Review: The Gospels of Peter Star by Thomas Drago

Author Thomas Drago constructs a brand new testament of religion and history with The Gospels of Peter Star, an endlessly imaginative retelling of the New Testament.

Fated to unify humanity with music and prepare them for modern-day salvation, Peter Star is the musical savior of the world, a Christlike figure without gender or race, heralded by the Horse Whisperer, and born of a virgin. Throughout this cleverly penned book, religious dogma and biblical stories swirl and blend with musical history – from tricky Major Tom’s circumnavigation of the globe in his tin can to Peter Star’s baptismal walking on water.

Star, after being born to Princess Love, is destined to “elevate the proto-humans out of the Hard Days by the Turning of the Tables with magical songs of love and peace.” Moving through a world of oddly familiar towns and meeting bizarre characters with meaning-laden names, this rock star redeemer not only performs miracles, but also rips gorgeous solos for jaw-dropped crowds, and records some legendary studio sessions at The House of the Rising Sun.

The references go far beyond Sunday mass and the Billboard charts, however, as the story also incorporates Norse traditions, Renaissance art, ancient philosophy, astronomy, climate change, industrial evolution, and space programs, among many others. Like TS Eliot’s “The Wasteland,” a meticulous reader could spend many hours dissecting the subtle metaphors and allusions that make this text so impressively complex and rich.

While the writing has a biblical style and phrasing to it, the setting feels far closer to modern times, given the social commentary and historical figures that play such a large part in the story. There are “hooded wardens” who burn effigies and torture captives who had been brought over on ships, as well as “Martin Peace/X,” who plays the shifting representations of Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, and Malcolm X. Drago also incorporates the idea of gender fluidity and neutral pronouns, hinting that in the future, gender distinctions will be eliminated. One might not assume that a religious allegory is targeted at Millennial and Gen Z readers, but these nuanced (and politically progressive) details of the plot and premise suggest otherwise.

The subtlety with which today’s most controversial issues are discussed and resolved is truly stunning, from political corruption to violent police responses to protests. It takes a skilled mind and a strong writer to seamlessly address such ideas in the natural flow of a “gospel.” Some traditionally religious readers may chance upon this book and feel a burst of offense at Drago’s seemingly blasphemous reframing of biblical stories, but the foundation of Peter Star’s philosophy is peace, love, and unity, which is not so different from the source material.

All told, The Gospels of Peter Star is a masterfully constructed book; it was clearly subjected to a fine-tooth comb, as every word choice and phrase feels intentional and polished. Drago has deftly constructed a tongue-in-cheek revamp of the most famous book in human history, not only poking fun but also provoking thoughtful reflection on what salvation really looks like in the 21st century.