The novel “Treason” by John Walker was published for the first time in 2020. It’s the second book in The Descendants War series and follows “Triton“.
The archaeologists aboard the starship Triton are trying to figure out how to access the information contained in the ancient Kahl artifact they found. Meanwhile, a Rhulin outpost, allied with the Prytin, is under attack, apparently by pirates equipped with the best Kahl weapons. Their target appears to be a scientist conducting research on the planet.
General Renz Divol is offered a new chance to prove his worth, but the situation becomes complicated for him. A Kahl base where highly classified information is store is attacked by a highly trained group, also thanks to the knowledge of the base systems. The group’s members are mostly Kahl, perhaps connected to the mysterious Prophet whom Milna Lithe is investigating undercover.
“Treason” continues the story of The Descendants War series, picking up where it left off at the end of the first book. It’s one big story, which means you need to start from the beginning to understand the plot and get to know the characters. It’s built on very classic science fiction elements, with a space opera foundation that includes various battles, although in this sequel, John Walker goes much further than just space battles.
The author continues the development of the various subplots begun in the first book and begins another one focused on what is supposed to be a standard historical investigation on the planet Rinkara, which turns out to be of interest to a very well-equipped faction. Essa Helsh becomes the target of this faction, proving just how important the element of archaeological science fiction has become.
The main problem with this novel is that the various developments make it rather chaotic. In particular, the subplot set on the planet Rinkara is fragmented into various points of view, initially focusing on various inhabitants, Essa Helsh, and his newphew, and subsequently increasing with the arrival of the starship Triton. Alternating the various points of view of this subplot with other subplots makes it difficult to follow them all without confusion.
The number of important characters ends up being remarkable. The ones already present in the first book are relatively easy to remember, but the new ones require careful attention to identify the current subplot and understand its developments.
The good news is that the subplots centered on the Kahl Empire are also used to delve into various elements of their society. The religious foundation of authority makes the empire not exactly a theocracy, but certainly not a democracy. The Kahl’s xenophobic attitudes were already introduced in the first book, and in this sequel, John Walker shows how their prisoners are used as slaves, brutally treated to work for the empire until their deaths.
A conception of authority like the Kahl’s can’t tolerate deviations from the orthodox religious doctrine, which is why the mysterious Prophet is the most wanted man. The subplot in which Milna Lithe searches for him undercover has some developments, but it seems that John Walker intends to advance it step by step.
Overall, “Treason” is a novel that is a more complex read than the first book. As in the first book, the various subplots reach important moments and will continue in the next sequels. Essentially, John Walker has written a story arc that has developed over several books, meaning it makes sense to start The Descendants War series only if you’re ready to read all the books. You can find it on Amazon USA, UK, and Canada.
