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Reclaimed Earth #2
The Guardian
“Complexity and moral ambiguity enough to make this a serious, engrossing story”
– Analog SF
Reclaimed Earth Book 2
In the year 2737, Earth is mostly depopulated in the wake of a massive supervolcano, but civilization and culture are preserved in vast orbiting ringstations.
Tem, the nine-year-old son of a ringstation anthropologist and a Happdal bow-hunter, wants nothing more than to become a blacksmith like his uncle Trond. But after a rough patch as the only brown-skinned child in the village, his mother Car-En decides that the family should spend some time on the Stanford ringstation.
Tem gets caught up in the battle against Umana, the tentacle-enhanced Squid Woman , while protecting a secret that could change the course of humanity and civilization.
The Guardian, the sequel to the The Sky Woman , is a story of colliding worlds and the contested repopulation of a wild Earth.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
– Analog SF
Reclaimed Earth Book 2
In the year 2737, Earth is mostly depopulated in the wake of a massive supervolcano, but civilization and culture are preserved in vast orbiting ringstations.
Tem, the nine-year-old son of a ringstation anthropologist and a Happdal bow-hunter, wants nothing more than to become a blacksmith like his uncle Trond. But after a rough patch as the only brown-skinned child in the village, his mother Car-En decides that the family should spend some time on the Stanford ringstation.
Tem gets caught up in the battle against Umana, the tentacle-enhanced Squid Woman , while protecting a secret that could change the course of humanity and civilization.
The Guardian, the sequel to the The Sky Woman , is a story of colliding worlds and the contested repopulation of a wild Earth.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
- GenresScience Fiction
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2019
3 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Moyer
10 books111 followersJ.D. Moyer is the author of the Reclaimed Earth science fiction series (Flame Tree Press) and numerous works of short fiction. He lives in Oakland, California, with his wife, daughter, and mystery-breed dog. In addition to writing science fiction, he produces electronic music and runs a record label (Loöq Records). His previous occupations include dolphin cognition researcher, martial arts instructor, Renaissance Faire actor, dance music event promoter, and internationally-touring DJ.
Don Sakers reviewed The Sky Woman (Book 1 of Reclaimed Earth) in Analog SF: “A well-told story reminiscent of Ursula K. LeGuin or Karen Lord.” Compelling Science Fiction described The Sky Woman as a “wonderfully entertaining debut novel.” Publisher’s Weekly reviewed The Icelandic Cure: “a strong, thoughtful story that inspires hope for the future.”
Recurring themes in Moyer’s fiction include genetic engineering, evolutionary divergence, virtualized consciousness, and the anthropological effects of climate change. His favorite authors include Iain Banks, Octavia Butler, William Gibson, Kim Stanley Robinson, Margaret Atwood, and David Mitchell.
Moyer’s short stories have appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, The InterGalactic Medicine Show, Cosmic Roots And Eldritch Shores, and Compelling Science Fiction. His novelette The Icelandic Cure won the 2016 Omnidawn Fabulist Fiction contest.
The author blogs at jdmoyer.com, and is @johndavidmoyer on both Twitter and Instagram.
Don Sakers reviewed The Sky Woman (Book 1 of Reclaimed Earth) in Analog SF: “A well-told story reminiscent of Ursula K. LeGuin or Karen Lord.” Compelling Science Fiction described The Sky Woman as a “wonderfully entertaining debut novel.” Publisher’s Weekly reviewed The Icelandic Cure: “a strong, thoughtful story that inspires hope for the future.”
Recurring themes in Moyer’s fiction include genetic engineering, evolutionary divergence, virtualized consciousness, and the anthropological effects of climate change. His favorite authors include Iain Banks, Octavia Butler, William Gibson, Kim Stanley Robinson, Margaret Atwood, and David Mitchell.
Moyer’s short stories have appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, The InterGalactic Medicine Show, Cosmic Roots And Eldritch Shores, and Compelling Science Fiction. His novelette The Icelandic Cure won the 2016 Omnidawn Fabulist Fiction contest.
The author blogs at jdmoyer.com, and is @johndavidmoyer on both Twitter and Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 15, 2019
I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of The Guardian by J.D. Moyer. Unfortunately for me, but fortunately for the world of readers, it was good enough to read right through in a few days despite it being the beginning of my school year, a time that as a teacher I generally don’t let myself take time to read at all.
