This is my first local books round-up of 2026, covering 11 recent books from the Christian community.
As always, there is a wide range of topics. The write-ups are primarily from Amazon and publisher / author sites.
- W. Ross Hastings: The Glory of the Ascension: Celebrating a Doctrine for the Life of the Church (IVP)
The doctrine of Christ’s ascension is often overlooked in the church today, yet it holds profound significance for Christian theology and the Christian life. The Glory of the Ascension by theologian Ross Hastings invites readers to rediscover this essential truth.
With thoughtful precision, Hastings illuminates the ascension as a celebration of the completed atonement, followed by the intercessory work of the Great High Priest, the continuance of the humanity of Christ and the reversal of the laying aside of the glory of the eternal Son associated with the incarnation.
This inspiring volume offers an evangelical Protestant perspective, connecting the themes of glory and ascension to the vitality of the church and individual faith.
This book:
- Provides an in-depth and constructive theological exploration of a neglected doctrine.
- Offers an evangelical Protestant account of the ascension and differentiates it from the atonement.
- Connects the ascension to the doctrines of God, Christ, the Spirit, salvation, the church and eschatology.
- Gives an engaging invitation to wonder, worship and participation in the triune life of God.
Regent College’s site features an excerpt from The Glory of the Ascension.
Ross Hastings (PhD chemistry, Queen’s; PhD theology, St Andrews) is the Sangwoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology at Regent College. Among other books, he is the author of Missional God, Missional Church; Total Atonement; and The Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He also serves as an Anglican priest at St. John’s Vancouver and enjoys watching rugby, soccer and cricket. He lives in Vancouver with his wife, Tammy; they have five children and nine grandchildren.
- David A. Falk: Reliquary of the Dead (Lagomorph Rampant Studios)
- David A. Falk: All the Stars as Angels (Lagomorph Rampant Studios)
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Pierre Gulet, an eccentric and uniquely intuitive French archaeologist, is living in 25th century Egypt but is fixated on the past. After centuries, Egypt is still Egypt – the pyramids, the donkey carts, the unfinished high rises, the rancid stench of garbage, the systemic corruption.
Pierre was excavating the find of a lifetime, a pre-dynastic temple beneath an Old Kingdom fortress, until he was called into the office of the Director of Antiquities who takes away his life’s work, blacklists him and drives him into exile onto a distant world, a small colony struggling for survival on the edge of outer space.
Pierre must now solve a mystery that has baffled traditional scientists for decades, an agricultural blight that has decimated the food supply of a colony on Gliese 832 c.
Driven by a desire to make a discovery no one can take away from him, he must use his unique skills to save the future of a planet that is on the precipice of disaster. But as he seeks to uncover the truth, he is opposed by intransigent colonists, jealous predecessors and an ancient power lurking deep in the earth.
The more he discovers, the more he is vilified, and the more determined he becomes to discover what is at the heart of the blight. Should he fail, everyone in the colony dies.
Reliquary of the Dead is the first book in the War of the Gods series, inspired by Sherlock Holmes, Indiana Jones and the cosmic mythos of the ancient Near East.
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All the Stars as Angels is the second volume of the projected War of the Gods trilogy (the third volume is due out this summer).
In a future where humanity’s survival hangs by a thread, one android must navigate the treacherous waters of loyalty, identity and the dark secrets of the universe.
Meet Niva, an unassuming service android aboard the MegaAI Orion S209, a colossal starship dedicated to exploring the cosmos and aiding struggling human colonies. But when a routine mission to retrieve the infamous Pierre Gulet spirals into chaos, Niva is thrust into a deadly game of survival.
Set in AD 2498, Niva’s journey begins on the distant exoplanet Gliese 832 c, where Pierre, once a celebrated hero of the Arish colony, now finds himself a target.
With factions lining up to eliminate him – his former friends, the colonists and shadowy forces from the distant past – Niva must confront the unsettling truth about her own existence and the purpose of her creation.
As she grapples with her identity among thousands of identical Nivas, she discovers her connection to humanity runs deeper than mere programming.
But the stakes are higher than they seem. The Great AI, the enigmatic supercomputer steering the Orion, has its own agenda, and it is up to Niva to decipher its cryptic intentions while protecting Pierre at all costs.
As a dark conspiracy looms around a distant giant orange star, a conclave of MegaAI starships gathers to decide their fate – will they continue to serve humanity or choose a different path altogether?
All the Stars as Angels is a thrilling exploration of what it means to be alive, to love, and to defy the very nature of one’s existence. Join Niva on a gripping adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat, questioning the boundaries of humanity and the role of artificial intelligence in a universe filled with peril. Don’t miss out on this captivating tale – dive into the cosmos with Niva and Pierre and uncover a truth that could change everything.
David Falk holds three master’s degrees and a PhD in Egyptology from the University of Liverpool. He has published in lexicography, Bible interpretation, religious ritual, Egyptology, iconography and archaeometallurgy. He has worked for over 20 years as a computer engineer for companies that include IBM, Oracle and Disney. He also composes music under the pen name Velocirabbit.
- E.P. Cowley: Tales from Wakken Wood (Ignatius Press)
Bullies love to pick on Peter Thornburg because of his shining silver eyes. When Peter’s dad sends him to live with relatives on the island, Peter finds himself just miles away from his best friend, Pixel Rilson, who has also moved to the island to be treated for an inherited blood disease.
Why are they both there? Is it a coincidence, or a plan?
Something on the island does not add up. All is normal on the surface: cars, shops and offices. Yet strange creatures appear and disappear out of the corner of the eye. Stores are ransacked in the dead of night. And sadly, Pixel’s supposed treatments only make her worse.
As Peter settles into his new life at Wakkenburg House, he learns that his glinting silver eyes carry with them a great power – and a great responsibility.
An old woman emerges to unveil the truth: Pixel is in horrible danger, and the whole island with her. Together, Pixel and Peter discover that Wakken Wood is a borderland where wonders walk and myths unfold.
This dramatic and delightful saga immerses young readers in an enchanted world that touches and illuminates our own, drawing from the folklore and language of the Isle of Man.
Readers will learn about courage, prudence, faith, hope, temptation and the discernment of spirits. In Wakken Wood, the battle between good and evil requires not only bravery, but also careful attention and a love of wonder.
Joseph Pearce, author of many books, including several about J.R.R. Tolkien (and The Lord of the Rings), C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton, wrote of the book:
Inspired by the folklore of [the Isle of Man], Tales from Wakken Wood takes us deep into the Celtic mists of legend and the deepest mysteries of life. Wandering into Wakken Wood is like walking through the wardrobe of our imagination into a land in which even the trees are awake. It is somewhere strange and yet somewhere strangely close to home, somewhere as weird and wonderful as Middle-earth or Narnia.
E.P. Cowley is a retired home-schooling mother living in southern British Columbia. She holds a masters in English literature from Portland State University.
- Quentin Genuis: Recovering People: Addiction, Personhood and the Life of the Church (Cascade Books)
Working as an emergency physician at the epicentre of the opioid crisis, Dr. Quentin Genuis witnesses the devastating suffering caused by addiction and the incredible resilience of the affected persons. - J. Aaron Miller: Weird in the World: Living Toward the World God Wants (Cascade Books)
Christians are meant to be weird enough in the world that when God gets the world God wants, we fit right in. Psalm 34 guides us in living toward that world, giving us signposts along the way that leads to life.- R. Paul Stevens, editor: Working Blessedly Forever, Volume 3: The Spirituality of Marketplace Theology (Cascade Books)
Work, whether from home, in cyberspace, or in a factory or office, occupies a major chunk of our time, energy and soul.- Roy Salmond: Sacred Hmmms, Volumes 1 – 3 (Square Halo Books)
Roy Salmond is an award-winning music producer and the writer of Between the Notes, a weekly reflection on the wonder, heartache, and hope that accompanies us all through the days we’ve been given. The collection of his musings in Sacred Hmmms orbit around the theme of ART.
“I love Between the Notes—because its like a little gem that needs to be taken out so I can see the different facets and the reflections that appeal to me.”
– Luci Shaw, poet and author of Breath for the Bones: Art, Imagination & Spirit
“Roy delves into a wide range of subjects, offering unique and compelling viewpoints that will challenge your assumptions and broaden your horizons. Between the Notes is a must-read for anyone who appreciates deep, nuanced discussions and enjoys exploring ideas from new angles.”
– John Swinton, author of Finding Jesus in the Storm: The Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges
Roy Salmond is a music producer/audio producer/podcast producer/engineer/composer/writer. A veteran of 45 years in the music business, Roy still works on music that enlightens, enlivens and encourages the ‘better angels of our nature.’ Residing in Vancouver, he loves to read, ride his bike, listen to vinyl and unwind in his hot tub when he’s not producing, speaking or writing.
- Hyuk Cho & JungHee Park: Decolonizing Diakonia: From Servanthood to Companionship (Peter Lang)
The traditional concept of diakonia centres on servanthood and humble service, leading to inconsistencies in mission practice and necessitating revision. Hyuk Cho (ThD) is an Associate Professor of United Church Formation and Studies at the Vancouver School of Theology. He researches and teaches the history and theology of the United Church of Canada and constructive theology. His recent work has focused on intercultural theology, ecumenism, missiology, interfaith dialogue and decolonizing theology.
JungHee Park (1964 – 2016) was a diaconal minister in the United Church of Canada.