The Second World

by Jake Korell

Mars has declared its independence from Earth. But building a country takes more than a new flag, an arena-worthy anthem, and naming Pluto the donkey the national animal. As the Red Planet spirals into political upheaval, Flip Buchanan—the irreverent, reluctant son of the most powerful man on Mars—stumbles through two tumultuous decades of alien discoveries, killer clones, and the chaos of a new nation still working out the kinks.

Always second-best in a family obsessed with being first, Flip must grapple with the absurdity of Martian society and the gravity of legacy to step out of his father’s shadow and define self-worth on his own terms—a feat that can feel as impossible as climbing Olympus Mons.

For fans of Andy Weir and Kurt Vonnegut, this satirical coming-of-age space epic blends sharp wit, surprising emotional depth, and bold worldbuilding. Equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, The Second World navigates found family, generational divides, and the outrageous struggle to make your finite life matter in an infinite universe—with poignant reflections on power, sensationalized media, and fractured culture.

Genres: Science Fiction, Humor

Paperback

Expected publication February 24, 2026

About the author

Jake Korell's voice and sense of humor have been shaped by a cast of hilariously unforgettable friends and family, and by his serious, deeply held conviction that life shouldn’t be taken too seriously—or held with such deep conviction. He lives in Los Angeles with his partner, McCauley, and their dog, Dewey, and never misses a Martini Monday. Find out more about him at jakekorell.com.

Reviews

[Katie May · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

This was pretty funny without being too overtly political. Solids sci fi background with a story that was entertaining and characters you wanted to root for. Great from a sci fi perspective I just think it would have used a little more editing.

It had some small things that didn’t work too. The introduction was kind of confusing at first as there was just a bunch of names being listed and then like ‘no wait that’s still not me’ and then I kind of got lost on how they were actually related lol.

This was really too long for what it was. I think it shows in that a lot of the funnier jokes are repeated, sometimes multiple times (how many times do we need to say grandmas hoo hah in one page??). I think it could have been tightened up a little bit.

Would I recommend? This was good, it was funny and it did entertain but if this is your first foray into satire-y sci fi I’d recommend starting somewhere else.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d absolutely recommend this book. It was quirky. It was silly. It was heartfelt. It was all the things you want in a read. I think I laughed the most though. The author is clearly quick witted and I loved how many times I burst out laughing. Numerous times I had to stop reading, wipe the tears from my eyes, read a passage to whoever was in the room with me to continue the laughing, then keep at it in the book. Loved it.

I was a bit nervous about it being political. But it wasn’t any politics within society now, it was out of left field and pretty clever.

I didn’t particularly love some of the annoying characters seeming to get away with everything, so that’s my negative. A little hard to follow some of the characters with their nicknames, but this was an awesome book.

This book is the reason why I love ARC reading so much. Getting a truly amazing book and getting to be at the base level of telling others to go grab it is my favorite. Thank you NetGalley. Absolute win for me!

[Peach Mitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided an advance copy of The Second World in exchange for an honest review.

The Second World is a fun, sharp, and wonderfully absurd sci-fi political satire that blends coming-of-age chaos with interplanetary politics and cosmic humor. Fans of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy will feel right at home here, though this book leans into a distinctly late-millennial / early Gen-Z comedic voice that feels fresh rather than derivative.

Short Summary

The story follows Flip Buchanan, the reluctant son of the most powerful man on Mars, who is begrudgingly pulled into two decades of chaos involving alien discoveries, accidental heroism, killer clones, and interplanetary conflict. As Flip stumbles through bureaucracy, media spectacle, and idealistic disasters on a newly sovereign Mars, he learns that building a new world isn’t so different from breaking the old one. It’s weird, frantic, and sincerely human beneath the humor.

What Worked

I genuinely enjoyed how funny this book is—the timing, the banter, and the satirical bite landed often and kept the pace engaging from beginning to end. I never felt bored, and the plot consistently surprised me without losing emotional grounding. The worldbuilding is excellent: smart, irreverent, and imaginative without over-explaining itself. The balance of humor and meaning is one of its biggest strengths.

What Didn’t Land As Well

There were moments when the humor style didn’t quite connect with me. The repetition-based jokes (like “the rickety stage ricketed” or “my kid-size size”) felt overused and sometimes broke immersion instead of adding comedic punch. Additionally, the heavy reliance on simple dialogue tags made some conversations feel a bit flat, especially given how clever the rest of the writing is.

Overall

Despite a few stylistic bumps, The Second World is a genuinely enjoyable, funny, and thoughtful sci-fi satire full of chaotic charm. It delivers both absurd comedy and emotional sincerity, and I think readers looking for irreverent space adventure, smart political humor, and character-driven storytelling will love it.

Recommended for fans of: Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Good Omens, Red Dwarf, and speculative coming-of-age stories with bite.

[Luna Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Showgirl’s Rules for Falling in Love by Alice Murphy is a vibrant, joyful romance that sparkles with spectacle while delivering a deeply affirming message about self-love, belonging, and chosen community. Blending the theatrical flair of Moulin Rouge with the emotional sweep of The Greatest Showman, this novel offers a fresh and inclusive take on turn-of-the-century romance.

Set in 1897 New York, the story centers on Evelyn Cross, a proud, plus-size vaudeville star whose career is threatened by shifting beauty standards. Evelyn is a radiant and compelling heroine, talented, vulnerable, and unapologetically herself. Her meeting with Thomas Gallier, an ambitious showbiz tycoon building the city’s next great entertainment palace, crackles with chemistry and mutual respect. Their romance unfolds with warmth and sincerity, rooted in admiration rather than rescue.