In this second book of the Reclaimed Earth series we are taken back to the future Earth created in The Sky Woman, several years on. The Guardian could stand on its own, but I found it especially satisfying as a sequel because it didn’t pick up at the same time, with the same main characters (although they are there). Instead it focuses on related new characters such as Tem, a 10 year old born to two worlds. Tem begins with a certainty and self determination one can only experience at that age, before the world opens up. We get to come along with him as his horizons are broadened and his understanding of the world and himself grows. Moyer’s portrayal of Tem feels very true to me, both from remembering that time in my own life, and in observing the children I teach. We also spend time with characters who were peripheral or unknown in The Sky Woman. We get to know them for themselves, as well as see through their eyes how some of the main characters from The Sky Woman have grown. I especially enjoyed Lydia, who I was curious about from the first book, and found her arc unexpected and engaging.
Moyer’s choice to create a sequel this way is entertaining on a few different levels. Because he has new characters as the focus, we get a sense of the enormity of the world and the variety of people in it. At the same time, he develops the story lines that started in The Sky Woman in a brilliant way, continuing threads that I wondered about and was worried would be dropped, all while opening up new ideas and introducing new characters and plot lines. Moyer keeps his characters and their relationships satisfyingly complex and realistic. His villains are especially delightful to me because they are so like real life villains - relatable, with motivations I can understand, but oh, such bad choices! He includes and explores Tech that thrills and terrifies without letting it take over the story. In this book, I feel that Moyer is hitting his stride at novel writing, smoothing out some of the first novel kinks and delivering a well paced ride that is rich in adventure, charismatic three dimensional characters, sci-fi details, and convincing plot twists, but which is never confusing or boring. Get started on reading this author now, it’s clear we can expect many more thought provoking adventures in complex worlds from him.
In this second book of the Reclaimed Earth series we are taken back to the future Earth created in The Sky Woman, several years on. The Guardian could stand on its own, but I found it especially satisfying as a sequel because it didn’t pick up at the same time, with the same main characters (although they are there). Instead it focuses on related new characters such as Tem, a 10 year old born to two worlds. Tem begins with a certainty and self determination one can only experience at that age, before the world opens up. We get to come along with him as his horizons are broadened and his understanding of the world and himself grows. Moyer’s portrayal of Tem feels very true to me, both from remembering that time in my own life, and in observing the children I teach. We also spend time with characters who were peripheral or unknown in The Sky Woman. We get to know them for themselves, as well as see through their eyes how some of the main characters from The Sky Woman have grown. I especially enjoyed Lydia, who I was curious about from the first book, and found her arc unexpected and engaging.
Moyer’s choice to create a sequel this way is entertaining on a few different levels. Because he has new characters as the focus, we get a sense of the enormity of the world and the variety of people in it. At the same time, he develops the story lines that started in The Sky Woman in a brilliant way, continuing threads that I wondered about and was worried would be dropped, all while opening up new ideas and introducing new characters and plot lines. Moyer keeps his characters and their relationships satisfyingly complex and realistic. His villains are especially delightful to me because they are so like real life villains - relatable, with motivations I can understand, but oh, such bad choices! He includes and explores Tech that thrills and terrifies without letting it take over the story. In this book, I feel that Moyer is hitting his stride at novel writing, smoothing out some of the first novel kinks and delivering a well paced ride that is rich in adventure, charismatic three dimensional characters, sci-fi details, and convincing plot twists, but which is never confusing or boring. Get started on reading this author now, it’s clear we can expect many more thought provoking adventures in complex worlds from him.
September 16, 2019
The Guardian is the continuation of the story that began in The Sky Woman. It takes place on and above a post-apocalyptic Earth, centuries after catastrophic depopulating events took place. Now, the earth is becoming habitable and civilization is making a comeback. And everyone wants a piece of Earth.
Much of the population fled to space stations to wait out Earth’s recovery. But not all. The residents of Earth may not be as technologically advanced as the ring stations, but they are socially evolved enough to recognize a threat in the ringstation interest in their world. The stark contrast between the earth-dwellers and ringstation dwellers causes both conflict and cooperation.
