Pros
- More information about the world of Kragdon-ah that bridges current and future worlds
- A nice conclusion to the issues of the refugees
Cons
- Not as much action as previous stories
- Protagonist’s focus on age is a little sad
Tribes of Kragdon-ah Review
Tribes of Kragdon-ah by Shawn Inmon acts as a bridge that connects the story’s present time to the glimpses of the far-flung future provided throughout the series. One of the drawbacks of previous books in the series was that there was no clear connection between the story’s present time of technology-adverse inhabitants with the far future’s technology-embracing residents.
Tribes of Kragdon-ah lays the foundation for how the people of the far future will eventually come about, and that future is made possible only when the people of Kragdon-ah, and by extension the rest of the world, finally stop fighting one another for resources.
What Alex Hawk mentions time and time again throughout the story is that this ideal isn’t for the older folks—he and the older generations know only of survival in a hostile world. Instead, it’s Alex’s daughters who take up the mantle for a united and peaceful Kragdon-ah.
But this path to unity and peace isn’t an easy one to walk. Too many tribes led by the older generation rely on war in order to gain resources and survive, a fact that is made clear when Alex comments on the different defensive structures and strategies that ring the numerous villages throughout Kragdon-ah.
When the opportunity for unity and peace arises, it’s Amy who jumps at it despite the long journey to an unknown city with other village representatives throughout Kragdon-ah. The premise of the story, and perhaps an apt metaphor as well, is that this time around, Alex is the one chasing after his daughter and being left behind, both literally and figuratively.
This united Kragdon-ah and the peace that it brings eventually makes it possible for technological development. Alex’s comment about the need for faster communication and the evolution of message runners to carrier pigeons and beyond suggest how this technological advancement might look.
Regardless of how it takes place, one thing is clear: eventually, the people of Kragdon-ah will give rise to the people who will develop the technology that makes the time-spanning door possible.
While there’s the usual action involving the regular dangers of Kragdon-ah—the great bear comes to mind—Alex encounters new ones in this story. These new fantastical creatures add a level of excitement and suspense to a world that doesn’t get boring.
However, readers who have come to expect large fights will be a little disappointed, but perhaps that’s for the best for a protagonist who has been aging throughout the series. No miraculous technology will come from above to de-age him as it did earlier in the series.
Tribes of Kragdon-ah by Shawn Inmon feels like a conclusion to the series despite what Alex says about his desire for adventure. Perhaps there will be more adventures in Kragdon-ah, but those journeys may be undertaken by a new, younger protagonist with a younger, more energetic companion.
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