Menalcus Lankford

Lankford (author of Something Great) takes an intriguing look at life after death in this engrossing fantasy. When Marcus dies, he finds himself in the “Admissions” line at heaven’s gates (which, contrary to popular opinion, are not pearly— they’re black and impenetrable to those applicants who aren’t approved). He makes the initial cut, only to end up at the start of a long journey, with several challenging levels that will need to be cleared before he reaches his end destination—a heaven, of sorts, full of thought-provoking experiences.

Marcus is up for the challenge, especially after meeting Wes and Trudy, two fellow humans seeking their own paths into heaven. The three immediately bond, and Marcus wonders from the start if there’s sex in heaven, given Trudy’s good looks. That camaraderie serves them well, as their road is decidedly strenuous: from hiking over endless mountains, to navigating a sticky candy land that uses what people are holding onto to keep them imprisoned, to being exposed to their darkest moments on earth, the trio have their work cut out for them. Through it all, Marcus keeps an open mind, a choice that often nets him early wins, even when he runs into his father, who has taken on the form of a sad-eyed armadillo and is floundering in an area called “Stuckees” due to his serious case of “Identity Lock”—an inability to understand viewpoints different from your own. Lankford gently draws attention to similarly weighty concepts throughout Marcus’s journey, making the novel as philosophical as it is fantastical.

There’s plenty of entertainment to keep readers invested in Marcus’s story, though, particularly the fun details about what his life really is like after death: his body doesn’t need to eat or drink (sniffing food instead is always an option for enjoyment) and sex with “virtual bodies” is “Heaven indeed!” This is both immersive and insightful.

Takeaway: Immersive story of life after death, with philosophical leanings.