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Orphans of Canland
It’s 2088, and the dust has settled on America, decades after an environmental collapse. The eco-totalitarian organization, WORLD, has reconfigured society with the intention of restoring nature. Twelve-year-old eternal optimist Tristan Weekes lives in what he believes must be paradise: Canland, an agrarian California desert-greening project. However, Tristan’s life-defining medical condition, analgesia, prevents him from feeling physical pain, leaving his brain’s stress centers unresponsive to everything from ego-blows to heatwaves.
Well-intended, curious, and wielding a stunning vocabulary, Tristan loves to listen to the subversive theories spouted by his older brother, Dylan, a drug-addicted satellite hacker. He also wants to prove his independence to his mother, Helena, a powerful population control-extremist. Meanwhile, all around him, the survivors of the environmental collapse are just working toward a better tomorrow. But when a slew of violent acts befalls Canland, Tristan must confront certain truths about the community he loves—including his family’s secrets, his own involvement in the horrors enacted by WORLD, and the debts that are owed to the orphans of Canland.
In this work of literary fiction, set against the backdrop of a frighteningly plausible dystopia, Daniel Vitale explores the fate of our planet, the nature of family, and the duty of science, as Orphans of Canland asks: What does it mean to belong on Earth?
Well-intended, curious, and wielding a stunning vocabulary, Tristan loves to listen to the subversive theories spouted by his older brother, Dylan, a drug-addicted satellite hacker. He also wants to prove his independence to his mother, Helena, a powerful population control-extremist. Meanwhile, all around him, the survivors of the environmental collapse are just working toward a better tomorrow. But when a slew of violent acts befalls Canland, Tristan must confront certain truths about the community he loves—including his family’s secrets, his own involvement in the horrors enacted by WORLD, and the debts that are owed to the orphans of Canland.
In this work of literary fiction, set against the backdrop of a frighteningly plausible dystopia, Daniel Vitale explores the fate of our planet, the nature of family, and the duty of science, as Orphans of Canland asks: What does it mean to belong on Earth?
347 pages, Hardcover
Published November 15, 2022
63 people are currently reading
2610 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
April 15, 2025
4.5/5 A very enjoyable read. Highly literary at times which I really enjoyed. I’ve read very few post apocalyptic type literary stories but i thoroughly enjoyed this. The characters were fleshed out in a subtle manner that kept me intrigued. I still never quite grasped the makeup of this society but that wasn’t really the part of the book that I was interested in.
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October 20, 2022Orphans of Canland reminded me of Richard Powers. That’s all I can really say about this book. Granted, I wasn’t able to make it past page 20, which is why I am leaving this unfinished and without a rating. If you take a look at the other ratings for this book, people seem to be enjoying it, so… I guess… take a look around and see what others are saying? The thing that gets on my nerves (as a reader who sometimes dips his toes into sci fi) is the capitalization of ordinary words to spruce up an otherwise ordinary world that is being presented as uber dystopian. I’ll make up a little bit to give you an idea:
Joe was worried. But why? God could only tell. Or, wait, sorry - that is thinking that aligns itself with The Before. The Before did not mesh with The Currents. The Currents - a band of secular priests who dictated Thought Hour - ran the current. Feedtime was approaching, when Chobur (a mix of The Before’s “chocolate” and “burger”) was on the menu - a feast for The Rulers. “Chocolate,” thought Joe, “Burger. Huh.” Names are weird. The Currents would be on him soon.
On November 15, you can pick this book up and follow along with the adventures of our 12-year-old hero, Tristan Weekes, as he goes up against “the eco-totalitarian organization, WORLD”. And when you do, please let me know how it is.
Thanks to Strïj Publishing for the advanced review copy.
Joe was worried. But why? God could only tell. Or, wait, sorry - that is thinking that aligns itself with The Before. The Before did not mesh with The Currents. The Currents - a band of secular priests who dictated Thought Hour - ran the current. Feedtime was approaching, when Chobur (a mix of The Before’s “chocolate” and “burger”) was on the menu - a feast for The Rulers. “Chocolate,” thought Joe, “Burger. Huh.” Names are weird. The Currents would be on him soon.
