Replication

Christy winner Williamson (By Darkness Hid) disappoints in her newest outing in the small yet vital subcategory of Christian speculative fiction. Abby Goyer’s father is a new employee of Jason Farms, located at a remote Alaskan site, and 17-year-old Abby is the new kid at Fishhook High, fending off the unwanted attentions of star quarterback J.D. Kane. J.D. bears a confusing and eerie resemblance to Martyr, a boy whom Abby meets after he escapes from Jason Farms, hoping to see the sky before he is scheduled to expire. The dystopian premise of human engineering is familiar (Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2005 novel, Never Let Me Go, made into a haunting film, is a recent iteration); in Williamson’s hands, its interpretation becomes overladen with Christian meaning. “Martyr” is one elbow to the ribs clue, a youth pastor is a second-tier hero in the action, and Martyr is immediately drawn to the Bible as a book to read. As a naïve archetype, Martyr is inconsistent; he knows some things from contemporary human culture but not others. Evangelical Christians may like it, but it won’t work outside that audience. Ages 13–up. Agent: Amanda Luedeke. (Jan.)■