Beyond Tomorrow's Sun by Ronald McGuire; Involved Account of a Young Science Fiction Hero

 Beyond Tomorrow's Sun by Ronald McGuire; Involved Account of a Young Science Fiction Hero

By Julie Sara Porter 

Bookworm Reviews 

Spoilers: Ronald McGuire’s Beyond Tomorrow's Sun is not by any means a long book, but through the exhaustive journey of its protagonist, it covers in only a few short years what seems like a lifetime.

Charles begins his story in a post-Apocalyptic world when unexpected circumstances force him to go on the run far from his negligent uncle, his only remaining blood relative. He survives in the wilderness with his newly found dog, Katie. Charles’ travels take him to a nearby city where he reunites Katie with her former owner’s parents, Henry and Rose Bimmey. When they hear about Charles’ history and especially about the lack of care from his uncle, Henry and Rose decide to adopt Charles. The young boy matures and falls in love with Becca, a scientist's daughter. He then enlists in the Space Force and takes to the stars where he has to face war, hostile colonists, ruthless space pirates, unstable fellow soldiers, the potential destruction of Earth, and relocation to another world. 

Like I said a lot happens to this young man. So much so that the book shifts through various genres and subgenres to tell different aspects of Charles’ story. The first half is an Apocalyptic survivalist novel which puts him against natural elements and the harsh wilderness. While there, he learns many of the things that become useful later on in his Space Force career. 

Earlier, he was appalled watching an acquaintance get killed in front of him. While on the run, he ends up killing someone in defense of himself and Katie. He realizes that sometimes people have to do tough things to protect those around them. Survival sometimes requires the breaking of previous codes. Whether it's right or wrong, in a dangerous situation, one doesn't always have the luxury of thinking before acting.

That's not to say that Charles becomes a thoughtless machine who only acts on impulse. In fact, he retains a great deal of thought and understanding when he enters the city. This turns the book from one person's struggle and survival into a coming of age story about him finding a family, romance, a path in life, and a sense of belonging.

 He protects and cares for Katie on his own so she is able to lead him to her family. Charles gives The Bimmeys crucial information that he remembered through observation and navigation about their missing son. He also shares their grief, compassion, and tenderness so well that he is instantly accepted as one of the family.

He also finds love with Becca and a higher sense of purpose. Originally, Charles was someone who did not fully understand science or sociopolitical structure. He was interested in joining the Space Force, basically to get off the planet. But after listening to and understanding Becca's family’s interest in wormholes, he begins to study the sciences connected to them. He also recognizes both his and Becca's family's connections to political and military leaders and the way they think and operate. These studies become crucial to his experience in attending the Space Force.

 After his journey through Space Force, the book becomes a high tech Science Fiction Military Thriller and contains some of the more thrilling sections in it. His studies, survival instincts, and understanding of how other people think, feel, and react help him get promoted at young ages. They especially come into play when he has to weigh whether he should understand the point that rebellious colonists make against the Earth government or treat them like an enemy that must be destroyed before they destroy him and his crew.

Charles also gains a firm grasp and understanding in the minds of his adversary’s minds in dealing with pirate Gemma Chang. She is an alluring elegant beguiling figure with an analytical understanding of others’ actions and plans so Charles has to outfight and outthink her to take the advantage. On a personal note, I found Gemma Chang a fascinating and intriguing character and would love to learn more about her. Perhaps, McGuire could create a spin-off or a short work about her exploits and journey to space piracy.

The Space Force chapters lead into the final act, where the book becomes an Interstellar Travel which involves saving humanity from self destruction. This is where Charles’ survival skills, intellect, Space Force training, empathy, amd understanding-everything that he has learned has to come into play because he not only has to find a new world but survive in it. It's a parallel to his first journey in which he had to travel into the wilderness with a trusted companion. Here he has to do the same but on another planet where the landscape is completely unknown. It seems as though everything in Charles’ life led to this path and destination.

The various pieces of the book fit to create a mosaic of Charles' ascension into adulthood, leadership, and founder of a new world.