Sky Coyote

Sky Coyote is one of those unusual sequels which surpasses the original. In fact, reading the precursor, In the Garden of Iden, is entirely unnecessary for the enjoyment of this book. Kage Baker's intriguing premise of immortal beings laboring for the good of a future world they have never seen takes off in Sky Coyote. While the first book could be viewed as historical fiction with a science-fiction touch -- Sky Coyote explores the full promise of the idea behind the plot: Why would these powerful beings continue to work for the Company with very little reward? What is the future like? Who is really in charge of the Company -- the humans or the immortals?Sky Coyote telescopes backwards and forwards through time. In the main plot, Joseph endeavors to save a unique Native American culture from certain extinction. Meanwhile, flashbacks give us insight into Joseph's impressive past, while interludes at a Company base manned by humans from the future give us a frightening glimpse of the twenty-fourth century.And readers who enjoyed In the Garden of Iden will be interested in understanding the whole Mendoza-Harpole fiasco from Joseph's point of view. (No, she hasn't forgiven him.)

I loved In the Garden of Idun and had just as much fun with this one. Joseph as the wiley coyote trickster god is absolutely perfect. Mendoza doesn't get much of a role, but she's there, as the Company operatives try to rescue a whole village of the Chumash Indians before they are nearly wiped out by European invasion and native religious fanaticism. I loved the Rotarian twist she gave to the Chumash which knocks on the head any idea that these people were not socially sophisticated. I can hardly wait for the next novel of The Company.

This is an excellent book. Speaking as an American Indian, I want to thank Kage Baker for writing a book in which the Indians are neither noble savages nor stupid primitives, but shown as intelligent human beings with individual personalities - some good, some not so good, just like any other real people. Thanks too for showing that "primitive" Indians before the white arrival had sophisticated cultures and complex economies, not just hunting and fishing. And this is the only white author I have ever read who brings out the Indian's sense of humor. There is more to this book than just the Indian stuff (there is some very good satire on white bureaucrats) but that is what I know the most about. On that basis I say this is a good book and you should read it.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kage Baker's first novel: dramatic, historical, thought-provoking, romantic, even funny. But "Sky Coyote" is better still. This is a darker, more mature work - as befits a tale told from the viewpoint of Joseph, Facilitator and general all-around slimy little guy. The Company is beginning to show feet of clay, and there are hints of huge and far-reaching plots that are definately not to the benefit of either humanity or the immortal Operatives. Ms. Baker's take on human needs, aspirations and machinations shows a wry, tender realism that is much more refreshing than the usual science fiction despair. I especially enjoyed the detailed portrait of the native Chumash as a real people, and as the prototypical Californians: a culture with spas, entertainment, entrepenuers and all the economic glitz now associated with the Golden State. And the plot simply rocks! The cast of characters spans 20,000 years and at least two species of Homo Sapiens. We get a disturbing hint of the evolution of modern humans in general, and of the feckless Mendoza in particular, as she matures into a sort of ecstatic botanist nun under the shadows of the redwoods. Though there are also hints that her passions are only in abeyance ... as they say of Hollywood, I laughed, I cried, I loved it. Read this right away, and pray for more!