The second book in The Utopian Proposition is Utopian Fire. It’s the continuation of the first book, Utopian Fire. These two books are part of the epic trilogy called the Utopian Cycle, written by Mirrormaskos Voulakis and illustrated by Dimitrios Psillides. The first volume of The Utopian Proposition was inspired by Voulakis’ own experiences as a child in squats, and this second book expands on that theme and captures aspects of utopia that we’ve all longed for.
In the Utopian Proposition, Mirrormaskos continues with his ideas about how utopia can be achieved, what it would look like, and why he believes it’s possible. In the first novel, Utopian Fire, he had already explained that the basic principles of utopia are not entirely absent, they just need to be applied in a different way, and he’d applied them in ways that were more compelling than the methods used by Voulakis. In Utopian Fire he uses the same concepts and images of utopia that he had in the first novel, but he adds the suggestion that his descriptions are meant to be inspiring, rather than merely realistic. This is why I think that the second book of his Utopian trilogy, Utopian Notes, captures the spirit of the first, while at the same time creating a new, exciting sub-plot that complements the first.
In Utopian Fire, Voulakis adopts a more modern style, incorporating computer generated imagery, multiple viewpoints and, in a way, even fantasy. At the same time, he retains the core idea that utopia is a desirable goal, and that humans should strive for it. This is reflected in the book’s many memorable quotes and illustrations, and also in the book’s structure: chapters are generally arranged around three major themes, each paired with a Utopian metaphor.
One of these themes is represented by the idea of light. In the opening section, after the narrator describes his childhood home in which there was “no fire”, Voulakis explains that his fire is what gives his house its distinctive glow. This idea, coupled with the knowledge that Voulakis can create any fire that he wishes, draws the readers into a world where magic is real, rather than simply a possibility. But the glow of Voulakis’s imagination, and of VSC, fuels the book’s main conflict. As his house burns, those who have remained within the house try to use VSC to create a spark that will bring back life to their home, but they are unsuccessful.
In the second book, VSC sparks a series of chain reactions that results in a domino effect that restores all of Earth’s trees and other plant life to the point they can once again grow. The climax of the book takes place when, in order to save the last of the humans remaining in the underground facility, VSC is used to resurrect a young girl who has somehow lost her ability to speak. The use of VSC and the subsequent interaction with the other magic elements creates a gateway into a parallel universe where all is well, including the existence of the original Human. The newly empowered girl uses VSC to create a spark with which she interacts with both herself and with other humans, and the humans are able to rebuild the world in the manner that they know it. Though this second book of the series is not nearly as successful as the first, it still contains enough material to keep the reader interested.
ECCthai – sách kinh doanh, sách phát triển bản thân
The second book of the series, Visions of Hope, sees the characters from the first book traveling back in time. This time, they visit the year twenty-first century, where they encounter the evil corporation Omni Technologies. Though they eventually come to blows with the corporation, the two companies form an uneasy alliance in order to protect Earth and each other. The book ends with a surprising twist, and it is left to the reader to guess what the outcome will be. However, as is typical with Jacob Voulakis, hope is not easily crushed. His optimism, coupled with his uncanny ability to draw out the human spirit, has made him one of the most popular writers in the fantasy genre.