Monks in Space.

Dave Jenkinson is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba and the author of the “Portraits” section of Emergency Librarian.

As in his previous novel, Baboon, Jones demonstrates his ability to create a most imaginative plot, but this time he turns to science fiction and takes readers aboard a 23rd-century spaceship that also functions as a recreated 13th-century abbey and monastery. Of the 52 people aboard the Prominence, only Captain Gary Tanner, the vessel’s pilot, is not part of the Copernican Order of monks whose members worship Sol, the sun.

Almost 15, Bart has been aboard the monastery since being abandoned by his mother six years ago. A novice monk, Bart is also an apprentice pilot under Gary’s tutelage. The monks support themselves by selling their very valuable pottery pieces, which are created in a zero-gravity environment before their renowned glazes are fired in a unique process that utilizes the sun’s concentrated rays while the Prominence is in a close solar orbit. This Copernican pottery becomes the target of a pair of space scoundrels who con their way aboard the Prominence via a phony SOS.

However, the real adventure begins when a fuelling error prevents the Prominence from leaving its elliptical solar orbit to return to Earth. Too distant for rescue and only 35 hours away from the Prominence’s reaching perihelion, Tanner, with Bart’s assistance, must devise and execute a plan to save the lives of at least some of the Prominence’s occupants.

As in all good SF, Jones’ creates a most believable new “world,” and Monks in Space will hold readers’ interest to the last page’s final surprise. Highly Recommended.