Passion Play

This tale of a futuristic sleuth who pursues criminals and her own inner demons succeeds both as science fiction and as a mystery. Although pretentious prose studs the first few pages (e.g., ``Scattered across the asphalt like murderer's footprints, puddles of water turn bloody with sunset''), it vanishes when Stewart settles in to show us freelance detective Diane Fletcher using her ability as a ``shaper'' (someone who can read and experience the emotions of others) to help policeman Rolly French investigate the death of Jonathan Mask. An actor, Mask was electrocuted while filming a television show. Since he was the darling of the fundamentalist Christian, anti-technology, anti-intellectual ``Reds'' who run Redemption Era America, French hopes that the actor's death was accidental; but Fletcher's interview of cast and crew reveals strange patterns under ``the murk of events.'' Even as Fletcher doggedly explores the relationships between Mask and his coworkers, she becomes increasingly disturbed about the morality of her own life and work. This memorable character contributes significantly to Stewart's fast-paced yet thoughtful debut. (Dec.)