Island People: Issues
Well, I’m on the road, and lack access to my computer at home, with all of it resources. Which means that if I hadn’t prepared a post before I left (which we left in a hurry) I don’t have some things. Including the next scene in Island Peoples.
So I thought I would pause for a week, take stock of where the story is at, and talk about some of the issues therein.
A Book and a Half in
So, so, first of all, we are past the first book in the series, which ended with the non-battle and its resolution. And that scene with the old men. The second book started with Haddassah worrying about her marriage, and Ishvi riding to learn about this stupid new plan and all.
The major character in the first book was Seth, who went through a kind of tough coming of age process (getting kidnapped and having to dive off a cliff to escape. He thought it was hard, anyway.). The second book moves the focus to the characters surrounding Seth, especially Ishvi and Haddassah, as they learn about their role in the plan, and help it unfold. More and more characters are getting drawn in, all of them swirling around the main character but, more importantly, his goals.
Issues
The issues I want to explore in this book are not actually the mechanics of colonizing and transforming. The issues I want to explore are issues of loyalty, of marriage, of authority, and how to carry out God’s will in difficult circumstances.
Loyalty
Both Ishvi and Haddassah have loyalty issues. Haddassah is marrying the son of her father’s greatest enemy! To whom is she to be loyal? Ishvi wasn’t involved in the politics of the rebellion, although he agreed with it, but this plan of Seth’s sounds stupid. How can he go along with it?
Marriage
Both Ishvi and Haddassah find themselves married to someone they did not choose, and would not have chosen. Spouses from the opposite side of the conflict. How are they to love their spouses?
Authority
A husband is an authority, a lord is an authority… how are they to react to their authorities?
Carry out God’s Will
It isn’t obvious, but this book is based upon Christian theology… in a science fiction/fantasy setting and with some differences due to time/distance. Thus all of the major characters have, as one of their primary motivations if not often stated, the idea of carrying out God’s will. Or, in their terms, “He Who Is”.
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Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,
Von
Links
Island People
Island People is a young adult fantasy book centring on a young prince. The book starts with his kidnapping and follows his adventures as he not only escapes from his kidnapper but gains critical allies and friends.
The entire book is scheduled on Substack, and there are several sequels. This is a book I wrote years ago, so it is in a bit of a rough form. Critiques and comments are more than welcome, they are requested.
Keep safe.