On November 15, you can pick this book up and follow along with the adventures of our 12-year-old hero, Tristan Weekes, as he goes up against “the eco-totalitarian organization, WORLD”. And when you do, please let me know how it is.
Thanks to Strïj Publishing for the advanced review copy.
August 6, 2022
Vitale has created a sweeping, provocative, cautionary tale of what our planet could become. Against this backdrop I fell in love with protagonist Tristan Weekes just as I did with Holden Caulfield. But Tristan’s coming of age story is significant because of his unflagging optimism in the midst of the remains of an ecological collapse and somehow Vitale makes him relatable and always lovable.
Vitale’s debut novel is sensitive, and gripping, his characters are rich and soulful. This powerful story asks us the big life questions: why are we here and how can we make this world just a little bit better? And at what cost? Just how unconditional is love? Who do we choose to love and how far do we go to find them? And finally, how do we create happiness for ourselves and those we love?
My question for Vitale: how long do we have to wait for your next tour de force?
Vitale’s debut novel is sensitive, and gripping, his characters are rich and soulful. This powerful story asks us the big life questions: why are we here and how can we make this world just a little bit better? And at what cost? Just how unconditional is love? Who do we choose to love and how far do we go to find them? And finally, how do we create happiness for ourselves and those we love?
My question for Vitale: how long do we have to wait for your next tour de force?
August 2, 2022
I was lucky to get my hands on an advance copy. Beautifully stylized, tightly plotted, and full of complex characters. Its questions are relevant and timeless: how do we choose to spend our time on earth? What is the cost to the self of propping up a morally indefensible system? What deserves forgiveness when it comes to family? A well-balanced display of philosophy and page-turning story, Orphans of Canland is an impressive debut novel, driven by an endearing, flawed, and memorable protagonist. I’m looking forward to what Vitale does next.
August 3, 2022
What a gripping, thoughtful debut novel. Vitale builds a future world which seems quaint, pastoral and harmonious through the eyes of Tristan Weekes, our ever-optimistic protagonist. Yet as Tristan navigates Canland and proves himself a kind and loving soul, we also see the grim, dark reality of this post-industrial future. Equal parts bildungsroman, battle of good-vs-evil, and ecological cautionary tale, Orphans of Canland is a beautiful and emotional read. I loved this book!
November 30, 2022
In 2080, on an Earth badly damaged by a nuclear mishap, the human race barely survives. A young boy who can literally feel no pain, a rare condition called analgesia, makes his way through one difficult situation after another. His journey to find his place in the world makes this book engrossing reading.
A interesting plot, an unusual post-apocalyptic world viewed from an oddly afflicted young boy's perspective, and a number of memorable characters add up to a remarkable novel.
A interesting plot, an unusual post-apocalyptic world viewed from an oddly afflicted young boy's perspective, and a number of memorable characters add up to a remarkable novel.
November 21, 2024
Loved this book! Vitale has written a captivating novel. He has managed to write a gripping climate disaster story that will be enjoyed by Sci Fi and non Sci Fi readers alike. The details seen traveling through Canland are a stunning look into the aftermath of environmental collapse. Tristan is a brilliant character to travel through this world alongside. Could not recommend this book more!
September 11, 2022
Orphans of Canland is a novel set In a dystopian world in the near future, The story is told through the eyes of a young boy, Tristan, through his journal. In this world, climate change has radically altered society, the system and structures of government, and how people live. There are multiple references to new institutions; the novel is chockful of new terminology for extant ones. This novel offers the reader a glimpse into our own potential future.
