Stuff I've Read: The Trials of Koli by M.R. Carey

A young exile and his companions traverse a ruined English countryside in pursuit of a mysterious signal from a faraway place called the “ocean.”  Along the way, the come across a thriving seaside village, initially mistrustful of outsiders.  Meanwhile, secrets surrounding the power of dormant technology comes to light and threatens to upend the social order of Mythen Rood, and a dangerous outside force makes plans to come and take it all away.  The battle lines are being drawn in M.R. Carey’s postapocalyptic sequel, The Trials of Koli.

As in its predecessor, The Trials of Koli follows Koli Faceless, exiled from his home in Mythen Rood for the crime of stealing old technology from the ruling Vennastin family and awakening it despite being deemed unworthy to do so.  He’s accompanied by Ursula, a doctor with a mobile armored droid med unit called a drudge; Cup, a trans former member of a band of marauders from the town of Half-Ax; and Monono Aware, the sentient AI of a music player patterned after a long-dead J-Pop star.  They’re headed toward London, a place where, during a decades-overdue system update, Monono pinged a still-transmitting beacon.  After a harrowing escape from Cup’s former comrades from Half-Ax, Koli and crew land in the village of Many Fishes, hoping to wait out the winter.  Although initially viewed with suspicion, Koli’s crew find themselves part of the village and make a life there, which includes Cup falling in love with one of the boys in the village.  After Ursula plays doctor for the village for the winter, the village helps Koli, Monono, Cup, and Ursula build a boat to head out to their elusive signal.  Where it differs from The Book of Koli is that Trials spends half its time following Spinner Tanhide, Koli’s former crush, and life in Mythen Rood after Koli’s exile.  Spinner is set to marry Haijon Vennastin, one of the Ramparts, or protectors of Mythen Rood.  He goes by Rampart Knife, after the plasma cutter weapon he wields.  Or, at least, would have wielded had his brother not lost the thing (and his life) to Half-Ax while trying to find and kill Koli.  Spinner eventually gains the Vennastin’s trust, especially the elder, Perliu, who holds the title of Rampart Remember, keeper of something called the database.  Perliu shares the truth behind the tech that has kept the family in power for generations: anyone can use it.  The family has rigged the ceremonial tech naming so that valuable weapons like the flamethrower and plasma cutter are keyed to them before anyone else has a chance.  Perliu passes away shortly after this revelation, pasing his title on to her.  And while this is happening, soldiers from Half-Ax plan an invasion of Mythen Rood after their encounter with Koli, Monono, and the plasma cutter, looking for more tech to expand their own reach and power.

The Trials of Koli expands upon the lore of this postapocalyptic England and fills in some of the details on how it all went bad.  Weapon of conquest sit dormant on ancient battlefields, waiting to continue what has become known as the Unfinished War, and a world where people are connected all over the globe to everything and everyone is replaced by something bother larger and smaller in scope, where towns that are mere miles away go to war with one another.  The stark difference is enthralling, and the imagery evoked is quite compelling.  Koli is also better developed as a character.  Gone is the mopey boy, hoping to become a Rampart so he could get the girl.  He’s replaced by a young man with a good heart, involved in a big adventure with growing stakes, all while learning about the world beyond his town and the world that preceded it.

I wasn’t a fan of the way the story divides its attention.  While I like Spinner as a character—she’s sharp, quick, and clever where Koli is naïve and slow on the uptake—the political intrigue going on in Mythen Rood is less compelling than the stuff going on outside it.  Aside from a few moments that drove Spinner’s half of the tale (and no, I won’t spoil them), most of what happens in Mythen Rood can be bypassed without any real impact to the narrative.  I also found Koli’s fascination with (and later, attraction to) the disembodied Monono Aware equal parts sweet and creepy.

The Trials of Koli continues the fantasy/sci-fi adventure in post-apocalyptic England.  It’s a fun read, though a little disjointed due to its narrative structure.  If you liked The Book of Koli (I did), then you’ll probably be happy with the follow-up.

Pros: Well-told story, good character development

Cons: Disjointed narrative.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars.