This remarkable first novel follows the

struggle of Ben Lucern, a young Filipino

American priest who must come tn terms

with his bifurcated notion of home as

well as his own religious commitment.

Ben s first visit to the city of Ccbu in the

Philippines, for his mother s burial,

becomes the occasion of his corruption

when he is confronted with the manipula

rive wiles of two enigmatic women, his

powerful Aunt Clara and her glamorous

young business associate, Ellen. Ben is

inherently corruptible, but his moment of

truth is advanced by what he sees as a

perversion of Catholicism,namely the

crucifixion as a means of bargaining with

God. Despair, guilt, and their religious

corollary, the need for redemption, follow

Ben back to Seattle, where he attempts to

unravel his existential dilemma.

Peter Bacho s vision is darkly comic, and

he refuses to sentimentalize his demand-

ing material. He conveys his vision well,

balancing aphoristic meditations with the

oblique revelations of funny, vivid,

believable dialogue. His complex and

timely message is underscored with skill-

ful irony; even the denouement has an

ambiguous twist, raising as many ques-

tions as it answers.