War and rumours of war abound, and Minute Man missiles are being made ready in silos just across the border from Neustadt. Into this wonderfully eccentric world, complete with a Biblical father of the tribe – “Abe” – comes the new Marilyn Monroe of Hollywood, Katie Klassen. Once she and Abe were destined for each other. Perhaps they still are, because Katie has been drawn back home by forces she can’t quite comprehend.

As she crosses the US border checkpoint, a lightning storm is developing just over the horizon. Katie, the storm, and the nuclear missile represent equally volatile agents poised to disturb the peaceable kingdom. The irresistible power of sexuality is about to undermine the ascetic denial of the flesh – even within the preacher’s own marriage bed – on which the community is built.

Elias effectively raises to consciousness our deepest fear – the self-destruction of the species – and our terror at military power. Instead of Apocalypse, he proposes ecstasy. Instead of missiles in their silos.... “Make love, not war.” The deeply human and sensual depiction of sexuality is a perfect counterpoint, an antidote, to the cold diction of nuclear discourse.

This is a hilarious novel filled with delights, cracklingly energetic and entertaining, a powerful and profoundly resonant fable.

* Finalist, Amazon/Books in Canada First Novel Award
* Finalist, McNally-Robinson Book of the Year Award/Margaret Lawrence Fiction Award, Manitoba Book Awards