The War of Ascension has been decided with victory for the world of Enskari and their queen. The battles continue as prejudices and habits run deep across the solar system. The power centers of government, religion, and independent groups have desires, needs, and fears that are driving their plans forward.
Of Civilized, Saved & Savages by Johnny Worthen is book two of Coronam. This science fiction saga is a look into a future we are creating on Earth and how humans escaped the man made threats to existence, only to find themselves repeating the history they chose to leave behind.
I was given a copy of Of Civilized, Saved & Savages for review purposes.
Plot and Style
Queen Zabel's throne had been secured, at least for now. But, with that break in tradition, more threats would be present. The people on Enskari aren't the only ones facing turmoil. Something is happening across the system that is pushing for change. Something big enough to have the prophet of the saved to stop fighting amongst themselves so they can band together to face the greater evil.
The grand view of events over the following year are chronicled. There is a thread, or threads, tying together the events on each of the planets. Something hinted at in the first book that is brought forward in Of Civilized, Saved & Savages. All of them are being woven together to create a greater tapestry of the story.
As with book 1 of Coronam there are multiple storylines presented. We are given the stories of characters we already know and we meet more who tell the story from their personal view points. As the reader we are given the most relevant points to show the intersections that many of the characters may not be aware of. The greater story arch is interwoven with the personal, cultural, and societal stories.
Of Civilized, Saved, & Savages builds intrigue from the first. In writing this review I have gone back and rewritten to ensure I don't give spoilers that are highlights in the book. There are appropriate twists based on everything from earlier in this book and from book one. People act and react based on who they are deep inside as the plot binds the threads together and also rips them apart.
The second section of Of Civilized, Saved & Savages follows the same format as Of Kings, Queens & Colonies. We are allowed to visit he past, about 400 years. The section is a deep dive into what is rising, and what can be expected in book 3. It does a lot more than foreshadow the next book as it provides the underlying reasoning of some of the major actors of the unfolding current events.
The main arcs are pulled tightly together in the weave by the end of the book, even though they might not be the most pleasant for some of those we are reading about. Along with the satisfying ending of the current events the build of the greater story of Coronam creates a desire for more.
Overall
Of Civilized, Saved, & Savages was more than expected. It was a great read that enticed me. I soon was looking into the deeper motivations, plots, and story arcs presented. I enjoyed the foreshadowing and relished the intellectual read all the way to the end.
Johnny Worthen has again created a story for those who enjoy deeper thoughts created by the work they are reading. Once I started reading Of Civilized, Saved, & Savages I was pulled back into the universe of Coronam created in book one. I found the book hard to put down, yet, the desire to set the book aside for short periods of time so I could step and think about the picture being created was also a pleasure.
The use of a logical "punking" of technology provides a vision of adaptation that is fun. Throughout there is a feel of the battle of the old versus the new, that plays well with one of the overarching themes of history repeating itself. We are also treated to the themes of man's inhumanity to man and man versus nature. There is much pointing towards the concept that nature shall overcome.
I recommend Of Civilized, Saved, & Savages to mature science fiction readers who enjoy more complexity in their reading.
I was able to have a chat with Johnny Worthen about Of Civilized, Saved, & Savages, his other books, and what he has in store for the future. You can watch it on my YouTube channel (link).
Of Civilized, Saved, & Savages is available on Amazon.
About the Author
Johnny Worthen is an award-winning, multiple-genre, tie-dye-wearing author, voyager, and damn fine human being! Trained in literary criticism and cultural studies, he writes upmarket fiction, long and short, mentors others where he can and teaches at the University of Utah. Find out more on his website: johhnyworthen.com.
Other Johnny Worthen Works I've Reviewed
Serial Novels
Coronam
Of Kings, Queens & Colonies (Book One) (link to review)
Tony Flaner Mysteries
The Finger Trap (Book One) (link to review)
The Knickknack Case (Book 1.75) (link to review)
Thicker than Water (Book Two) (link to review)
In the Wake of Captain Lord (Book Three) (link to review)
The Counterfeit Connection (Book Four) (link to review)
The Hermit of Bighorn County (Book Five) (link to review)
Stand Alone Novels
Beatrysal (link to review)
Dr. Stuarts Heart (Prequal Novella to Beatrysal) (link to review)
What Immortal Hand (link to review)
Short Stories in Anthologies
A Year of the Monkeys (link to review)
Apocalypse Utah (link to review)
The Function of Freedom (link to review)
The Hunger (link to review)
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