August 3, 2022
What a heartbreaking and hopeful story! I loved the protagonist, Tristan, so much that I found myself getting almost too attached. Even though the world is not ours (yet...and hopefully never will be) it felt so real to me. Such a vivid world, such assured perspectives from all characters, so many moral complexities. At its heart, though, I think this book is about choosing to spend time with the people we love. It tackles big questions without ever being pretentious. It reminded me of Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. I would recommend this to anyone who likes great literary fiction!
July 20, 2022
This is a heartfelt coming-of-age story that anyone can relate to. Tristan Weekes is a sympathetic protagonist in a world just beyond the current horizon. Vitale does a great job of telling the story through the eyes of a lovable character who is straining for a larger emotional spectrum, which leaves the reader to experience the world without any foregone conclusions. It's a visual, almost cinematic book, with vivid prose, dark humor, and a great understanding of the human condition. If Vitale turns this book into a series, I am here for it!!
January 22, 2025
Orphans of Canland is Daniel Vitale’s debut novel about a near future where the planet has suffered an environmental collapse and civilization has splintered both geographically and ideologically. Characters are either part of WORLD or DOTEC (Diaspora of the Environmental Collapse). The two factions don’t exactly see eye-to-eye with each other. While WORLD prioritizes rebuilding nature with hopes of it eventually revitalizing civilization, the DOTEC would prefer to focus on bettering humanity. Unfortunately for the DOTEC, WORLD is a well-organized body of power while DOTEC are merely individuals.
The story focuses on Tristan, a 12-year-old with analgesia, a condition that prevents him from feeling physical pain and comes with a slew of developmental issues. He lives with his mother, Helena and older brother Dylan. The three of them are registered WORLD members but more than that, Helena is a co-founder of the agrarian desert-greening project in California known as the titular Canland. Moreover, she’s an outspoken politician espousing WORLD’s philosophies, which doesn’t win Tristan any favors with certain members in their community. Canland, WORLD, and the DOTEC are a mere backdrop, though.
The book is written from Tristan’s perspective, with each chapter acting as a kind of diary entry as Vitale uses him to get the reader accustomed to this rather immersive and fleshed-out world. Underneath this backdrop, the story really is about Tristan coming into his own. Despite the challenges he faces in this dystopian future with analgesia, a condition that prevents him from feeling any physical pain and comes with a number of developmental issues, he’s no different than every other child in real life who often see their home as a kind of paradise and parents as infallible. He experiences friendship, bullying—on a level most readers might not be familiar with merely because of who his mother is—first love, loss, and a shift in perspective. When this shift happens is when the reader starts to see the story Vitale is trying to tell.
I’ve read a few debut novels and even went to school with aspiring writers. So many of them make the same mistake, modeling their main protagonist into an ideal specimen of humanity. Vitale doesn’t do that here. He presents a fleshed out world with an intriguing and believable cast of characters. They’re relatable and you genuinely feel for Tristan. There are aspects of Tristan’s character development that reminded me of my own upbringing and made me empathize with him. Vitale’s writing is mature and thoughtful. It’s obvious he loves the craft of writing and takes it seriously.
However, he might have been a little too experimental with his prose at times. As I said, each chapter is written as a journal entry from Tristan. Maybe it’s realistic for a 12-year-old to change the way they write each entry or maybe there was an explanation I simply skipped over while getting lost in the world Vitale created. Either way, I think more consistency would have served the story better. Some chapters are written in a way that would have made Cormac McCarthy proud, without quotation marks, while others kept dialogue embedded within each paragraph, and others were more precise with quotation marks and indicators as to whom was speaking. Writing might have also been too flowery in some parts, but overall it was solid.
If you’re a fan of speculative fiction that deals with real-world themes, such as climate change and population control, you will definitely enjoy Orphans of Canland. If you’re a parent or somebody who has a different relationship with your parents now than you did as a child, this might be a book worth reading.