The main character focus has shifted from Car-En, the ringstation anthropologist, to her nine-year-old son Tem. Raised on Earth in Happdal, Tem is the son of Esper, so is half native. I really enjoyed Tem’s youthful viewpoint, though it is written with a mature voice. I watched as Tem’s world expanded from his Uncle Trond’s blacksmith shop to encompass much of Earth and the ringstation Standford, including his grandfather and many new friends. He may always want to be a blacksmith, but his mind is opened up to so many more possibilities on the Stanford with his friends. With the exciting possibilities come possibilities that are also dangerous.
Adrian Vanderplotz is the villain from book one. Now, he has established a research station on Earth, but colludes with a military force from another ringstation to take over the settlement. He gets more than he bargained for. It is always nice when the evil villain learns he is not the genius he thinks he is!
Enter Squid woman, Umana. This grotesque approximation of a military Commander seems to be the real villain in the story. But pay attention. Here is where book 1’s story of the gast evolves. What began as a supernatural creature in The Sky Woman, is revealed to have a scientific beginning in Earth’s history. And it is not done yet. Evolutionists may like Umana, but most of us will be uncomfortable with the scientific ‘progress’ that created her.
Individual story lines did seem a bit disjointed. Plus there were adventures with giant dogs and odd population groups on earth that seemed to have little to do with the story (like the giants in book 1). However, most of it is connected and patience is rewarded.
The Guardian. The title of this book. I really haven’t figured that out. In fact the word guardian is used only once in the story in reference to Tem’s grandfather as his guardian. Hmmm. The characters Katya and Tem come to mind as possible guardians, but I’m not sure what the author was referring to. Read the book. Let me know what you think.
Overall, The Guardian is a pretty good tale, complex, multi-faceted and full of danger and excitement.
Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Much of the population fled to space stations to wait out Earth’s recovery. But not all. The residents of Earth may not be as technologically advanced as the ring stations, but they are socially evolved enough to recognize a threat in the ringstation interest in their world. The stark contrast between the earth-dwellers and ringstation dwellers causes both conflict and cooperation.
The main character focus has shifted from Car-En, the ringstation anthropologist, to her nine-year-old son Tem. Raised on Earth in Happdal, Tem is the son of Esper, so is half native. I really enjoyed Tem’s youthful viewpoint, though it is written with a mature voice. I watched as Tem’s world expanded from his Uncle Trond’s blacksmith shop to encompass much of Earth and the ringstation Standford, including his grandfather and many new friends. He may always want to be a blacksmith, but his mind is opened up to so many more possibilities on the Stanford with his friends. With the exciting possibilities come possibilities that are also dangerous.
Adrian Vanderplotz is the villain from book one. Now, he has established a research station on Earth, but colludes with a military force from another ringstation to take over the settlement. He gets more than he bargained for. It is always nice when the evil villain learns he is not the genius he thinks he is!
Enter Squid woman, Umana. This grotesque approximation of a military Commander seems to be the real villain in the story. But pay attention. Here is where book 1’s story of the gast evolves. What began as a supernatural creature in The Sky Woman, is revealed to have a scientific beginning in Earth’s history. And it is not done yet. Evolutionists may like Umana, but most of us will be uncomfortable with the scientific ‘progress’ that created her.
Individual story lines did seem a bit disjointed. Plus there were adventures with giant dogs and odd population groups on earth that seemed to have little to do with the story (like the giants in book 1). However, most of it is connected and patience is rewarded.
The Guardian. The title of this book. I really haven’t figured that out. In fact the word guardian is used only once in the story in reference to Tem’s grandfather as his guardian. Hmmm. The characters Katya and Tem come to mind as possible guardians, but I’m not sure what the author was referring to. Read the book. Let me know what you think.
Overall, The Guardian is a pretty good tale, complex, multi-faceted and full of danger and excitement.
Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 26, 2019
A year ago I read and reviewed The Skywoman, the first volume of J.D. Moyer’s series titled The Reclaimed Earth. In September. 2019 Flame Tree Press released Volume Two, The Guardian, which continues the saga of interaction between remnant communities on earth after its depopulation and the surviving earthlings who inhabit five “ringstations” in space. As others have pointed out, The Guardian can be read as a stand-alone, but it was great to have the richness of the first volume as background.
