In Ora: The Land of the Superior in Review / Write / Read Club (Indie & Self-Published)

Mar 14, 2023 Florian Armas rated it really liked it

In Ora offers a look at an alternate future where overpopulation and political fragmentation fractured mankind into two camps: the haves and the haves-nots. By its message, the novel resembles The Caves of Steel; the writing style is different. For Asimov’s Earthlings, here we have Origin. For Aurora, we have Ora (I wonder if the name resemblance is by choice or by chance).

Origin is the place of the have-nots, a place of misery, heavily polluted, infested by famine and deadly diseases. Ora is a ...more

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Jan 28, 2023 P.L. Tavormina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fun, well-written

Five stars for this nostalgic storytelling.

The characters are unique and engaging in their own right from the get-go. They establish themselves quickly on the page and are easy to like or dislike. We spend time with Luke, a good-hearted man. He is caring for Ruyi, a sick woman, and more broadly wrestling with the future of humanity.

The story could stand on a shelf next to LeGuin and Butler, but there’s also a modernity in terms of theme, the human condition and exploitation, compassion vs ration ...more

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Mar 12, 2024 J.R. Gibson rated it really liked it

This is a sci fi dystopia novel focusing on two worlds, Origin and Ora. Origin is in a state of decay, whilst Ora is a thriving scientifically advanced world. When Origin born Luke's friend Ruyi survives a brutal attack, he travels with her to Ora to seek a cure for her condition. But, as it turns out, the Oran doctors who are treating her are all planning a huge scientific experiment...and Luke and Ruyi are merely part of it. Ultimately Luke and Ruyi have to find a way to escape from Ora as Luk ...more

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Aug 31, 2023 Rik Ty rated it it was amazing

The idea of human evolution diverging between the haves and have-nots, the elite and the left-behinds, is a popular enough premise to almost be its own sub-genre. HG Wells dramatized the idea in “The Time Machine” with the Eloi and the Morlocks. The film Elisyium offers proletariat Matt Damon fighting to gain access to the orbiting space city of the elites (he’s been poisoned by radiation on the job, and needs to use their advanced med-beds). Sotto Voce’s “In Ora” offers the split society idea a The idea of human evolution diverging between the haves and have-nots, the elite and the left-behinds, is a popular enough premise to almost be its own sub-genre. HG Wells dramatized the idea in “The Time Machine” with the Eloi and the Morlocks. The film Elisyium offers proletariat Matt Damon fighting to gain access to the orbiting space city of the elites (he’s been poisoned by radiation on the job, and needs to use their advanced med-beds). Sotto Voce’s “In Ora” offers the split society idea as well, but its story takes place very close to the time of the split. One society is embracing technological subservience (and extras, like gene modification), while the other is rapidly degrading into a wasteland.
In that wasteland, one man witnesses a woman being attacked and comes to her aid. The man and the woman form a bond, and as it is revealed that the woman is sick, the man takes her to the land of the elites (Ora) to try and get her healed. He has only himself to trade, and the elites involve him in some medical trials and tests (they have a developing medical problem of their own and think this man can help lead them to some answers). After some time, it becomes apparent that the elites are delaying the woman’s healing in order to hold on to the man, and the man plans an escape for them both.
The book works as a light thriller. It has a good progression of story events and keeps the reader interested. Voce writes like a person to whom English is a second language, but that can be charming in its own right.
The book strives for a balance between innocent love scenes and oppressive surveillance-state menace, with quite a few fun sci-fi notions thrown in as well: a robot arm that cooks all meals; some nicely described floating pod-cars that are also nicely used for different dramatic purposes; early on, they help establish the feeling of an advanced society. They are sleek and glamorously reflective. Later, they are used well for thriller purposes, reacting to body weight as characters jump onto them for last-second escapes. There is also a great visual motif where very sparse office spaces display lit trail lines in their floors and walls to show people where they are intended to go—doors open in blank walls, and you get the idea that the entire building is a rubic’s cube of invisible pathways that are only revealed with the proper permissions—cool!
Of the three main characters, I found the lonely scientist the most believable, but I was rooting for all the main characters and enjoyed watching them make their way through the story. The events of the novel center around three major medical ideas: what is wrong with the woman, what is valuable about the man, and what is breaking down for the elites, and the book is overly vague about all of them. As a whole, the book has a very cinematic feel, and in a movie, you could race past medical vagaries. It’s harder to get away with non-specifics in a novel, but the absence of specifics didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. I just kind of chuckled and kept moving on.
This is a sci-fi thriller with a sweet, romantic vibe and a cosmopolitan delivery. The factor that sets it most apart is the steadfast innocence of its love story, and if that is an idea that intrigues you, you should definitely check out this book.
...more

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Jan 27, 2023 Terry Birdgenaw rated it really liked it