Murphy’s world-building is rich and immersive, capturing the glamour and grit of the vaudeville stage while celebrating the spirit of performance and community. The inclusion of a contemporary narrator, Phoebe, adds a clever and mischievous layer, reframing the historical love story with modern insight and emotional clarity. The final revelations feel earned and meaningful, reinforcing the book’s core themes.

Inspired by real-life Progressive Era performers, this novel shines in its celebration of bodies, voices, and stories that refuse to be erased. A Showgirl’s Rules for Falling in Love is romantic, empowering, and full of heart, a love story that applauds authenticity and reminds readers that self-love is the most captivating performance of all.

[Nicholas Budler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: 3.75

Wait, this book was actually good as hell. I love me a little dark, satirical humor and The Second World delivered.

It’s easy to forget that there’s real commentary on the world buried in this story – and that’s exactly why it works. This coming-of-age story set on messy Mars pokes fun at power, the media, and culture. Flip the rebellious teen was mostly just kicking rocks and hanging out for the first third wishing he could kiss his BFF until shit really pops off. Just wait. It goes from “ha, this is kinda fun” to “oh, I’m actually a little depressed by this book” in record time.

I think Flip was really well written and the vibes were right for this type of story. I also loved the passage of time that allowed for so much to happen over the years, which makes sense for the sort of wide-ranging commentary and sad ridiculousness that was Flip’s life. Also, for bagging a translucent alien princess baddie, he gets kudos. Woven in throughout is some real shit about relationships with friends, partners, and parents; I fear for what happened to Korell to inspire this story but glad he wrote it down.

When I found The Second World on NetGalley, I needed a break from long, in-depth fantasy and it turned out to be a great palate cleanser other than the fact I need to touch grass after reading. As a sci-fi book, it actually does some pretty solid worldbuilding, for which I was grateful. Recommend reading this if you’re looking for a book that’s easy to read but still has something to say.

It reminded me of Matt Dinniman’s style – and that’s no small compliment.

### eARC review ###

[Minette Hanekom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually skip anything that hints at satire or politics, but damn, I’m glad I didn’t skip this one. The Second World is funny in that tongue in the cheek, slightly nostalgic way that makes you grin even while you know the author is quietly roasting Earth and all our nonsense.

Flip, the main character, hooked me straight away. He has such a distinct personality. Messy, impulsive, a little dramatic. He makes one or two questionable decisions and that actually makes him feel real. Watching him grow up on Mars while navigating friendships, identity, power, the media and all the ridiculous sides of human behaviour (even when we are not technically on Earth anymore) was honestly a treat.

The world building is great without being overwhelming and the writing is genuinely beautiful. It has that perfect balance of humour and heart and it sneaks in real commentary without ever feeling preachy. You can just enjoy the story, the characters and the snark and then suddenly realise there is more going on beneath the surface.

If you like dark humour, fun sci fi or coming of age stories that do not take themselves too seriously but still have something to say, add this to your list. I went in unsure and came out completely obsessed.

[David Carriere]

The Second World is a sharp, hilarious, and unexpectedly thoughtful science-fiction satire that uses the colonization of Mars to explore legacy, identity, and the absurdity of power. Jake Korell blends the irreverent humor of Kurt Vonnegut with the speculative accessibility of Andy Weir, creating a world that feels both wildly imaginative and uncomfortably familiar.

Flip Buchanan is a refreshingly imperfect protagonist perpetually second-best, chronically underestimated, and painfully self-aware. His struggle to define himself outside the gravitational pull of his father’s dominance mirrors the Red Planet’s own unstable attempt at nationhood. The novel’s humor lands consistently, but what elevates it is its emotional undercurrent: the quiet ache of generational expectation and the search for meaning in a universe that doesn’t offer easy answers.

Korell’s worldbuilding is playful yet precise, using satire to dissect media sensationalism, political theater, and cultural fragmentation. Beneath the killer clones and Martian absurdities lies a deeply human story about found family and self worth. The Second World succeeds not only as entertainment, but as a resonant coming-of-age story disguised as a space epic.

[Halsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny and on-the-pulse commentary here, alongside a compelling coming-of-age story! I thought Flip was a great main character that you really grow to root for throughout the narrative. There are quite a lot of side characters, but similarly their characterization and relationships with the main character are very well done. Characters are definitely a shining aspect of this book.

This had a good plot, too. Lots of classic future sci-fi staples that did not feel overdone. Again, the main character's arc throughout alone makes it a worthwhile read. That being said, I think the book was a tad long and could have been stronger if it was cut down 10% or so. Some plot points feel repetitive of earlier events.

Overall, great tongue-in-cheek writing and an entertaining read. Thank you NetGalley for ARC!

[Richard Dow · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel is about the first human settlement on Mars. Through the eyes of a group of young friends, we see Mars advance from one domed city to multiple domed cities. The main protagonist, Flip, short for Flip-Flop has never been able to do anything first. Flip’s best friend is Pepper, who’s mother is the president on Mars, though Flip’s father is determined to be the de facto ruler. All the first opportunities had been completed by others. Flip could never live up to his father’s expectations. Through a number of wars with Earth and between cities on Mars, Flip leaves his sporting career and enlists in the armed forces. The story takes us through some of the Mars politics, wars and Flips struggles with his parents.
I enjoyed the characters, which I think is the strong suit of this novel, as well as the environments of Mars.

I rate this novel a 3-1/2 star.