Tomorrow's Shepherd

by Michael Ripplinger

All technology on planet Verde broke two centuries ago, but Fritz Reinhardt has the power of hyper-intuition. He figured out how to fix it, and now he dreams of a worldwide restoration making daily life easier all over the world. It was a big deal for quiet and socially awkward Fritz to make his dream public, but the benefits of repairing pre-Blackout antique relics are too enormous to more education, better communication, and longer life expectancy. But it could be over sooner than he thinks. Some see his dream as a nightmare, and these critics have a powerful ally in Lady Verde. The spirit of the planet remembers the environmental damage chipware did to her in the past, and she demands an end to the restoration. She's even willing to resurrect the worst chipware the planet has ever seen, the giant Steelterrors, to prove her point. How can Fritz build a better tomorrow if the planet itself fights against him?

401 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 11, 2018

About the author

Michael Ripplinger writes both novels and computer software. He is a certified introvert who enjoys breakfast cereal and a variety of indoor activities, but he'd rather be at Disneyland. Michael, his wife Rose, and their seven children make their home in south Texas.

Reviews

[Lauren Sapala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always had a soft spot for sci-fi/fantasy, but nothing captures my heart and mind like intelligent, thought-provoking, insightful sci-fi/fantasy that somehow performs the magic feat of telling an amazing story while at the same time pushing the reader to look at our own, real world with fresh eyes and a different perspective. Tomorrow’s Shepherd is EXACTLY this kind of book.

The characters are full-bodied and complex and they will pull you in, and the plot itself is fast-paced and sharply original and it will pull you in too, but what will really get you is the way the story ruthlessly examines problems that we are dealing with in our current day: a culture based around consumer consumption, climate change and the way we’re damaging the planet, and the dangers of using technology and artificial intelligence without compassion or balanced judgment. In addition to all this, there’s a really beautiful storyline woven in around the main character—Fritz—as he goes through a journey of self-punishment and crippling guilt when he blames himself for events beyond his control. For me, a novel MUST have a profound psychological element to it for me to feel fully engaged with the story and Tomorrow’s Shepherd did not disappoint. It hit me on every level: mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Now, I was already a fan of this author so I’ve read the first book in this series, Yesterday’s Demons, but readers who haven’t read it don’t need to worry because Tomorrow’s Shepherd (the second book in the series) works perfectly as a standalone book, or as a continuation of the trilogy. I loved Yesterday’s Demons too, but I think Tomorrow’s Shepherd is my favorite because it concentrates mainly on Fritz, a character who is A LOT like me, introverted, intuitive, a deep thinker, and just an all-around unconventional person who gets uncomfortable in social situations but feels comfortably at home with big ideas. Fritz was one of those characters that I am completely sure I would be best friends with in real life.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves intelligent sci-fi/fantasy that deals with current day issues, strong female characters who are equal to the male characters in every way, or just plain excellent speculative fiction. I would give this book ten stars if I could.

[K.M. Alexander]

"It is important to learn from history. But it's just as important not to curse the future because of mistakes made in the past."

The second entry in The Verdant Revival maintains the thrilling pace of the original and manages to balance its unique genre-bending mashup while still expanding the world of Verde. Tomorrow's Shepherd carries the reader into new, exciting, and often dangerous places. It's rare a book can be so fun and still manage to tell a heartful and human tale about loss, legacy, and the desire to improve things for everyone. It's rarer still that its story will stick with you even after you turn over the last page—a fantastic entry into the series that will leave the reader ready for more.

[William Munn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equal part contemplative and action packed, Tomorrow’s Shepherd is a worthy successor to Yesterday’s Demons. Can’t wait for book 3 of the Verdant Revival!