About the Book

Book: A Perfect Flock

Author: Mike Bogue

Genre: Christian Science Fiction

Release date: October 26, 2023

Tuck Jameson vows to stop his brother Clay from joining The Body, a religious cult that uses nanotechnology to turn its members into Christian automatons.

But Clay disappears—and in three days, his nanotechnology conversion will be complete. Desperate to find Clay, Tuck enlists the aid of former high school mentor Adam Shimura, now a black ops agent with potentially mixed motives.

Brother Moody, the cult’s Chief Elder, mobilizes his acolytes against Tuck. Worse, a shocking prophecy ups the ante, making Tuck realize the stakes involve not only him and Clay, but all of America—and perhaps, the world.

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About the Author

Why does Mike Bogue write speculative fiction? Because he finds it a perfect genre to explore timeless themes and timely science, as well as the collision between technology and faith. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys watching Godzilla movies, singing 1960s pop tunes, and munching Fiber One brownies. Single and retired, Mike lives with his cat Bendi in Western Arkansas, where he and Bendi regularly hold contests to see who can nap the longest in a single day.

More from Mike

“If brainwashing means losing my free will for God’s sake, so be it.”

Thus says a recruit for the religious cult The Body in my novel A Perfect Flock.

When planning the novel, I wondered—should Christians use technology to enhance their moral lives? What if technology forced us to be good? Should we use it? Should we advocate it? Would it make Christians, and therefore the Gospel, more appealing to non-Christians?

A Perfect Flock explores these issues. In the novel, technology that might have been a blessing becomes a curse in the hands of cult leader Brother Moody. Indeed, becoming Moody’s version of a perfect Christian might just cost you your soul.

In A Perfect Flock, you will confront the well-meaning but dark future into which technology may be taking Christians and society; experience a fast-paced quest in which an older brother is determined to save his younger brother from technological enslavement; and face the tension between free will and enforced will—if we had the technology to force others to become Christians, should we?

If you like near-future Christian science fiction novels such as Steven James’ Synapse, I think you’ll enjoy A Perfect Flock.

A technical note: The book was released last October 23, so it is available now.

Best of hopes and dreams,

Mike

My Impressions

“The Body was growing like a cancer every day and Clay would soon be a part of it, unless…”

A Perfect Flock by Mike Bogue is a very fast moving, gritty, twisty Christian sci-fi novel that will have you quickly flipping the pages to figure out just who to root for. We get acquainted with Tuck Jameson, who no longer believes God cares about people, and who tries to tell others around him what they ought to do with their lives.

We also get acquainted with Coach, a major player who was a favorite male figure of Tuck’s in high school, and has now come back to help Tuck rescue his brother Clay from “The Body.”

The Body turns out to be a cult-like group who believe, under the leadership of Chief Elder Graham Moody, that they can become sinless with the help of technology. Willingly, people give up their free will to become automatons, assured of a place in heaven, because of their perfection. Many important, rich, and influential people support the message and wish to spread it from Arkansas to the rest of America and to the world. Yet, a few dissenters such as Tuck , Ham, Coach, and April, see some underlying issues, especially when Tuck’s brother is picked to join the cult and become the Prophet.

I found it very interesting how much Truth was used in The Body’s message, yet skewed and taken out of context. I continually had to compare what Moody and others said with Scripture. I thought it very interesting when a certain prophesy was considered urgent, yet the person prophesying was not always accurate. “‘how do we know anything about …prophecies is true?… ‘ ‘Because seventy-five percent of her prophecies have come true in the past.’” Yet, God’s Word says not to believe any prophet who is not 100% accurate. Little by little, as Tuck and his friends search for Clay, more and more cracks appear in this perfect religion. And more and more, Tuck must depend upon a power other than himself.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“You think using technology to force people to be moral is a good thing?”

“I also need a friend who can help me see the light without shoving it in my face.”

“Luck had nothing to do with it…But grace had everything to do with it.”