I was unaware of the first book in the series; nevertheless I found this a challenging and entertaining read. I am guessing some of my confusion in the first quarter of the book was due to my unfamiliarity with the characters. As the story went on, I started to understand how everybody fit into the story thanks to the complexity of their character and the effective writing.

It’s the end of the 21st-century. It appears that the progressive movement took over the US and drove it right into the ground. There are little snippets of some of the changes that were made throughout the story including “Bill of Rights discriminating against people of color. Our highly illegal Christmas tree decorating ceremony. Section 3 of the Anti-Religion Act. No traditions of any kind of any religion are allowed.” As the US bit the dust, the Muslim community took over most of the rest of the world and turn it into a fundamentalist caliphate. It’s not a pleasant way to live just about everywhere. What the US has become doesn’t appear to be much better as everyone now lives where All the individual responsibility doing right because it’s right, and there is a collective sense of belonging. The author did a nice job of turning these ideas into a most amazing and depressing world.

Against that backdrop, he introduces the return of the game of baseball to both the US and the British caliphate. The rest has to be read to be enjoyed.

I don’t know that I’ll go on to read The first book in the series or the next one that is promised at the end of this one. I did enjoy this one.

Maybe I should have read the first book in the series. I didn't realise it was a series until after I'd requested this novel. All in all, still a great read and thought provoking considering what is happening in the world at present.