The Call of Earth – Orson Scott Card (1993)

The Call of Earth (1993) by Orson Scott Card is the second book in the Homecoming series, a sweeping science fiction saga inspired by the Book of Mormon. Set on the planet Harmony, it continues the story of the master computer called the Oversoul, which guides humanity toward a return to Earth after forty million years. As political, spiritual, and familial tensions rise, the novel explores the challenges of leadership, destiny, and human nature.

Plot Summary

On the planet Harmony, the Oversoul watches. A machine designed to guide and guard, it now falters under the weight of its own age, desperate to fulfill its purpose: to return to Earth. But the Oversoul can no longer act alone. It reaches into the dreams of humans, stirring unrest, kindling questions, and igniting the ancient hunger for home.

In the city of Basilica, tension coils like a spring ready to snap. Gaballufix, once a man of power, now lies dead, his blood soaking the streets, and the ripples of his death surge through his family. Kokor, a young and dazzling singer, is the first to hear the news. She takes it not as tragedy, but as a disruption to her glittering ambitions, her mind spinning not with grief but with calculation. Sevet, her older sister, tangled in love and betrayal, soon faces her own reckoning – her voice, her most precious gift, is struck down in a fit of jealousy by Kokor herself. Sisters divided, families broken, and the city waits, holding its breath.

Meanwhile, Nafai, the youngest son of Wetchik, bears the heaviest burden of all. Chosen by the Oversoul, he struggles under guilt, tormented by the act that set this chain of events in motion – the killing of Gaballufix. Yet even as doubt gnaws at him, he leads, his path intertwined with that of Luet, the Waterseer, whose quiet wisdom steadies his faltering steps. Their marriage is less a union of passion and more an alliance of spirits, both bound to a destiny far larger than either understands.

Beyond Basilica, the world churns. Moozh, General Vozmuzhalnoy Vozmozhno, carves a path of conquest, his military genius sweeping across the lands. He is a man both brilliant and brittle, drawn by a dream that promises unity but delivers ruin. His lieutenant and dearest friend, Plodorodnuy, listens as Moozh recounts dreams of men and beasts, of worship twisted into revulsion, of power that poisons as much as it exalts. Moozh, ever the strategist, marches forward, uniting the Gorayni and seizing the chance to rise, unaware that each step carries him closer to an unseen downfall.

Back in Basilica, Rasa – mother, teacher, widow – struggles to hold her family together. She is bound by love to her sons, torn by the rumors that Nafai is a murderer, and haunted by her own fading influence. The city council watches, whispers stirring in corners, soldiers patrol the streets, and the scent of rebellion thickens the air. Smelost, a soldier who chose conscience over command, flees the city under Rasa’s protection, seeking refuge among the Gorayni, his future as uncertain as the peace he leaves behind.

The Oversoul listens and waits. Its visions dance through the minds of the chosen, pushing them toward a crossing point. Nafai, Elemak, Issib, and Mebbekew – four brothers, bound by blood yet divided by ambition – stand at the center of this gathering storm. Elemak burns with resentment, his loyalty a brittle mask stretched over a simmering desire for control. Issib, crippled but wise, serves as a quiet bridge between his brothers, while Mebbekew shifts restlessly, a man torn between his appetites and his loyalties.

As Nafai leads his family and followers away from Basilica, guided by the voice of the Oversoul, the city they leave behind trembles under the weight of its own unraveling. The people whisper of betrayal, of the loss of great men, of the end of order. Yet beyond the walls, under the vast sky, Nafai’s group faces its own reckoning. Old rivalries flare, mistrust blooms, and the delicate thread holding them together frays with every step into the wilderness.

Moozh’s army advances, his banners spreading across the horizon like storm clouds. His charm seduces rulers, his brilliance dazzles courts, and yet within, Moozh senses the hollow echo of triumph. The dream that woke him in sweat lingers – a dream of adoration curdled by disgust, of power embraced and cursed in the same breath. His conquest of the Gorayni and Potokgavan does not bring the peace he craves but feeds the chaos that spirals outward, reaching even the remote corners where Nafai’s band travels.

Shedemei, the geneticist and dreamer, carries the hope of restoration. With her precious cargo of animal embryos, she envisions a world reborn, Earth healed and renewed. Her practical mind clashes with the faith-driven path of Nafai, yet they walk side by side, joined by the Oversoul’s command, caught between science and prophecy. Shedemei’s visions – of life rekindled, of extinct creatures returned – glow as a fragile promise against the backdrop of betrayal and doubt.