The Guardian focuses on the life of Tem, the nine-year old son of The Skywoman, Car-En, who has forsaken her objective study of Happdal, one of the post Viking villages in the Harz mountains to remain (love conquers all) on earth with Esper, a Happdal bow hunter who becomes Tem’s father. Tem, having known nothing but village life, has no greater wish than to become the village blacksmith until his mother decides she should take him to the ringstation to meet his maternal grandparents and give him a broader view of life. He goes, reluctant but curious, and endures many exciting, frightening and dangerous encounters along the way (Squid Woman, enormous poison spiders, giant attack dogs!) In Tem, the writer rolls out a compelling coming of age story that includes a depiction of being a part of two widely disparate cultures, seeing parents in unexpected and unusual roles, testing the edge of risk and responsibility while still requiring the comfort and protection of adults.
As the threats to life as we know it on planet earth roll out in real time, I am intrigued by this creative imagining of an alternative future, where humanity not only survived in space but bends toward repopulation of earth, accompanied, of course by all the human qualities of idealism, altruism, practicality, greed and lust for power. In addition to his exploration of human nature, past and future, the writer raises many questions about the possibilities and unintended consequences of science and technology. This work is many-layered, but a light read, filled with detail, pleasure and surprise. As with volume one, the writer has left a few critical loose ends. I look forward to reading the next volume.
The Guardian focuses on the life of Tem, the nine-year old son of The Skywoman, Car-En, who has forsaken her objective study of Happdal, one of the post Viking villages in the Harz mountains to remain (love conquers all) on earth with Esper, a Happdal bow hunter who becomes Tem’s father. Tem, having known nothing but village life, has no greater wish than to become the village blacksmith until his mother decides she should take him to the ringstation to meet his maternal grandparents and give him a broader view of life. He goes, reluctant but curious, and endures many exciting, frightening and dangerous encounters along the way (Squid Woman, enormous poison spiders, giant attack dogs!) In Tem, the writer rolls out a compelling coming of age story that includes a depiction of being a part of two widely disparate cultures, seeing parents in unexpected and unusual roles, testing the edge of risk and responsibility while still requiring the comfort and protection of adults.
As the threats to life as we know it on planet earth roll out in real time, I am intrigued by this creative imagining of an alternative future, where humanity not only survived in space but bends toward repopulation of earth, accompanied, of course by all the human qualities of idealism, altruism, practicality, greed and lust for power. In addition to his exploration of human nature, past and future, the writer raises many questions about the possibilities and unintended consequences of science and technology. This work is many-layered, but a light read, filled with detail, pleasure and surprise. As with volume one, the writer has left a few critical loose ends. I look forward to reading the next volume.
September 23, 2019
This is the second book in the Reclaimed Earth series by J.D. Moyer, but I felt it can easily be read as a stand-alone.
Earth had been decimated, with only small pockets of villages left, but they happily survive albeit with rivalries between the villages.
Tem, of the Happdal, a Norse speaking settlement is a young boy who has dreams of being a smith…..his mother Car-En is one of the Sky people who defected. She had fallen in love with Esper. Tem sometimes has trouble feeling like he belongs, with his darker skin and small stature….but this is his home.
She decides it’s time to take Tem, to the Stanford, a ringstation to meet his other grandparents…..just for a visit…may be a year!
And so the adventure begins…….there is a psychopathic leader, Adrian, who had previously tried to kill Car-En….he has plans!
There is also a squid woman, now she is terrifying…….many many spiders…..even more horrific!
Will the people of Earth survive ? Will Tem ?
A complex tale with great world building, which I have to admit that took me a while to get to grips with, but it evolves into a thrilling, intelligent sci-fi adventure. I enjoyed the way it was set out, with chapters from various perspectives and the characters have clear personalities and a clever, engaging plot.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Earth had been decimated, with only small pockets of villages left, but they happily survive albeit with rivalries between the villages.
Tem, of the Happdal, a Norse speaking settlement is a young boy who has dreams of being a smith…..his mother Car-En is one of the Sky people who defected. She had fallen in love with Esper. Tem sometimes has trouble feeling like he belongs, with his darker skin and small stature….but this is his home.
She decides it’s time to take Tem, to the Stanford, a ringstation to meet his other grandparents…..just for a visit…may be a year!
And so the adventure begins…….there is a psychopathic leader, Adrian, who had previously tried to kill Car-En….he has plans!
