Assessment:
Plot/Idea: The Worlds of Origin, spanning several millennia, is an epic story of love, loyalty, and the battle of good versus evil. With immense world-building and compelling storytelling, Dan draws readers into a novel that is both complex and thrilling to read.
Prose: Dan utilizes vocabulary unique to the book's Galactic Empire, introducing readers to a universe vastly different from our own but still relatable. The descriptive imagery and direct prose bolster the world-building, bringing even the most intricate concepts down to a graspable level.
Originality: At first glance, several elements in The Worlds of Origin may feel familiar to sci-fi fans, but as the novel progresses, Dan crystallizes this world as unique: the tribes are marked by distinctive interplay, singular histories, and differing motivations after the Desolation, as they decide to stand with or fight against the Church.
Character/Execution: Not only are the characters likable and distinctive, readers must stay on their toes to decipher who to believe in and who may betray the rest. The idea of a traitor in the midst of the mission adds to the already high stakes, and Dan's ending opens the book up for more adventures in the future.
Date Submitted: August 23, 2024
The Worlds of Origin by Becheru D. Dan is a sweeping science fiction epic spanning over nine hundred thousand years. The story chronicles the rise and fall of the Galactic Empire, beginning with the mysterious creation of the Origin Worlds and culminating in the cataclysmic event known as the Desolation. Amidst a galaxy dominated by interstellar travel controlled by the Church and power struggles among empires, a ship is sent on a secret mission to prevent a prophetic apocalypse. As the crew journeys through the stars, they uncover treachery and hidden agendas that threaten their mission and the galaxy’s survival.
Author Becheru D. Dan has created an expansive and intricate universe that has some deeply committed world-building over an extensive period of imagined history. This big-picture opening is overwhelmingly detailed, but the richness of it pays off once you get into the story, where high-stakes action and intense suspense take over. Once the action sets off, treachery is the name of the game, and there are plenty of clever and unexpected surprises that offer big thrills and have you racing into the next chapter. I really enjoyed the political power plays and the way this impacts the entire story world as oppression and social control loom heavily on the crew’s mission. The narrative switches well between individual character drama and the chain reaction of events in the wider world. Overall, The Worlds of Origin is sure to impress readers with its ambitious scope and thought-provoking themes, making it a captivating read for science fiction fans everywhere to enjoy.
