"deeply moving retelling of the Chanukah story in a futuristic"

Planet Maccabee is home to exiles from Old Earth, a culture that now follows Natural Law which preaches that the strong must crush the weak. The exiles were sent to their own small desert world because their Book and their faith decrees that the Golden Rules are what should be followed, not might giving the strong power over all others. Judah, oldest son of the chief priest of his people, follows his faith devoutly, believing in its truths. But his closest friend Aaron argues that they should examine the Book and weigh it against Natural Law, and, to facilitate this reexamination of their beliefs, invites a Teacher from Old Earth to come and explain the new doctrines.

A feast is held to welcome the Teacher at the Temple. It is catered by Miriam, Judah's beloved and a professional hostess. The Teacher attempts to persuade Judah that as an Alpha Male he should reject the Book which teaches protection of the weak and claim his natural destiny. When Judah reminds him he was named after a man who dared to stand against an empire on Old Earth, the Teacher reminds him it was just an empire, not a galaxy. Aaron pleads that the Book supports Natural Law, for their own faith might permit slavery, and their planet was named for conquerors, but Judah points out those men fought for the Book they believed in, not personal glory and power. Aaron's all-too- careful examination of Miryam gives Judah a hint of what lies ahead.

For Aaron has made common cause with the Teacher, and the Teacher brings weapons and fighters when he returns, and Aaron takes Miryam as his slave girl, as the strong begin to oppress the weak. The Temple is defaced, its walls defaced. Judah, recalling the deeds of his namesake, forms a guerilla force to take on the conquerors who would claim his world. Armed with swords against mechanical spiders reminiscent of the Walkers in Star Wars, Judah leads his men into battle for the Book.

Every race and religion seems to have a Feast of Light in December, and Chanukah is the festival that celebrates the first Judah Maccabee's victory over his imperial foes, and the cleansing of the Temple. This gentle and romantic retelling — Judah is the sort of honorable man that really is an Alpha, and Miryam is a strong and determined woman we can all identify with — makes a number of hard-to-forget points: that fidelity to one's deepest beliefs can grant victory against all odds (ask those who took on the British Empire to win the right for a Jewish homeland). That real slavery is not romantic at all but degrading to the human soul, that a slave-owner can never truly know what a slave girl feels for him (as Judah wisely points out when he refuses the gift of beautiful sex slave from the Teacher). True love can only be found with a partner who chooses to love freely, not with someone compelled to service you sexually.

This isn't a hot sexy read, but it is worth the time spent with it. While it is the story of a Jewish hero against an unbelieving empire, it is really the story of every man who has stood up to oppression and for his moral beliefs. I recommend it highly. Judah is one to rival Michael Collins, who won freedom for the Irish people, and the leaders of our own American Revolution. I can't recommend this story highly enough — and I want to say THANK YOU to Jackie Rose for making the point that REAL slavery isn't sexy at all, though the kinky kind is. She's told quick, fast-paced, tenderly written short story of heroics and love.

Sensuality Rating: No explicit sex, but deeply romantic love affair.

Reviewed by Gillian Fitzgerald
Courtesy Sensual Romance Reviews
Posted December 22, 2004