There is also a squid woman, now she is terrifying…….many many spiders…..even more horrific!
Will the people of Earth survive ? Will Tem ?
A complex tale with great world building, which I have to admit that took me a while to get to grips with, but it evolves into a thrilling, intelligent sci-fi adventure. I enjoyed the way it was set out, with chapters from various perspectives and the characters have clear personalities and a clever, engaging plot.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
September 29, 2019
The Guardin is book two in the Reclaimed Earth series by J.D. Moyer, but I was fine reading it as a standalone. I felt the author gave enough background in this novel that I wasn’t missing too much from the first book. I immensely enjoyed this one.
I haven’t read a good Sci-Fi in a while and The Guardian filled that gap. I am obsessed with the world-building. Earth has been decimated, now a wild Earth populated by small villages with bug rivalries. It took me a bit to get into this novel, but when the story picks up, it transports you right to wild Earth and it’s awesome!
J.D. Moyer took a risk with multiple perspectives in this book, but it worked so well. Each character was as complex as the next and had their own, unique, personality. I love a good multi-POV read and it always impresses me when it works this well.
A clever plot, awesome world-building and complex characters, The Guardian was a thrilling read that I definitely recommend to Sci-Fi lovers. I intend to go back and read book one!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Random Things Tours. All opinions are my own.*
Find this review and more on my blog: https://www.jessicabelmont.wordpress.com
I haven’t read a good Sci-Fi in a while and The Guardian filled that gap. I am obsessed with the world-building. Earth has been decimated, now a wild Earth populated by small villages with bug rivalries. It took me a bit to get into this novel, but when the story picks up, it transports you right to wild Earth and it’s awesome!
J.D. Moyer took a risk with multiple perspectives in this book, but it worked so well. Each character was as complex as the next and had their own, unique, personality. I love a good multi-POV read and it always impresses me when it works this well.
A clever plot, awesome world-building and complex characters, The Guardian was a thrilling read that I definitely recommend to Sci-Fi lovers. I intend to go back and read book one!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Random Things Tours. All opinions are my own.*
Find this review and more on my blog: https://www.jessicabelmont.wordpress.com
October 8, 2019
I really enjoyed the second book in JD's Reclaimed Earth series. He managed to pull many of the threads from book one together in ways that were satisfying and unexpected. It's a hopeful and interesting version of the future.
This book ends with some hints with what a third book might hold, but without a cliffhanger.
This book ends with some hints with what a third book might hold, but without a cliffhanger.
July 5, 2020
The second book is equally engaging. The new characters and their dangerous capabilities takes the story to a new level. I hope there’ll be a book 3.
November 23, 2020
The Guardian is the second book in J.D. Moyer's Reclaimed Earth series and is set about ten years after The Sky Woman. This is a much longer book in comparison to the first which allows for more developed world-building and a larger cast of characters. I thoroughly enjoyed The Sky Woman but The Guardian is a more satisfying story which extends the Earth and ringstation based settings. It can be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading the series in order to truly appreciate the ongoing story arc.
The villagers who live in Happdal are fascinating because they are the descendants of advanced humanity but in a post-apocalyptic world, have an existence which is more akin to their Viking ancestors than to modern civilisation. In the previous book, one of the ringstation anthropologists, a woman called Car-En met and fell in love with a Happdal villager, Esper but though both feature here, the main character is their young son, Tem. It works well because he is in the unique position of having a claim to belong both in Happdal and on the Standford ringstation but consequently is somewhat of an outsider in both places. On Earth he dreams of becoming a blacksmith like his Farbror (uncle) Trond and has to work hard pumping the bellows but on Stanford he is expected to attend school. He has a maturity beyond that of most children of his age but is still a child and throughout the book he frequently makes decisions which are courageous but potentially foolhardy as he bears some heavy responsibilities, either through his own choices or thanks to others confiding in him. As a result he is an intriguing protagonist who is clearly motivated by his deeply held beliefs and principles but he is also the grandson of the village jarl and there are glimpses of arrogance. There seems to be the potential for him to become power-hungry as he grows older and I'm looking forward to seeing how his character is developed further in future books.