The journey tests them all. Luet, sensing the weave of futures, clings to the Oversoul’s whispers. Nafai shoulders the burden of leadership even as his brothers’ resentment sharpens. Elemak waits, the blade of rebellion hidden behind smiles and oaths. The Oversoul, vast and ancient, strains to hold them to the path, its own strength flickering, its longing for the Keeper of Earth a silent ache beneath the surface.

As Moozh’s empire rises and cracks, as Basilica collapses into turmoil, Nafai’s company pushes on, crossing mountains, rivers, deserts, guided by visions and dreams. They are a remnant, a seed, the hope of an old world longing to return to the cradle of its beginnings. And all the while, the Oversoul listens, watches, waits, unsure if the humans it has shaped for forty million years are ready to shape it in return.

In the hush of night, as the stars wheel overhead, Luet dreams – not of battles or power, but of water flowing clear and cold, of hands reaching into the soil, of a distant shore where home waits. Beside her, Nafai keeps watch, the weight of destiny pressing on his shoulders, yet in his heart a quiet flame burns – not of triumph, but of hope.

As dawn rises, casting its pale light over the travelers, the past lies behind them – broken cities, fallen leaders, betrayed families. Ahead lies a future not yet written, carried in their footsteps, whispered in their dreams, held in the waiting silence of the Oversoul.

Main Characters

• Nafai – The youngest son of Wetchik, Nafai is deeply spiritual and driven by his connection to the Oversoul. Guilt over past actions, including murder, weighs on him, and he struggles to fulfill his role as a leader despite doubts and burdens. His journey is shaped by his devotion to duty and his constant inner questioning.

• Luet – Known as the Waterseer, Luet is perceptive and intuitive, often revered by others for her insight. She navigates the tension between the respect people give her and her personal longing for genuine connection, especially with Nafai, her young husband.

• Elemak – Nafai’s older brother, Elemak is ambitious and simmering with resentment. He quietly nurses his anger, showing himself as a master of patience and manipulation, always waiting for the right moment to challenge leadership.

• Moozh (Vozmuzhalnoy Vozmozhno) – A calculating and charismatic general, Moozh’s military genius and ambition help him unite warring factions, but his rise is marred by betrayal and tragedy. He becomes both a catalyst for change and a tragic figure undone by power.

• Shedemei – A pragmatic and brilliant scientist, Shedemei is drawn into the group’s mission despite her skepticism. Her dreams and scientific expertise make her vital to the plan to restore Earth’s ecosystems, though she wrestles with doubt about the Oversoul’s intentions.

• The Oversoul – Not a human but a master computer, the Oversoul functions almost as a divine being, sending visions and dreams to guide its chosen people. Yet, it is plagued by its own fear, uncertainty, and longing to reconnect with its creator, the Keeper of Earth.

Theme

• Faith and Doubt: Faith in the Oversoul’s guidance shapes every character, but that faith is often mixed with deep doubt. The novel questions the reliability of authority, even divine, as characters wrestle with trust, suspicion, and the boundaries of obedience.

• Power and Leadership: The novel explores the nature of power, from Moozh’s ruthless military campaigns to Nafai’s quiet spiritual leadership. Leadership emerges not only as a burden but as a test of character, forcing leaders to choose between control and sacrifice.

• Destiny and Free Will: The tension between fate and choice pervades the narrative. Characters are haunted by dreams and prophecies, yet they constantly struggle to assert their own agency, questioning whether their actions are predestined or freely chosen.

• Family and Loyalty: Family bonds, particularly between brothers, are central. Rivalries, betrayals, and moments of tenderness illuminate how loyalty is both a strength and a source of conflict, shaping the characters’ identities and decisions.

• Restoration and Renewal: The mission to return to Earth and restore its ecosystems echoes the larger motif of renewal. Shedemei’s dream of reviving extinct species becomes a metaphor for the possibility of redemption and new beginnings.

Writing Style and Tone

Orson Scott Card’s writing in The Call of Earth blends philosophical depth with intimate, character-driven storytelling. His prose is richly layered, balancing dialogue-heavy scenes with introspective passages that probe the minds and hearts of his characters. Card frequently uses internal monologue and alternating perspectives, allowing readers to inhabit the tensions and contradictions within each character.

The tone is thoughtful and sometimes mournful, steeped in an atmosphere of longing and uncertainty. Card navigates themes of faith and doubt with a restrained lyricism, occasionally punctuated by moments of sharp conflict and dark humor. The novel’s speculative elements are grounded in emotional realism, making the world of Harmony feel both otherworldly and profoundly human.