Silversion

Wood Cow Chronicles #3

by Rick Johnson

Unleashing dragons on the slavers at Tilk Duraow was the easy part. Now Helga and her comrades must confront foes far more powerful than ever before, as their rebellion succeeds in penetrating to the very heart of the High One’s evil order. As the oddball rebels struggle to deal with the unfolding results of their success, they discover that the path forward runs through a mysterious new city—Silverpreen—with its own hideous brand of tyranny.

Facing unimaginable dangers, including a hate-filled enemy who controls a weapon of mass destruction, mind-bending challenges hit them time and again on their way to a final confrontation with the High One. As threats to the High One’s rule mount, a secret plot by some of his closest advisors is revealed to further undermine him for their own purposes. Code named Silversion, this unexpected development puts the High One in a desperate position, squeezed between opposing forces. In a climactic confrontation, the High One faces an ultimatum: either go into exile or face the greatest and most unusual attack force he’s ever seen. His choice will alter the destiny, not just of his own realm, but of far-flung lands across the planet.

Mind-blowing new worlds, sophisticated storytelling, never-quit action, and characters that will long stick in readers’ minds, make this an epic tale for all ages.

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2015

About the author

I am a community-builder, author, and educator leveraging the power of storytelling to promote equality, justice, and humanity’s reconciliation for peace and unity.

Storytelling is a social force.

In many ways, we are the stories we tell ourselves and that we tell about each other. Beyond providing an entertaining story for readers, I hope to contribute to changing the narratives we tell ourselves and that we tell about each other. I want to offer what I can in the way of breaking us out of the mental boxes made up of the stories we tell.

I hope that my stories will bring hope when we are wearied with humanity's monotony of pain, inspire active doubt when we're told that every human problem is insoluble, strengthen our resolve when everything around us seems to be shaking, cause a smile when the ugly face of despair is leering at us, and stimulate us to reexamine our own cherished assumptions underlying the stories we tell. My heroines and heroes do not yield to the overwhelming power of tyranny, but serve the cause of equality, justice, and freedom for all. They speak aloud when malevolent forces try to crush their minds.

I tell stories about active love for the weak and powerless; valiant and courageous collaborative action to advance the justice, equality, freedom, and respect that must underlie any lasting unity. As an author, I’m drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own song or story rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her or his own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries.

Wood Cows think differently. Join the adventure!

Reviews

[Bonnye Reed]

TheFussyLibrarian

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book covers aren't typically mentioned in a book review unless they're outstanding, but Silversion's deserves this note. It's a standout illustration, portraying a city tucked beneath towering buttes, looking as though it floats on water. As if this picture for the third appearance of 'Wood Cow Chronicles' weren't draw enough, consider the plot, which involves dragons, Helga's ongoing rebellion, a mysterious new city that offers its own unique dangers, and the dilemma of a High One faced with impossible odds and foes.

Sci-fi and fantasy readers who enjoy characters who fall into their roles instead of marching in will find much to appreciate as Helga makes her way through a world that not only is changed, but desperately needs changing. Sci-fi readers should also be advised that all the characters here are animals. Those who don't appreciate animal protagonists should simply look elsewhere for their entertainment.

Those with such affections and familiarity will find this latest book gripping: there's the usual attention to detail that paints an evocative image of the world of the Cows. That Johnson takes the time to portray these settings lends depth to the complexity that is Silversion, creating a rich atmosphere through which readers move as if on an epic quest alongside Helga, whose concerns become larger than her personal circle of interests. That the story is anything but predictable - and actually, quite complex in nature - is a tribute to using this time carefully, even adding in subtle doses of humor to some of the animal encounters.

In a genre replete with formula writing, it's difficult to say that a new arrival feels truly original; but Silversion is all this and more, and will delight fantasy fans looking for something different - beasts and all.

[Charles Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rick Johnson’s Silversion is a delightful little tale of Helga and her comrades who have penetrated the heart of the High One’s evil order. They won that battle, but their troubles are just beginning.
The author must have had a lot of fun writing this book. The fantastic creatures and imaginative world he’s constructed would indicate that. He piles adventure atop adventure from start to finish, and kept me captivated with a well-told story.

[Charles Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rick Johnson’s Silversion is a delightful little tale of Helga and her comrades who have penetrated the heart of the High One’s evil order. They won that battle, but their troubles are just beginning.
The author must have had a lot of fun writing this book. The fantastic creatures and imaginative world he’s constructed would indicate that. He piles adventure atop adventure from start to finish, and kept me captivated with a well-told story.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one and thought the storytelling was great.