor, Nezhuala.  In the Dominion, Nezhuala has consorted with extra-physical beings (spiritual beings analogous to demons) who have been restrained from entering the Assembly and who can only manifest in the physical world with great difficulty.  I found the author’s skillful creativity of using viable terminology for what we’d consider demonic beings and events.

Back on the planet Farholme, access to the Assembly has been severed by the destruction of the hyperspatial Gate.  On their own and contaminated by evil spiritual beings that the Dominion refugees brought to the world, the Farholme citizens must begin to arm themselves against a larger attack force.

It was refreshing to see the development of Merral D’Avanos, a forester turned military leader, and Vero Enand, who becomes the head of the defense force’s intelligence branch.  These men, while striving to be true, occasionally fail, leading to poor choices and grea sorrow from their moral failures.  And, of course, sacrifices must be made and accepted.

The Lamb, however, does not abandon His children and sends his Envoy to talk with key leaders, delivering messages from the Most High but also ensuring that mankind’s free will is paramount.  The Envoy (a messenger, or angel) is a fascinating character since he/it often comes across as cold and stern.  Instead, however, I saw this aloofness as Walley’s way of showing how these beings might be compassionate, yet perhaps not completely comprehending the human condition and weaknesses.

The plot definitely quickens through this book as Walley has to spend less time on the worldbuilding aspects.

A very enjoyable read with and unresolved ending that will hopefully be concluded in the last volume.  I can honestly say that I have read nothing like this before.

4 1/2 stars out of 5 (finished December 5, 2010)