The Second Sun is, above all things, an adventure made animate by hundreds of distinct characters across half a world, written to confess through prose and tale our tendencies poisoned by Dickensian bleakness or cruelty, and to wholly ameliorate that cynicism by the light and courage of those who live and labor for a just peace. In my view, the book and the plot are so vast in many regards, it would be criminal to summarize it. However, below are excerpts, and if you delight in the poetry of my prose and the pursuit of goodness, I contend you will enjoy the whole. This book was largely inspired by the unbreakable spirit we see in Tolkien's work and the style of Dickens. "Harcur could, however, recite the growing legend of Ramilia 'the bold', the leader of the Democratus Rebels of what is now North Wooloe. She did walk with omen and sought unity through noble violence. A parody of deference meant her foes would name her, 'Wide lightning, ' for when sieged by her blade, it was as though you chased the breath of God." "'Squalor of thought parents ignorance, a virtue by, (and souvenired for) the wicked, and whose twin dominion of hysterical avarice rages undying when we offer our brood and hope to beg later dawns receive them well.' This passage is found in a religious text Fritz was keen to have restored that belonged to her mother. She contemplated those words in place of violence against the merchant, repairing her proof of fondness for others, as the words before ministered, to her, our poisoned accord cannot be made pure; we will ever march for glory and death while burdened by that we name the origins of war: the profits of love." ""Aww, I ain't got a momma or no land but shee'it, I'll take some'a yers!" the girl leapt to her feet and grinned, "Yer momma cook? Sissy brag all the time like one of dem preachers that say God is his best friend, talkin' 'bout how good her momma's and papa's cookin' was but I tell her, I says that don't make no sense seein' as I knowed you since you was this high!" without hyperbole, she bent at the waist to her knee and demonstrated with her hand before springing up again, "I don't 'member nothin' from back then...do you cap'n?"" "He kissed them each, and held them once more as he removed the bags from their heads. The nooses, however, he left untouched. And upon freeing one of the foreigners and gifting the consolation of a minute more of breath, he donned the weapon of his fate and trembled tearfully beside his greatest and oldest friends. The hangman was signaled approval by Ermintwout and the presiding magistrate for the task, but as she gripped the lever, Rono hailed the sudden shine and splendor of a second sun docking on the horizon. The brothers four and the mob below them turned swiftly to watch upon the sea its light mate with celestial kin, utterly blinding all who grieved its sight, "Do you see!?" the boy bellowed with righteous menace, but the villains' casts were already made, seized into a timeless likeness by its wicked flames nearing as Rono's smile erupted with the ecstasy of his imminent retribution, "The gods!...they come!"" "From his body now of stone was cast a pillar of light, supreme in its brilliance, an incorruptible and unified flare, unburdened by fear or hate, and the compulsive evil these unbecoming complexions of our soul inspires."