The Call Of Earth (Homecoming Saga, #2) in Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library

Mar 05, 2013 Harold Ogle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: sf, ensemble

Card continues to impress me. This book continues the story started in "The Memory of Earth," detailing the tension between the pressure of high-stakes dramatic events in the lives of many characters and the directions they receive from their god, the caretaker computer system called the Oversoul, which knows best what they should be doing. Do they act out of their own knowledge, or trust the Oversoul to know what's best, even if the actions seem counter-productive, or even foolish?

Broadly spea Card continues to impress me. This book continues the story started in "The Memory of Earth," detailing the tension between the pressure of high-stakes dramatic events in the lives of many characters and the directions they receive from their god, the caretaker computer system called the Oversoul, which knows best what they should be doing. Do they act out of their own knowledge, or trust the Oversoul to know what's best, even if the actions seem counter-productive, or even foolish?

Broadly speaking, the setting reminds me of Cherryh's Hammerfall - in that there is apparent inspiration from Exodus, and a vast non-human power that communicates with its people in the desert. The writing and style of storytelling reminds me much more of "The Song of Ice and Fire," though Card manages to develop and present similar ambitions, passions and jealousies of nuanced characters in about a fifth of the length that Martin does.

Here's what happens:
(view spoiler)[
The Oversoul sends dreams to the people it has caused to be in the city of Basilica, trying to convey both direction and a sense of urgency. At the end of the last book, Nafai had slain Gaballufix, but his army of disenfranchised outcasts is still in the city. Fearing reprisals against everyone involved, Nafai's mother Rasa sends away the faithful gate guard, Smelost, who let Nafai out of the city. She thinks quickly and writes a note of introduction to the warrior nation of Gorayni. Smelost flees from the city and heads north. Gaballufix's steward, Rashgallivak, attempts to lead the mob and consolidate control of Basilica, but the teenaged raveler Hushidh both prevents him from taking Rasa's monstrous daughters Sevet and Kokor (who seem to be monomaniacally obsessed with getting the upper hand over each other) and destroying his hold over the mob. So the mob runs rampant through the city. In the north, Smelost arrives and conveys the information of unrest in Basilica to the Gorayni's greatest general, nicknamed Moozh (a diminutive of his much longer name, which also has a meaning of "husband"). Moozh stages a scene in which he kills the imperial spies that were set to watch him, pins it on Smelost, and kills Smelost as an assassin. Then he picks a thousand men from his army and they quick march south through the desert to take Basilica. In the desert, Nafai's older brother Elemak, jealous of his kid brother's prominence in his father's attentions, shares the dream he had, in which he and all the men of his family had new wives. Nafai and his father correctly interpret this as direction from the Oversoul, and they sneak back into Basilica to fetch wives. Meanwhile, the mob and the city guard fight a pitched battle, and looting and destruction abound in the city. In the midst of this, Moozh arrives and ingratiates his way into the city guard's trust, offering to help. Quickly he takes control of the city, killing all the mob and seizing control of key points in the city. Nafai and his brothers arrive at Rasa's house and take refuge there, quickly pairing up with their intended betrotheds with the Oversoul's help. Moozh recognizes Rasa as the only real threat to his control of the city, and he tidily manages that situation by discrediting her and setting her up as a villain in the public's eye. She is confined to house arrest, but since everyone is there already, this only helps the Oversoul's plans. She marries her wards and her (husband's) sons, and then Moozh arrives to inform them that Hushidh (who is intended for Issib, the only son to remain in the desert) will be his wife, thus consolidating his control over the city. But at the last, the Oversoul's plans all come together, and Moozh is convinced to let them all go into the desert as he takes control of Basilica, shepherding the City of Women in its final years. (hide spoiler)]

Card has always been an impressive writer, and this book is very, very well done. ...more

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