Second Breakfast

This is the second installment of Meaney’s three-book “Nulaperion Sequence” (the first was “Paradox“), and is a worthy continuation of what has become a compelling and richly-layered story.

Sometimes-Lord Tom Corcorigan has explored the heights and depths of his world and his society, and has ultimately come to reject much of what it offers.  His stint as ruler was unsucessful, and the revolution he helped engender has resulted in a society as uncaring of those at the bottom as the feudal system he was attempting to overthrow.  Too late he realizes that he loves his companion Elva, and her apparently self-inflicted death sends him into despair and, after learning she may still be alive in another body elsewhere, on a quest to find her.

Tom also finds that Nulaperion is slowly being taken over by “The Blight”, as region after region falls into chaos and brutality.  Slowly he begins to learn that the source of this ruin may lie elsewhere, and he may hold the key to stopping its spread and saving his people.

In parallel to this large story Tom is learning about his people’s past as he continues to explore the data-crystal given him by a nearly-mythical Pilot as a young man that launched him on his journey and whose power helped propel him to greatness.  How did humanity come to settle Nulaperion?  Why are Nulaperion billions so isolated? Ultimately these two stories will intersect and the brilliance of Meaney’s plotting will be revealed.

I find this to be an excellent balance between a plot and idea-driven work with a likable and sympathetic central character.  At times it reminded me of the better moments of Donald Kingsbury’s “Psychohistorical Crisis” (which I enjoyed immensely but I think predates this blog).  This is the kind of science fiction that requires one to settle down and get familiar with Nulaperion’s terminology and philosophies.
The thing that’s maddening is that this series is Meaney’s first long-format published writing.  While there’s nothing revolutionary here, this series is finely-crafted and an impressive start.