The story focuses on Tristan, a 12-year-old with analgesia, a condition that prevents him from feeling physical pain and comes with a slew of developmental issues. He lives with his mother, Helena and older brother Dylan. The three of them are registered WORLD members but more than that, Helena is a co-founder of the agrarian desert-greening project in California known as the titular Canland. Moreover, she’s an outspoken politician espousing WORLD’s philosophies, which doesn’t win Tristan any favors with certain members in their community. Canland, WORLD, and the DOTEC are a mere backdrop, though.
The book is written from Tristan’s perspective, with each chapter acting as a kind of diary entry as Vitale uses him to get the reader accustomed to this rather immersive and fleshed-out world. Underneath this backdrop, the story really is about Tristan coming into his own. Despite the challenges he faces in this dystopian future with analgesia, a condition that prevents him from feeling any physical pain and comes with a number of developmental issues, he’s no different than every other child in real life who often see their home as a kind of paradise and parents as infallible. He experiences friendship, bullying—on a level most readers might not be familiar with merely because of who his mother is—first love, loss, and a shift in perspective. When this shift happens is when the reader starts to see the story Vitale is trying to tell.
I’ve read a few debut novels and even went to school with aspiring writers. So many of them make the same mistake, modeling their main protagonist into an ideal specimen of humanity. Vitale doesn’t do that here. He presents a fleshed out world with an intriguing and believable cast of characters. They’re relatable and you genuinely feel for Tristan. There are aspects of Tristan’s character development that reminded me of my own upbringing and made me empathize with him. Vitale’s writing is mature and thoughtful. It’s obvious he loves the craft of writing and takes it seriously.
However, he might have been a little too experimental with his prose at times. As I said, each chapter is written as a journal entry from Tristan. Maybe it’s realistic for a 12-year-old to change the way they write each entry or maybe there was an explanation I simply skipped over while getting lost in the world Vitale created. Either way, I think more consistency would have served the story better. Some chapters are written in a way that would have made Cormac McCarthy proud, without quotation marks, while others kept dialogue embedded within each paragraph, and others were more precise with quotation marks and indicators as to whom was speaking. Writing might have also been too flowery in some parts, but overall it was solid.
If you’re a fan of speculative fiction that deals with real-world themes, such as climate change and population control, you will definitely enjoy Orphans of Canland. If you’re a parent or somebody who has a different relationship with your parents now than you did as a child, this might be a book worth reading.
July 11, 2023
Hey ! This is my friend’s bro and I know him and he wrote a book and that’s so cool!
I was thinking a lot about this book in reference to another post-apocalyptic novel I had just read (Station Eleven) and I realized that the appeal of certain “right after the fall” apocalypse books is that everything is so urgent. It’s “every man for himself” style survival, which gives the characters such purpose and plot. What I love about Orphans is how it pitches it’s tent in between the typical post-apocalyptic territory: it is neither a fully recovered futuristic dystopia nor is it in that immediate period right after everything get fucked up. It’s sort of in this moment of recovery where people are still figuring everything out and I love all the thought that went into the different ways we might heal our late capitalist society after a big societal collapse. It doesn’t fall into human universal “everything will always be the same” pessimism. It really does seem to get at some of the complexities of how to heal a world. I was surprised it ended with a sort of “techno-spiritualism” but that wasn’t really much of the book tbh.
I was thinking a lot about this book in reference to another post-apocalyptic novel I had just read (Station Eleven) and I realized that the appeal of certain “right after the fall” apocalypse books is that everything is so urgent. It’s “every man for himself” style survival, which gives the characters such purpose and plot. What I love about Orphans is how it pitches it’s tent in between the typical post-apocalyptic territory: it is neither a fully recovered futuristic dystopia nor is it in that immediate period right after everything get fucked up. It’s sort of in this moment of recovery where people are still figuring everything out and I love all the thought that went into the different ways we might heal our late capitalist society after a big societal collapse. It doesn’t fall into human universal “everything will always be the same” pessimism. It really does seem to get at some of the complexities of how to heal a world. I was surprised it ended with a sort of “techno-spiritualism” but that wasn’t really much of the book tbh.
