Emory Brown Brown itibaren Chak No.194/W.B, Pakistan itibaren Chak No.194/W.B, Pakistan

Somehow Orson Scott Card makes writing look easy. Every word flows in unity with every other word. The seamless blend of character development, world creation, science, story, and descriptions was awe inspiring. Nafai hates it that his father had a vision from the Oversoul. It ruins his sense of how the world should work, and it makes his family the laughing stock of Basilica. He doesn't like the intrusion of the "witches" who interpret his father's visions. Who are they to intrude in personal family affairs? Then Nafai's brother reveals to him the secret of the Oversoul--its purpose to prevent humans from destroying themselves and the entire world around them. The Oversoul speaks quietly, sometimes just dulling the mind, sometimes pushing, sometimes guiding. And Nafai begins to understand the Oversoul, and he vows his allegiance to the same purpose. Even as the Oversoul itself is losing its power--its strength to control the world. Because the Oversoul is losing its ability to prevent the self-destruction of humankind, war is imminent. Latent lust for power is growing, and the Oversoul cannot stop it. Thus Basilica is torn into many factions. All this is revealed early in the story, and it just builds in intensity. The characters are so fresh and real and personal. And I found myself caught up in this whole new world as if it were my own.

So I've been boycotting Shell Oil for pretty much my whole life based on the plight of the Ogoni people of Nigeria and the executiion of Ken Saro Wiwa....thought it was about time that I learned more than just the bare bones of what has happened there from the late 60s until now. The book chronicles Ken Saro Wiwa's activism against Shell, as well as the struggle on behalf of his youngest brother Owens Wiwa as he fled Nigeria and later as he worked to recover Ken's body after his assassination.