Trackers by Kathryn Mackel: Apocalyptic Tale of the Future

The future world is a blasted shell of its former self. Horrific wars have ravaged the landscape, leaving behind tracts of useless wasteland, and humanity has devolved into a feudalistic society based on power, might, and greed. Like Esau long ago, mankind has sold its birthright in exchange for the selfish pursuit of their own prideful desires, and nothing remains of the modern world.

Now all that exists are strongholds ruled by ruthless warlords served by "sorcerers" retaining just enough knowledge of genetic engineering to alter animals, plants, or people in any fashion - no matter how absurd or perverse. Caught in the middle are villages full of simple people, clinging to a forlorn hope of a better world.

However - hope is never futile, especially when placed in the One who rules and cares for all, regardless if humanity has forgotten Him. Years before the Endless Wars laid waste to Earth, God worked to secure the future. Led by prophetic visions, a select group of people left the world behind in the new Ark, hiding beneath the ice in the Polar Regions, until such a time when they could reclaim the world for God's glory.

They are the Birthrighters. Trackers: those commissioned to hunt down and recover species of all kinds in need of replenishing, and Outriders: the warriors of the Birthright Project, who stand in the way of the evil that threatens them.
For several years, they've tracked countless species, fought off many foes, but now the hour grows desperate. A new sorcerer named Stephen has joined Alrod, a stronghold warlord whose hate for the Outriders already burns brightly. With supernatural powers extending far beyond simple genetic manipulation, Stephen aides Alrod as he strides forth to recruit an unholy army worthy of an almighty overlord.

Within the Birthright Project, personal desires, agendas, and resentments threaten the future of their quest. Like monastic orders of old, Outriders are forbidden to marry or have relationships, because their mission is so great they cannot afford the distraction of "love". However, humans were created to love and be loved, and how much longer can this be denied of them, before they turn into something less than human themselves?

There's a lot to like in Trackers, Kathryn Mackel's second installment in the Birthright Project series. A more robust work than her recent thriller, The Hidden, Trackers boasts a haunting look at the future of mankind, one that makes the reader think of Road Warrior and Mad Max - just without Tina Turner and those funky earrings.

Those who enjoyed Stephen King's The Gunslinger will like this story of an apocalyptic future and the quest to restore God's natural balance. In King's apocalyptic vision, "the world had moved on", and in Trackers, it has moved on to a dark, dangerous place crafted with an imaginative vision.

I enjoyed Stephen the sorcerer - possibly an oblique reference to the Biblical Stephen who tried to buy the disciples' miracles - and his character reminded me strongly of Roland's nemesis, Walter - "the man in black" (The Gunslinger). This is a trait Mackel has shown me twice so far: the ability to craft a threatening, sometimes entertaining villain, which I would argue often tips a work from "good" to "great".

The character development is strong, and Mackel isn't afraid to kill off a protagonist, which lends the tale a suspenseful reality. Trackers is a work of masterful creativity, the result of a painstakingly-crafted vision. Make sure to check out the first book in the Birthright Project, Outriders, to experience the full depth of Mackel's vision.