Although much of the action among the sky people is still set on Sandford, we also learn a little more about the other ringstations in the Coalition and the differences between their citizens. While those who live on Sandford are pacifists who prioritise science and learning, those on the Liu Hui are more militaristic and have a phenotype which emphasises height and strength compared to the smaller, lighter people on Sandford. There are also mentions for other ringstations, including Alhazen, Hedonark and perhaps most intriguingly, the Michaelangelo who are described as a former artist's colony which has morphed over time into a society of paranoid isolationists. As the story progresses I was struck by the similarities as much as the differences between the Earth based humans and the sky people. Both experience tensions between the various settlements that make up their communities; Happdal is one of the settlements in the Five Valleys but Svein, jarl of the closest village, Kaldbrek is a dangerous tyrant; meanwhile, Adrian Vanderplotz, Station Director of Advance Station One, a small research station on Earth, more commonly known as Vandercamp is an egotistical megalomaniac who invites a lethal visitor to the station.
The tense rivalries and human dramas are certainly engaging and I particularly liked Lydia, Vandercamp's doctor who was once Car-En's friend and has complicated relationship issues to confront alongside the dangerous situation she finds herself in. Likewise, Shane - the head of head of security is another strong addition to the series and the chapters which feature him are some of the most gripping in the book. However, as pressing as the more relatable human issues may be, the appearance of a tentacle enhanced Squid Woman who has dangerous plans is obviously going to take precedence.
Commander Umana could have been a ridiculous figure but this is a well-crafted novel which continues a plot strand introduced in the first book ensuring that as far-fetched as her appearance may sound, how and why she is like this makes perfect sense, and her inclusion sits perfectly within the wider story about the moral choices behind human evolution and development. The title of the book is interesting too and could refer to a number of characters or themes; Tem is obviously going to continue to play an important role in the future and could become some sort of guardian of the Earth but Umana also has plans to take over guardianship of the planet, planning to preserve and protect it.
Climate change and the environmental cost of human development is obviously a vital issue right now and J.D. Moyer's descriptions of a world which exists far in the future is a thoughtful look at how people may respond to catastrophic events, questioning whether idealistic fantasies about a new population built on compassionate progress could ever be realistic given human nature and the strengths and weaknesses which are handed down through the generations.
The Guardian is exactly what I'm hoping for when I pick up a sci-fi novel - richly descriptive worlds; the scientific elements are advanced and incredible but written in such a way to be plausible and the interesting, generally sympathetic cast of characters are thrust into situations which are exciting and thought-provoking. There is obviously a great deal still to discover here and plenty of conflict ahead so I'm very much looking forward to the next Reclaimed Earth story.
The villagers who live in Happdal are fascinating because they are the descendants of advanced humanity but in a post-apocalyptic world, have an existence which is more akin to their Viking ancestors than to modern civilisation. In the previous book, one of the ringstation anthropologists, a woman called Car-En met and fell in love with a Happdal villager, Esper but though both feature here, the main character is their young son, Tem. It works well because he is in the unique position of having a claim to belong both in Happdal and on the Standford ringstation but consequently is somewhat of an outsider in both places. On Earth he dreams of becoming a blacksmith like his Farbror (uncle) Trond and has to work hard pumping the bellows but on Stanford he is expected to attend school. He has a maturity beyond that of most children of his age but is still a child and throughout the book he frequently makes decisions which are courageous but potentially foolhardy as he bears some heavy responsibilities, either through his own choices or thanks to others confiding in him. As a result he is an intriguing protagonist who is clearly motivated by his deeply held beliefs and principles but he is also the grandson of the village jarl and there are glimpses of arrogance. There seems to be the potential for him to become power-hungry as he grows older and I'm looking forward to seeing how his character is developed further in future books.
Although much of the action among the sky people is still set on Sandford, we also learn a little more about the other ringstations in the Coalition and the differences between their citizens. While those who live on Sandford are pacifists who prioritise science and learning, those on the Liu Hui are more militaristic and have a phenotype which emphasises height and strength compared to the smaller, lighter people on Sandford. There are also mentions for other ringstations, including Alhazen, Hedonark and perhaps most intriguingly, the Michaelangelo who are described as a former artist's colony which has morphed over time into a society of paranoid isolationists. As the story progresses I was struck by the similarities as much as the differences between the Earth based humans and the sky people. Both experience tensions between the various settlements that make up their communities; Happdal is one of the settlements in the Five Valleys but Svein, jarl of the closest village, Kaldbrek is a dangerous tyrant; meanwhile, Adrian Vanderplotz, Station Director of Advance Station One, a small research station on Earth, more commonly known as Vandercamp is an egotistical megalomaniac who invites a lethal visitor to the station.
