Right-wing religious fundamentalists will be offended because J. Neil Schulman has the audacity to imagine and bring God and Heaven down to Earth -- literally. Left-wing political activists will be offended because J. Neil Schulman portrays neurotic activism as Evil -- although he kindly allows as how Satan means well. The readers in the middle, without wings, right or left, but with a sense of humor and a craving for a book that's in no way a regurgitation of dozens other books they've already read, will be delighted.

Imagine Good and Evil, Jesus and Satan, competing for public attention on talk shows. Imagine the fate of the Universe hanging in balance depending on the outcome of an election. Imagine Jesus with a 'tude and Satan with emotional baggage. Imagine and take it as far as you can -- and J. Neil will be two steps ahead of you, with an outcome that you can't imagine, yet which will make perfect sense. And oh, by the way, you will get an answer to the sacramental question "If there's God, how come He allowed all those atrocities committed in the (insert era in question)?"

The only issue I have with Escape From Heaven is Schulman's unbridled worship of Ayn Rand and Robert Heinlein. I wish he'd cool it a notch and take a better look at himself. Plot-wise, characterization-wise, style-wise, and plain humanity-wise, Schulman is a writer far, far superior to either of them. ( )