Ora and Origin—a world split in half with two distinct peoples. Origins are those left behind when the Orans use genetic engineering to enhance their lives. It starts as a means to cure cancer and prevent inherited diseases, but then it expands with genetic modifications to enhance selected features—to perfect humanity. Orans decide this path is ethically reasonable, even desirable, while Origins resist this path and protest. Orans become a master race superior to Origins, and fighting ensues. T Ora and Origin—a world split in half with two distinct peoples. Origins are those left behind when the Orans use genetic engineering to enhance their lives. It starts as a means to cure cancer and prevent inherited diseases, but then it expands with genetic modifications to enhance selected features—to perfect humanity. Orans decide this path is ethically reasonable, even desirable, while Origins resist this path and protest. Orans become a master race superior to Origins, and fighting ensues. To keep the peace, Orans and Origins sign a treaty allowing each other to co-exist, but in different territories, with little intermingling. While the Orans surge forward, the Origins regress. On the surface, Ora has achieved perfection, while Origin has become an impoverished, violent and dangerous society. Luke’s father was a brilliant man who could have been an Oran but chose to remain in Origin. Luke inherited both his father’s intellect and his strong moral fiber. His convictions motivate him to endanger his own life to rescue Ruyi from three attackers on Origin and bring her to Ora when she became deathly ill due to long-time exposure to environmental toxins where she worked. Unable to afford the medical fees in Ora, he offers himself for human experimentation in exchange for her treatment. While his strong ethical principles bring him to Ora to save Ruyi, his intellect allows him to see that Ora is not as perfect as is projected. The premise for this novel is nothing short of brilliant, with side-by-side dystopian and utopian worlds and the near future explanation of how we got there. The overarching plot and moving dialogue give us good reason to care deeply about the characters, whose motivations, fears, and aspirations are clearly defined. Yet uneven pacing and repetitive actions sometimes let down the strength of the premise and the protagonists’ robust characters. Head on his chest, intertwining fingers, and flipping hair off her face tend to get tired when often repeated. While it is in keeping with Luke’s strong ethical nature to protect Ruyi, it seems unrealistic that a couple that cares so deeply about each other would take so long to kiss. And that Luke would continue to act like a monk, despite at least three other women throwing themselves at him. Also, while Luke spends considerable time learning about how Ora splits from Origin, it is less clear the purpose of the human experimentation that he allows himself to be subjected. Given all the mishaps occurring with other subjects, it seems this would be a more significant concern to him. Perhaps because the author’s first language is not English, there are too many instances of poor word choice, wrong pronouns, and singular words that should be plural and vice versa. These errors too often take the reader out of the story and beg for intensive editing. Still, the story is riveting and will be enthusiastically embraced by lovers of dystopian fiction that raises serious ethical questions about medical science and where humanity might be headed. ...more

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Dec 16, 2023 Eric Gibson rated it really liked it

When genetic engineering reached its heyday, humanity split between the haves and the have-nots. Also between those worried that going beyond eradicating disease was a mistake, and those who had never heard the phrase "slippery slope." The closer the Ora got to perfection, the less human they became, and they've lost something they desperately need to get back. Luke, an unmodified Origin, holds the key to their salvation, and they will do anything to secure his cooperation. The story is about Lu ...more

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Nov 26, 2023 Dimitry Orlov rated it really liked it

In Ora is an ambitious novel that contains Sci-Fi, Romance, and Thriller elements.

I found the story to be charming, and it quickly pulled me in. Luke and Ruyi live on Origin and have recently met. Both Luke and Ruyi have experienced adversity in their lives and find themselves drawn to each other. Luke and Ruyi’s romance blossoms slowly throughout this story.

One day, Luke encounters Ruyi, who is shaking and having seizures, and he learns of Ruyi’s sickness. After discussing all the options, Luke In Ora is an ambitious novel that contains Sci-Fi, Romance, and Thriller elements.

I found the story to be charming, and it quickly pulled me in. Luke and Ruyi live on Origin and have recently met. Both Luke and Ruyi have experienced adversity in their lives and find themselves drawn to each other. Luke and Ruyi’s romance blossoms slowly throughout this story.

One day, Luke encounters Ruyi, who is shaking and having seizures, and he learns of Ruyi’s sickness. After discussing all the options, Luke and Ruyi travel to Ora to seek treatment for Ruyi. Ora is a more advanced society with medical treatments that do not exist in Origin.

The details of Ruyi’s illness are released to the reader slowly. Along the way, we are given glimpses of life in Ora that are less than ideal.

Luke discovers the Ora doctors are more interested in him and are willing to treat Ruyi if they can study him. He doesn’t understand what they are looking for from him, but as the story unfolds, he begins to see cracks in the perfect Ora life.

