The Uprisers Book 2

The Uprisers is J.C. Gemmell’s second book in the Tion series. When the oceans rose at an unprecedented rate, humankind faced an existential threat. So they solidified the oceans and kept them in space. The forfeður (forefathers) then engineered an existence in the space above the Earth and named it Tion, although the Earth still held its foundations. There was stability for a millennium. But in a world where rain was scheduled, and children were nurtured from conception to puberty in a 'gestorium,' humans had ceased to evolve better methods—even as the Tionsphere approached capacity. However, both Pazel, the leader of the human population, and Nikora, a powerful konservator, are about to execute their own plans to keep the population evolving. Pazel’s plan is dangerous, but Nikora’s plan will cost billions of lives. Nevertheless, with Pazel’s loss of Moshe, the idealistic part of his being, no one is strong enough to stop her. Perhaps Pazel is the one that needs to be stopped?

J.C. Gemmell’s The Uprisers is a complicated utopian-dystopian sci-fi drama that hits your senses with its extreme inventiveness. It puts a whole new spin on everyday stuff and makes you strive to comprehend the sheer complicatedness of the plot. In The Uprisers, the line between reality and illusion is blurred, and there are no heroes or villains—just people doing what they think is best. You have to commend the amount of effort that must have gone into the daunting task of writing this book. The level of ideation in the story is top-notch—especially the naming system. It is a frightening example of what would happen when you take emotions out of the process of naming a person. Although the narration got off to a slow start, I began to enjoy it once I read the glossary. Most sci-fi works involve warfare, but The Uprisers focuses on the day-to-day interactions and really takes you through the experience of living in the future. It’s a good fit for readers who prefer intellectually stimulating tales and sci-fi drama.

The Uprisers is a work of fiction in the science fiction, action, and adventure subgenres and serves as the second installment in the Tion series. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author J.C. Gemmell. Set in a future where the water of Earth has been drained to make room for the population, the excess water is safely frozen in orbit around Tion. But when pilot Mike realizes that people are now living on Tion’s surface, he seeks out an old contact to explore these communities. Disaster looms for Tion and Earth, however, as the ice in orbit begins dropping to the surface and bombarding the settlements of Tion.

This book plays with an absolutely fascinating idea regarding the draining of Earth’s oceans and the society that has developed on the planet those waters now orbit. Author J. C. Gemmell has managed to create a rich tapestry of social themes within the dynamic and highly original universe he has crafted and continues to explore. Mike is an excellent protagonist whose viewpoint provides the audience with a compelling insight into the world in which the story takes place, though the narrative constantly pushes and challenges Mike to grow and evolve over time. Overall, The Uprisers is that rare beast in the speculative fiction genre that manages to place itself in a dauntingly vast universe but still tells an intimate tale that explores large themes but still never loses track of the human element. This novel is an excellent example of its genre and I heartily recommend it to all readers.