Neworld Papers Series 1: The Historian’s Tale is told from Fallon’s point of view. He is someone who has experienced little and sees everything with fresh eyes when partnered with his counter-culture friends. He is a chronicler of the experience, a true observer. There is wonder, excitement, fear, and infatuation in Fallon’s narrative and they all remain somehow distant from Fallon the character. He is relaying what he sees and conveying what he feels. His experience with Aidan is a story happening in the moment that feels long in the past. There is a charm and innocence to the character and an ageless knowledge that colors his discovery of new life for the reader.

The Dark Men are an adversarial force in the story. Somewhat ambiguous though Fallon at one point knew one of them. They act on behalf of the council are frequently referenced in loose terms. In this loose development Shaw very cleverly leaves them as a baddie of unpredictable means. I recently read an article about how to construct a good baddie and one of the points was that if your baddie is a system that they must have a human embodiment and The Dark Men serve that purpose beautifully. There is a sense of horror connected with them from the moment they burn a house down trapping the residents in tunnels below.

Neworld Papers Series 1: The Historian’s Tale is very cleanly edited allowing a plot flow that conveys hope in a suspected place called Earth to which he and his friends cling. There are themes in Shaw’s story not appropriate for young children and that the new wave of adults that are embracing young adult fiction may appreciate. If you are a fan of works that feature young adults fighting the systems in dystopian societies, Neworld Papers Series 1: The Historian’s Tale is for you. ( )