Official Blurb
A Shaman's Tale from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper : Volume 1
Otto is Richard Krugg's only son and heir to the Shaman's gift. The only problem is Otto doesn't want it. He wants to be a fisherman. When company policies force unwelcome changes onto his life and threaten even the security of the village, Otto discovers that being a shaman isn't optional.Jimmy Pirano is caught between the devil and the deep green sea when new production quotas are handed down from corporate headquarters. Locked into a century of existing practice, Jimmy is forced to find new ways to fish and new places to do it in or face the very real possibility that Pirano Fisheries will lose the St. Cloud franchise.Join Otto, Richard, and Rachel Krugg as they struggle with what it means to be the son of a shaman. Cast off with Jimmy, Tony, and Casey as they navigate the shoals and shallows of corporate fishery along the South Coast.
My Review
Another good story from Nathan Lowell. I reviewed another book of his a while back called Quarter Share. In that review I mentioned how good a reader Nathan is and how real he makes the characters. Well he's done it again here in South Coast. This novel is set in the same universe as Quarter Share but does not share any characters. that novel was set on a solar clipper travelling the stars, but this one is planet bound and mostly set in a single village.
This novel tells the story of simple fisher folk living on another world in the far future. There are not any "alien fiends" to be disposed of, no battles, none of the usual tropes of sci fi in fact. Yet, it is still a sci fi novel, but grounded in common place things that help make this a story that is easy to relate to.
As with Nathans other books he's created characters that are appealing and easy to like, and placed them in situations that even though they are not perilous are compelling.
I got through this audio book in a couple of days. It would have been one day, but I literally did not have enough hours in the day! Its a long novel, and I loved every minute. If you liked any of his other books, then this is a natural download.
After finishing this novel I looked to see if there is a sequel available, alas, alas, not yet. Nathans published schedule has the sequel, "Cape Grace" planned for November this year.
Reading 3/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 7/9
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Listen to the first chapter
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