https://padlet.com/gelling21/o18lhvce94ts A Review by Gabrielle Elling en-us 2018-12-19 14:55:48 UTC 2025-12-22 16:57:54 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Planets.png gelling21 https://padlet.com/gelling21/o18lhvce94ts/wish/315883660 The Divine Invasion takes place centuries into the future. Yahweh is exiled to an alien planet and - through the impregnation of one of Mars's citizens - He intends to return home and ring in the second coming.

The story opens with Herb Asher, a citizen living on Mars. His neighbor, Rybys, is sick with cancer and alone in her dome. He ignores her and continues to ignore her until he experiences a theophany. The God of the Mountain forces him from his home and into visiting her. It is within her dome where they discover that she is pregnant. She was impregnated by God and her son will also be God. Herb, Rybys, and the prophet Elijah must journey down to Earth for her son to be born. His presence on Earth will bring about salvation to the doomed planet.
On Earth, Rybys is killed and Herb Asher is kept in cryogenic sleep. Ryby's son, a boy named Emmanuel, is kept alive and raised by Elijah. He has brain damage from the crash and must recover his memories of his life and existence as God. On Earth, he relearns all of what he has once known about humanity and the universe. His friend, Zina, helps him on his way. Throughout the book, she is hinting at her own similar power. Throughout all of it, she is trying to convince him of something. She does this by showing him a separate reality, one where things went differently.

My review of this book was that it was interesting. It had far less jargon than other books by Philip K. Dick and I felt that made it more effective. I liked the language that carried the book because it conveyed complex thoughts in a way that was not jarring or story-breaking. Most of the characters were likable. Emmanuel felt like a long pay-off, as the whole previous book was speaking of his arrival. I liked Zina, who was his perfect counterpart. I found the whole premise very interesting.
Having said that, there were a lot of problems I have with the book in retrospect. I like the premise and concept, but the book is undeniably preachy. I find the way it speaks about God a little unbearable. I also don't like the way that Herb Asher and Rybys fit in the story. I don't find either of them that nice to listen to nor do I like what happened to them. The story could've solely focused on Emmanuel and Zina, or could have had another B-plot. I also found the ending unsatisfying, but I don't think anything could be done about that. PKD died before he could resolve everything.]]> 2018-12-19 14:58:58 UTC https://padlet.com/gelling21/o18lhvce94ts/wish/315883660 gelling21 https://padlet.com/gelling21/o18lhvce94ts/wish/315892873 This is my favorite cover for The Divine Invasion. I like the retro sci-fi aesthetic and this is as genuine as it gets. It's also very effective at summarizing the plot of the book.  The basic premise of a child coming from Space to Earth is obvious here and enough to catch anyone's interest.]]> 2018-12-19 15:18:30 UTC https://padlet.com/gelling21/o18lhvce94ts/wish/315892873 gelling21 https://padlet.com/gelling21/o18lhvce94ts/wish/315894881 "There is no deceit in God. I want you to live. I made you live once before, when you lay in psychological death. God does not desire any living thing's death; God takes no delight in nonexistence."

"God creates the universe constantly; he is with it, not above or behind it. This is impossible to understand for you because you are a created thing and exist in time. But eventually you will return to your Creator and then you will again no longer exist in time. You are the breath of your Creator, and as he breathes in and out, you live. Remember that, for that sums up everything that you need to know about your God."

"“Better a live dog than a dead prince."]]> 2018-12-19 15:23:05 UTC https://padlet.com/gelling21/o18lhvce94ts/wish/315894881 gelling21 https://padlet.com/gelling21/o18lhvce94ts/wish/316041951 I don't think I would recommend this book to anyone but myself. It's too niche to interest a wide audience. I think it's not particularly engaging unless you have a commitment to it. It's too weird to make sense without context. The plot is unresolved within not only the book, but also as a series. I love it, but it's really not that great or entertaining as a story.]]> 2018-12-19 22:52:35 UTC https://padlet.com/gelling21/o18lhvce94ts/wish/316041951 gelling21 https://padlet.com/gelling21/o18lhvce94ts/wish/316042364 2018-12-19 22:57:47 UTC https://padlet.com/gelling21/o18lhvce94ts/wish/316042364 gelling21 https://padlet.com/gelling21/o18lhvce94ts/wish/316042521 I chose the song Seven Swans by Sufjan Steven because it has several themes within that relate to The Divine Invasion. These themes include religious trauma, family, Armageddon, and a fear of God's power. Both the book and song are ominous and have a deeper meaning.]]> 2018-12-19 22:59:28 UTC https://padlet.com/gelling21/o18lhvce94ts/wish/316042521