An incident occurs in an Ora medical lab where Luke protects one of the doctors from a patient who goes berserk. Luke begins to understand why the Ora doctors are so interested in him. Later, the doctor that he saved reveals that the Ora doctors are keeping Ruyi sedated because they want to keep Luke in Ora.

The Author increasingly reveals differences between Origin and Ora, with Luke deciding that he wants to return to Origin with Ruyi to live.

The Author presents a side-by-side comparison of Ora and Origin, giving the reader a fascinating look at how the utopian world of Ora is not all that it appears to be. The surveillance of people in Ora is constant and overreaching.

Near the end of the story, Luke begins to plan his escape, and the novel becomes more of a thriller. Luke rescues Ruyi, and, with the help of one of the Ora doctors, they make their escape back to Origin.

The Author cleverly integrates science fiction, romance, and thriller genres in her novel, making for a compelling read.

English is not the Author’s first language and presents some challenges for the reader. I found this added to the charm of this novel.

...more

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Aug 05, 2023 E.K. Frances rated it really liked it

Great read, with an original storyline.

In Ora: The Land of the Superior, follows the story of Luke and Ruyi, Origin residents who travel to Ora for medical treatment for Ruyi, which they get in return for Luke being part of some ‘experiments.’

I immediately felt connected to the two main characters, Luke and Ruyi. Both were likeable and I rooted for them. The supporting cast were also done very well; the development of Nioby was excellent.

I liked the worldbuilding, and the details about the histo ...more

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Mar 14, 2024 P.J. Ashton rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

This book grabbed me from the start and didn't let me go. Luke is a wonderful character to follow, part genius when it comes to logic and machines, but a complete fool when it comes to understanding people. Ruyi is a great character too, someone who's been through so much hell, but remains positive.

Together, they find themselves In Ora, when Ruyi, who suffers from a serious condition, needs treatment to save her life. Luke, not wanting to lose her, takes her there and agrees to participate in a ...more

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Mar 31, 2023 Gary Stringer rated it liked it

A hidden gem; just hidden a little too well for my tastes.

In Ora is a science fiction dystopian novel exploring a world where human genetic manipulation is a reality. A world divided into two factions – those who have and those who have not had such manipulation, Ora and Origin. That leads to manipulation of a different kind as our main protagonist from Origin seeks medical help from Ora for the woman he loves.

I wanted to like this more than I did, because the core concept is great and the stor ...more

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Sep 08, 2025 Linda Sanchez rated it really liked it

A Thought-Provoking Glimpse Into a Possible Future

I have read from this author before, and once again, I was drawn in by their storytelling. Ora: The Land of the Superior pulled me into a world that feels both imaginative and uncomfortably possible. The contrast between Origin and Ora made me reflect on the direction our society could take with technology and genetic advancement.

The characters felt grounded, especially Luke, whose determination to save Ruyi kept the story moving with heart. His ...more

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Jul 25, 2023 Loralee rated it it was ok

The premise of this story is exciting and intriguing. Luke is the main protagonist. We see almost all the action through his eyes. Ora is a dystopian world where genetic engineering has run amok. Promising improved quality of life, it instead has created a mess, dividing society into two factions, natural humans, and genetically modified humans. Clashes, and even bloodshed happen because of the division of classes and political leanings.

While the premise of the story is well thought out, the wri ...more

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Mar 19, 2024 Jason Newman rated it it was amazing

This book is set in a world where society is divided into Origin, which is poor and the people lead a simple life and then there is Ora, very rich, people have it all and have access to the best jobs and healthcare. The leading character is Luke who crosses over from Origin to Ora because his friend Ruyi has a serious illness and only in Ora can they seek a cure.

Dr Flerovy quotes them a hefty price which they can't pay but if Luke agrees to be experimented on by the Orans, they will give Ruyi t ...more

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Sep 13, 2024 Amber Daulton rated it really liked it

Luke lives in the state of Origin, a crime-rattled, poverty-stricken place that the government no longer cares about. He’s desperate to save his friend, Ruyi’s, life from a horrible disease, so he takes her to Ora, the genetically-enhanced neighbor state that is clean, beautiful, and rich in resources. The doctors in Ora can save Ruyi, but will Luke be able to pay it?
This is an interesting sci-fi dystopian book and parallels our own world society pretty well, minus the more elaborate sci-fi aspe ...more

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Apr 01, 2024 F. Pettit rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-and-reviewed, land-building

In Ora: The Land of the Superior is a believable sci-Fi mystery and sweet romance. The book escorts the reader along a journey of a comfortable, slowly blossoming love while the characters work through health issues in a technologically advanced but struggling world. I was left wondering about the specifics of the health issues but perhaps that was part of what motivated me to keep reading. The author creates a number of innovative technologies and experiences that I easily imagined and would lo ...more

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Sep 04, 2025 Ed Morawski rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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