The tense rivalries and human dramas are certainly engaging and I particularly liked Lydia, Vandercamp's doctor who was once Car-En's friend and has complicated relationship issues to confront alongside the dangerous situation she finds herself in. Likewise, Shane - the head of head of security is another strong addition to the series and the chapters which feature him are some of the most gripping in the book. However, as pressing as the more relatable human issues may be, the appearance of a tentacle enhanced Squid Woman who has dangerous plans is obviously going to take precedence.
Commander Umana could have been a ridiculous figure but this is a well-crafted novel which continues a plot strand introduced in the first book ensuring that as far-fetched as her appearance may sound, how and why she is like this makes perfect sense, and her inclusion sits perfectly within the wider story about the moral choices behind human evolution and development. The title of the book is interesting too and could refer to a number of characters or themes; Tem is obviously going to continue to play an important role in the future and could become some sort of guardian of the Earth but Umana also has plans to take over guardianship of the planet, planning to preserve and protect it.
Climate change and the environmental cost of human development is obviously a vital issue right now and J.D. Moyer's descriptions of a world which exists far in the future is a thoughtful look at how people may respond to catastrophic events, questioning whether idealistic fantasies about a new population built on compassionate progress could ever be realistic given human nature and the strengths and weaknesses which are handed down through the generations.
The Guardian is exactly what I'm hoping for when I pick up a sci-fi novel - richly descriptive worlds; the scientific elements are advanced and incredible but written in such a way to be plausible and the interesting, generally sympathetic cast of characters are thrust into situations which are exciting and thought-provoking. There is obviously a great deal still to discover here and plenty of conflict ahead so I'm very much looking forward to the next Reclaimed Earth story.
November 25, 2020
The Guardian is the perfect follow up to Sky Woman. But I still want more. These characters are just getting started!! When is the movie or series. I want that too. Scifi fans will not be disappointed...
September 23, 2019
This is the second book in the Reclaimed Earth series by J.D. Moyer, but I felt it can easily be read as a stand-alone.
Earth had been decimated, with only small pockets of villages left, but they happily survive albeit with rivalries between the villages.
Tem, of the Happdal, a Norse speaking settlement is a young boy who has dreams of being a smith…..his mother Car-En is one of the Sky people who defected. She had fallen in love with Esper. Tem sometimes has trouble feeling like he belongs, with his darker skin and small stature….but this is his home.
She decides it’s time to take Tem, to the Stanford, a ringstation to meet his other grandparents…..just for a visit…may be a year!
And so the adventure begins…….there is a psychopathic leader, Adrian, who had previously tried to kill Car-En….he has plans!
There is also a squid woman, now she is terrifying…….many many spiders…..even more horrific!
Will the people of Earth survive ? Will Tem ?
A complex tale with great world building, which I have to admit that took me a while to get to grips with, but it evolves into a thrilling, intelligent sci-fi adventure. I enjoyed the way it was set out, with chapters from various perspectives and the characters have clear personalities and a clever, engaging plot.
Thank you to The Author, the publishers and NetGalley for the eARC for free. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Earth had been decimated, with only small pockets of villages left, but they happily survive albeit with rivalries between the villages.
Tem, of the Happdal, a Norse speaking settlement is a young boy who has dreams of being a smith…..his mother Car-En is one of the Sky people who defected. She had fallen in love with Esper. Tem sometimes has trouble feeling like he belongs, with his darker skin and small stature….but this is his home.
She decides it’s time to take Tem, to the Stanford, a ringstation to meet his other grandparents…..just for a visit…may be a year!
And so the adventure begins…….there is a psychopathic leader, Adrian, who had previously tried to kill Car-En….he has plans!
There is also a squid woman, now she is terrifying…….many many spiders…..even more horrific!
Will the people of Earth survive ? Will Tem ?
A complex tale with great world building, which I have to admit that took me a while to get to grips with, but it evolves into a thrilling, intelligent sci-fi adventure. I enjoyed the way it was set out, with chapters from various perspectives and the characters have clear personalities and a clever, engaging plot.
