daxxh
2/1/2014
Sky Coyote by Kage Baker
(sequel to In the Garden of Iden)
3.0 Stars
Sky Coyote is better than its predecessor. This story focuses on Joseph, the Inquisitor who brought Mendoza into the Company. It takes place in California in the days just as the Spanish are moving into the area. Joseph's mission is to save a tribe of Chumash before the Spanish get there. The Chumash were portrayed as in industrious people, already using money in the form of shell beads. They had a division of labor and a social hierarchy to their society. Although they believed in their gods, they were very aware of nature and its forces as they didn't seem to think much of the earthquake that occurred. They were very accepting of change and willingly agreed to follow Joseph, disguised as their Sky Coyote god, to a new place where they believed they could better their lives.
Mendoza is present in this book, but does not play a major role. By the end of the book, the reader will assume that the next installment will be mainly about her.
The subplot in this book involves the Company and its workings. Company agents seem to be disappearing. With them being assigned to various times, it is not unusual to not see ones coworkers for millennia. But, it is unusual to never see at least someone rescued from a given era. Joseph seems to know that something is going on, but conveniently "forgets" this until he is reminded by the man who brought him into the Company who is now under Company arrest. This subplot is not resolved, but Joseph will undoubtedly play a major role and it is intriguing enough to entice this reader to continue reading this series.