September 12, 2022
Daniel Vitale skates the line between science fiction and literary fiction, while writing humor and sadness with equal adeptness, in the way of a seasoned novelist. However, as this is only his debut, I must say I am impressed. Orphans of Canland is the story of Tristan, who is born without the ability to feel pain, growing up in Canland, a restored farmland in the California desert. Society’s institutions have collapsed after a series of natural and manmade disasters, and an authoritarian regime called WORLD has come to power. However, because of Tristan’s condition, he is unaware that Canland is in service of a sinister plan for the future. Reading this book felt like the experience of growing up, and finding out that things are not the way you were taught they were—and yet the book somehow remains fun to read, and for all the dense passages, the ending is supremely satisfying.
March 31, 2025
4⭐️
Devotion brought the world down. Misguided, unrelenting devotion. Devotion disguised as religion, duty, vocation, advancement. People forgot about other people. Don’t become obsessed with anything; it reduces you.
This is an impressive and thought provoking debut on rebuilding a society after an environmental collapse. The book consists of journal entries written by Tristan, a neurodivergent teenager, who discovers the not so pretty underbelly of Canland & his parents‘ involvement in this society.
It‘s also an odd book and I struggled with the first half and flew through the second. This book poses a lot of interesting questions such as how loyal/devoted should we be to our parents or how would we rebuild society?
I‘m shocked that this sits at only 113 reviews at the moment (mine will be 114). This deserves more reads.
Devotion brought the world down. Misguided, unrelenting devotion. Devotion disguised as religion, duty, vocation, advancement. People forgot about other people. Don’t become obsessed with anything; it reduces you.
This is an impressive and thought provoking debut on rebuilding a society after an environmental collapse. The book consists of journal entries written by Tristan, a neurodivergent teenager, who discovers the not so pretty underbelly of Canland & his parents‘ involvement in this society.
It‘s also an odd book and I struggled with the first half and flew through the second. This book poses a lot of interesting questions such as how loyal/devoted should we be to our parents or how would we rebuild society?
I‘m shocked that this sits at only 113 reviews at the moment (mine will be 114). This deserves more reads.
August 4, 2025
Y’all know I love a post-apocalypse and this one was no different. I really enjoyed that there wasn’t necessarily a goal for the end of the book; it was about the main character moving through life and evaluating his relationships and environments are events unfold. It was an interesting depiction of what life might be like after an environmental collapse, and while I didn’t fully understand all of the acronyms or reasons for the rules or religions/theologies in the society, I think that was the point as it was told through the understanding of the narrator who did not have all of the information and did not witness all of the events. I enjoyed this, though it’s not a ‘fun’ book.
December 18, 2025
2 words and 2 words only. HOLY SHIT!!!! This was an absolutely brilliant look at a somewhat dystopian world through the eyes of a child. The comparisons, whether intentional or accidental, to many modern day issues is so spot on. I would and will read this 100 times over. The ONLY reason I wouldn’t read it 101 is because I would have to buy a new copy due to it falling apart being carried everywhere because I would never want to put it down. Once again after I bought a new copy I would read it again 100 times. Then repeat process until I died. Might as well go ahead and purchase multiple copies. You WILL be recommending this to everyone.
November 28, 2022
This is a post-apocalyptic coming of age novel that is at turns heartbreaking and full of optimism. Tristan, 12, is growing up in 2088 in a climate impacted America. Society and economic systems have collapsed. The genre here is science fiction but with a literary bent, along the lines of How High We Go in the Dark (Nagamatsu). I think this novel will be a hit if marketed to the correct target audience who knows what to expect going into this eloquent story.