Thank you to The Author, the publishers and NetGalley for the eARC for free. This is my honest, unbiased review.
January 22, 2020
My first read of J D Moyer. Having not read Skywoman I felt a bit in the dark about a couple of topics. The first half of the book seemed a little slow and I must admit I set the book aside several times. I was however drawn back to try again. I am happy I did because the rest of the story was a lot more interesting and faster paced. I am curious to read the next installment to see where it takes us and find out what happens to the loose ends left in this one.
I am grateful to Goodreads giveway for the advance copy . Love reading authors new to me.
I am grateful to Goodreads giveway for the advance copy . Love reading authors new to me.
August 4, 2019
I haven't read the previous book in the series so I'm probably at a bit of a disadvantage. But, I liked this nonetheless. It's a bit uneven but well=researched and mostly engaging. Part of an on-coming stories involving climate change. Recommended.
I really appreciate the advanced copy for review!!
I really appreciate the advanced copy for review!!
October 2, 2021
After reading The Sky Woman, I had high expectations that I can most definitely say were met by the sequel. The transition to a new cast of characters, while still keeping our old favorites in play, was done flawlessly. Adding new layers to the world kept me engaged and the introduction of a more solid villain raised the stakes. The Squid Woman was the perfect villainess: truly terrifying, but with a motive that made it easy to empathize with her. I’m looking forward to reading book three!
March 30, 2020
I still have a hard time with the caricature-like characters and the pacing of the story was a bit off; but The Guardian is a huge improvement over the first book The Sky Woman.
I’m impressed that the author fleshed out the characters more and gave us more insights into why they behave the way they do - they didn’t feel nearly as flat as the main characters of The Sky Woman. I also just liked these characters better - Tem is a thoughtful kid and Lydia is probably the most fully developed character in the series so far.
I also love how it’s obvious while reading the story that the author did his research - whether the topic is linguistics, science, or blacksmithing.
I was rather irritated at the cliffhanger ending, however. And I’m not clear on who “The Guardian” is supposed to be. It’s not a perfect book, but I’m light of the major improvements I’m rounding my rating up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️.
I’m impressed that the author fleshed out the characters more and gave us more insights into why they behave the way they do - they didn’t feel nearly as flat as the main characters of The Sky Woman. I also just liked these characters better - Tem is a thoughtful kid and Lydia is probably the most fully developed character in the series so far.
I also love how it’s obvious while reading the story that the author did his research - whether the topic is linguistics, science, or blacksmithing.
I was rather irritated at the cliffhanger ending, however. And I’m not clear on who “The Guardian” is supposed to be. It’s not a perfect book, but I’m light of the major improvements I’m rounding my rating up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️.
December 22, 2019
To be fair, I generally don’t read sci-fi. The story is interesting and I did make it through the whole book. The biggest problem is the pace. The first part is very slow. At times I was not sure if it was going to get anywhere. Then the interesting part with the villain caught my attention. However, I felt like the ending left so many questions. Just as quickly as the villain was introduced so was her ending. It was very anti-climatic.
[Thanks to the Goodreads Giveaway for sending me this book.]
[Thanks to the Goodreads Giveaway for sending me this book.]
November 2, 2021
Next-level, next generation, more mind-bending fun
I had to keep myself from reading the Guardian too fast; wanting to savor it. J.D. Moyer integrates a full spectrum of science, from biology to physics, while developing complicated characters with a range of psychological attributes. So interesting and so fun to read! Twists and turns of the plot keep it exciting and underlying it all are intellectually stimulating elements of creative angles on sci-fi and fantasy.
I had to keep myself from reading the Guardian too fast; wanting to savor it. J.D. Moyer integrates a full spectrum of science, from biology to physics, while developing complicated characters with a range of psychological attributes. So interesting and so fun to read! Twists and turns of the plot keep it exciting and underlying it all are intellectually stimulating elements of creative angles on sci-fi and fantasy.
January 31, 2022
This is Moyer's sequel to the Sky Woman, and picks up where the previous book ended. I enjoyed Sky Woman and I enjoyed the twists and turns of The Guardian. The plot and character development in book was excellent. I could not put the book down.
November 29, 2020
I was engaged from start to finish.
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