Laity's Mission in the Local Church is an excellent purchase for three reasons. The first is the familiarity of the author's name from Gonzaga University and former dean of the graduate school of religious studies. Second, a simplified understanding of the term laity, that is often used in Catholic education and action. And third, to shake off one's stubborn philosophical mind set in order to incorporate both the verbal and written religious language into the context of a churched experience to better commit oneself in Catholicism's ecclesiological service.

Leonard Doohan's book is not a disappointment because it provides an openness of the world from a Christian vantage point. Prof. Doohan eloquently describes situations that can beset both Christian and individual growth. Doohan, for example, describes church experience that is commonly shared by others, but said in a respectable tone and desirable language so others can identify, understand better and how to rectify these issues for Christian, for human and for world progress (19ff). In my opinion, Doohan shares both a philosophical and religious world-view of humanity and provides ideas for better servicing ourselves and humanity.

Here is an excerpt on prayer that is described in a philosophical manner as an alternative way of looking at it and approaching it (prayer):

"Prayer requires stillness. We need to sit still, do nothing, and completely relax. Any technique for relaxation that helps us acquire stillness in the presence of God can be used... It is acquired very gradually through self-training in the context of daily life. In addition to stillness, prayer requires openness ... developed in daily life an attitude of total attentiveness to ourselves, to our family and friends, to our world's needs... Every aspect of life becomes a prayer value... permeated by life-attitudes of adoration, thanksgiving, sorrow, petition, and love." (116-118).

This is an excellent, well-written story with good characterizations, both in terms of creating new characters (notably Spock's son, the title character) and in faithfully portraying the established characters and the interrelations between them. I could easily envision this story as being canonical, as being made into an episode of the original Star Trek series if only it had been written fifteen years earlier.

In it, the author begins in what may be the ideal way to begin a Star Trek novel: she starts with an episode from the series, and builds a "what if" sequal to it; in this case, she builds on the episode, "All Our Yesterdays", in which Spock and McCoy are trapped (temporarily) 5000 years in the past, during the ice age of a planet that is (in the present) about to be destroyed when its sun novas. During that episode, Spock (for reasons never adequately explained, but apparently having something to do with the unplanned nature of their time-travel) reverts to the barbaric, emotional, pre-logical state of Vulcans in that time period. (Why McCoy didn't revert to the superstitious, unscientific state of humans at that point in time is never explained, either.)

In any case, this book assumes what is only hinted at in that episode: that Spock and the woman Zarabeth who was (sort of) native to that time became lovers, physically as well as emotionally, and that unknown to Spock, she was pregnant with his child when he and McCoy returned to the present. When Spock learns of this through archaeological evidence, he uses The Guardian of Forever (from the episode "City On The Edge Of Forever") to return to the past and rescue the boy, and the rest of the story builds on that concept. The plot is handled extremely well, although I did find the ending rather unsatisfactory. (Though I must admit, it, too, would have fit very well into an original series story; it seems to follow the series guideline, "Never make a change to the cast or status quo of the characters; any change of that sort must be eliminated by the end of the story.")

This book was the best!The character of Zar(Spock's son)was believable and very well conscieved.Plot:Spock goes back in time to the planet Sarpeidon to find his son,Zar.After braving dangerous blizzards,Spock finds Zar,and brings him to the Enterprise.Then,all of a sudden,the Romulans attack the Time Planet(home of the Guardian of Forever)led by Spock's old nemesis,Subcommander Tal("The Enterprise Incident")!Kirk then leads an away team to the Time Planet to stop the Romulans before they alter history!

In the classic episode "All Our Yesterdays", Spock and McCoy were transported to the planet Sarpiedon----5,000 years before it would be destroyed----while trying to help Kirk, who had also ended up there in a different region of the planet. This particular time machine had the effect of causing Spock to act as Vulcans would have in their warlike past before Surak's philosophy of logic would spread: he ate meat, showed no shame for emotions, and fell in love with Zarabeth a woman whom he ultimately had to leave behind.

Two years later, Spock is shocked to discover that Zarabeth give birth to his son, Zar. He uses the Guardian of Forever to bring Zar forward in time, as tradition dictates that he must teach his son the Vulcan mental disciplines and culture so that he may be accepted into the family. But can Zar accept his father for who he really is before the Romulans discover the secrets of the Guardian and serious consequences arise for the course of history?