Anoroc (2020) by Bryan Kuderna - Fiction

An enthralling Young Adult fantasy novel rife with sociopolitical and coming-of-age themes

Anoroc is Bryan Kuderna’s second book, however, it’s much different than his first one–Millennial Millionaire: A Guide to Become a Millionaire by 30. It’s pleasantly surprising that someone so invested in the business world and a podcast series focused on financial matters can also devote energy into writing a captivating 267 page Young Adult (YA) fantasy novel.

The setting is the planet Anoroc with The Wetlands to the west, The Plains in the middle, and The Mountains to the east. Knowing the physical layout of the land is important and there’s a helpful map on the opening pages. Anoroc is inhabited by the Chigidies, a race of intelligent beings who are very reminiscent of Star Wars Wookies–short, furry, and mostly cute creatures. Their society has been segregated into two groups–wearers of white robes and wearers of red robes. Most of the red robes work for Unios which can fairly be compared to a massive union. Their members include the likes of landscapers, waste management personnel, teachers, and diggers–historically the most important workers in all of Anoroc because they dig for Painite. It’s been years since diggers have found any of this precious raw material which is unfortunate since it’s the backbone of Anoroc’s economy. The white robes are essentially everyone else–a mix of working class and very wealthy families. The red and white robes have a mixed history–sometimes peaceful other times spiteful. With population numbers creeping to new highs and an economy sinking to new lows, they wonder how did they get into this dilemma in the first place? And how does Anoroc move forward?

It’s in the midst of this thick background that we meet the protagonist, 15 year old Beeker, and his younger brother Dak. They live with their single mother, Cass, in The Plains and spend their summers in The Mountains with their highly respected war hero Uncle Dobo. They are white robes, but their father used to roll with the reds until as Cass explains he “rocked the boat” because “he was not one to live life as a pawn. ‘Painite lasts forever, life does not’ he was fond of saying” (p. 3). An alarming incident ensues between Beeker and a fellow classmate, Hoofa, so Cass decides to send her sons to live with Uncle Dobo for a year. This time is transformational for the boys as they endure rigorous survival and self-defence training. They also learn more about their Uncle’s involvement with the red robes as he worked diligently for them for ten years. He regretfully recalls,

“I didn’t have the guts to do what I knew was right. My present was becoming my past every day, and I watched indecision guide a bleak future. I knew I was a cog in a machine, a machine built on control...You see, guys, when you control, you inhibit freedom. When you inhibit freedom, you’re stealing. When you steal, you steal far more than you ever intended” (p. 112).

He continues by recounting how Unios controls every available job, crushing competition, and in effect, crushing the dreams of hopeful Chigidies not part of Unios.

To reveal much more of the plot would rob prospective readers of Kuderna’s fine handiwork since it’s apparent that he worked assiduously to craft a compelling plot. The narrative is grounded in a few timely issues such as unions, overpopulation, and unsustainable uses of natural resources. But Kuderna does not give any black or white (or should I say red or white?) easy answers to such challenging issues. Nor does he allow his narrative to be bogged down by overly lengthy discussions on these topics. He does, however, permit his young protagonist the freedom to explore his environment as he matures from a child into adulthood. At times Beeker’s transition is traumatic, but it’s always moving forward–allowing the reader to wrestle with real world issues through his coming-of-age perspective. For example, attentive readers will undoubtedly draw comparisons between the red-white robe dilemma and our nonfiction realities of systemic racism, Donald Trump inspired White Supremacy, and ballooning wage disparities. Kuderna probably welcomes these connections, however, he utilizes Beeker’s new experiences to enlighten us in fresh ways,

“School was full of white robes and red robes coexisting as if clothes were randomly dispersed each morning. Our teachers offered mild insight into history and current events but never with respect to the robes we wore. I didn’t know why Momma always dressed us in the all-whites, but suddenly I felt it mattered” (p. 27).

Even as I re-read this passage I'm reminded of scholars on race and ethnicity like Beverly Tatum and Ta-Nehisi Coates and how they might unpack Beeker’s situation. In Anoroc we also see themes of friendship, family, morality, and time. We're faced with such questions as, “How should friends support each other through traumatic situations?” “How do we navigate loyalties between family, friends, and duty?” “How do we live in the moment, honor the past, and look forward to the future?” It’s inquiries like these why a high school teacher would enjoy teaching Anoroc as they’re fruitful conversation starters and open the doors for a variety of meaningful writing assignments.

Don’t be scared away because high school teachers might enjoy this novel. Along with its intellectual ferocity Anoroc a downright emotionally engaging, steadily-paced, page-turner kind of story. There’s no sexual content, but there are a few scenes of bloody violence in the final 50 pages. A major part of Anoroc’s emotional appeal derives from its characters. Some are easy to emphasize with, but most are quite complex. Any emotionally intelligent reader will recognize how external conflicts contribute to their complexity–making them a bit harder to love, or forcing you to question their actions. But this makes it no less enjoyable to watch how they navigate their dilemmas. It’s pacing feels on point–meditative where it needs to be and quick when the scene calls for it. Kuderna’s style is mature, but not fully adult. It fits the YA genre well with external conflicts of sociopolitical unrest with internal conflicts of adolescent maturation. And we shouldn’t overlook Kuderna’s beautiful prose. One of the many examples comes from Beeker’s description of living The Mountains, “Living up here was like reading every line of every page in a lengthy novel compared to only having viewed the cover over the past fifteen years” (p. 84).

Some hardcore adult fantasy readers might be put off that Kuderna’s universe is set in a galaxy not so far far away. While the Chigidies and their planet are fictional, just about everything else isn’t. There’s karate, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a very familiar school system, and even church. It’s likely that Kuderna didn’t want to spend an extra 200 pages developing this universe into the next Dune. It’s a novel aimed at younger readers who could connect with its characters and themes better if the universe were easier to digest.

Not all is perfect in Anoroc. It feels a bit didactic at times with too many Confucius-esque aphorisms sprinkled about. Most are wise and truthful, but it sometimes feels like it's trying too hard to pass down a message. And while it’s climax is rewarding, it’s resolution lacks completion. Not that every story needs to be perfectly wrapped up with a bow, but it would definitely be more gratifying if we knew more about how some characters fared in the end. Or maybe Kuderna is considering a sequel? That would fit the YA genre model. And despite the minor pitfalls I described, Anoroc is an excellent story. Anyone interested in YA fantasy would do well to purchase a copy.

And if YA fantasy/science fiction repels you, consider that Kuderna confesses that growing up he was not keen on fiction, however, “As life went on, I not only realized escaping planet Earth for a moment was valuable, but that a stretching imagination could also be the best form of communication” (p. 268). And in Anoroc he has communicated a well-crafted, truthful, and engrossing story.

Make sure to check out Kuderna’s website for more on Anoroc and other endeavors.

Highest Score - 5 Trophies

Writing: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

Readability: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

Plot: 🏆🏆🏆🏆

Characters: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

Overall: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

November 24, 2020