Thank you to NetGalley, Strïj Publishing, and Daniel Vitale for this e-ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Read on,
SJ
Thank you to NetGalley, Strïj Publishing, and Daniel Vitale for this e-ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Read on,
SJ
November 10, 2023
Absolutely loved this book. Mr. Vitale does an excellent job of world building and taking the reader on a first person tour of a world forever changed by environmental collapse. The first person narrative pulls you in and keeps you interested. The book is not an action packed adventure but more of a slow burn slice of life through the eyes of a 12 year old boy living in a post disaster world. The book is very relevant to the social, political, and environmental issues that we are facing today and gives us a look into a possible future for our children and grandchildren.
November 9, 2022
Orphans of Canland at first seems like a sci-fi page turner, but it’s really a thoughtful exploration of where our world is heading if we don’t (or maybe even if we do) do something about climate change. It’s also a tender portrait of a boy coming to understand his community, his family, and himself. A strange and unexpected debut novel that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a challenging, emotional and philosophical work of literary fiction.
November 9, 2022
Really enjoyed this Apocalyptic novel, I was invested in what was going on in this world. The characters were really well done and I enjoy getting to know their world and them. I enjoyed how well Daniel Vitale wrote this and look forward to more from the author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 22, 2022
Orphans of Canland takes place in a post-apocalyptic America, narrated from the point of view of a 12 year old named Tristan. Although the book includes some captivating imagery, the plot is slow to take off and some stylistic choices end up being more distracting than anything. The book alternates between a journal style (where inexplicably quotation marks aren’t used) and more traditional first person narration. I was eager to learn more about the world, but had a hard time getting invested through a 12 year old’s journal.
May 2, 2023
This is one of my favorite genres and I am grateful to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, but this was not my favorite. Again, I recognize the effort required to write a novel but I did not personally enjoy this read, which felt like it went in all directions and could have benefitted from a serious editor. The plot itself has real potential
January 31, 2024
A five star surprise- I was introduced to this author on TikTok, and took a leap buying his debut novel. I am neither a sci-fi nor a cli-fi reader, but this really leans more literary fiction in my opinion. The writing is so beautiful, the world building so imaginative, and the main character so tender, I truly loved this book and I’m so glad that TikTok made me buy it!
September 9, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
All in all, I would recommend this book! The main character was great, the story had me hooked. The only thing I didn’t really enjoy was the lack of exposition and world building at the beginning of the book. I felt a bit lost in the first half of the book. Later on everything is well explained, but you have to get through quite a bit of the book before you get there.
All in all, I would recommend this book! The main character was great, the story had me hooked. The only thing I didn’t really enjoy was the lack of exposition and world building at the beginning of the book. I felt a bit lost in the first half of the book. Later on everything is well explained, but you have to get through quite a bit of the book before you get there.
September 13, 2022
A dystopian tale with good writing and an engaging story. This feels literary, and the author has created complex characters that seem real. I'll probably remember this one for a while. Recommended.
I really appreciate the free ARC for review!!
I really appreciate the free ARC for review!!
November 6, 2022
I'm not entirely sure what it is, but this book and I didn't jive. It's a fine book. I definitely think there is an audience for it but I'm not a part of that audience. And that's okay. It was an intriguing premise, but I think something in the writing style put me off. I had a hard time coming back to it after I put it down. If someone is interested in picking it up, I say to give it a shot.
November 17, 2022
I did enjoy this! A bit of a mad, all over the place story! Great perspective for the main character & well written! Good ideas, some very worrying if you take a moment! Is this our future?? A good length dystopian read!
November 20, 2022
Twenty pages in and I will start off by saying the immense talent Vitale has in using words to depict these characters and their surroundings is beautiful and easily allows for the reader to create a picture in their head! I’m already addicted and can’t wait to keep reading.
November 22, 2022
I literally could not put this book down. I quickly fell in love with Tristan and loved reading about this dystopian world through his perspective. Best book I’ve read in a long time. Had me hooked until the very last page.
December 5, 2023
Through a fantastic piece of near dystopian world-building, "Orphans of Canland" presents a boy navigating a future environmental collapse, wrestling with the environment's fate, family dynamics, and moral duties, urging reflection on belonging in a fragile world.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews