The “Coyote” by Allen Steele is a thrilling science fiction literal work. The work employs imagery and proper descriptive language. The novel is also unique and avoids the conventional styles such as incorporating chapters but instead presents the work in chunks. It also employs the first and third person narrative style. This is a great portrayal of the liberty that Allen Steele uses in his style of writing. The Allen Steele’s work also illustrates a fabulous portrayal of diverse and very rich personas (characters) in their attempt to dominate a new planet. As I read the book. I noticed the uncanny similarity between earth and Coyote which is the planet where Allen Steel story is set. The incidents are parallel with the history of Earth. This is evident when one carefully analyzes the plot of the story with the history on the European conquest of the present day North America.
The “Coyote” is a story that in my opinion centers on the colonization of the new planets by intellectuals, fugitives and rebels subjugated by their government. This is done to escape horrible conditions in incarceration camps and also fused with a conspiracy to steal a space shuttle so as to colonize a new planet (Coyote). The theme of hardship is properly illustrated as the characters persevere through many odds in their quest to dominate the new planet. The smooth prose employed, Allen Steele paints planet “Coyote” as a familiar territory but still he tries to show the distinction between the earth and the new planet. The birds, trees, creatures are different but Steele’s style manages to blend them such that they come out as too safe and familiar.
Allen Steele’s style is straightforward. He does not dwell on the techno-talk that has been part of his earlier works. He provides a bit insight into the science that makes up the story. The story, in my opinion, fuses realism and fiction in the right proportions that make the story captivating and understandable. The politics and human drama make up the storyline of this Allen Steele piece. The intellectuals and dissidents leaving earth are doing so because of political reasons such as oppression and dictatorship. The quest for new settlement is a clear testament of the human desire to be free or at liberty. There is also conflict between the colonies that resonates with our local politics that dwells on supremacy and influence over territories. The author tries to show the nature of politics that focuses on personal freedoms. In my view, he is trying to show how our governments pay lip-service when it comes to personal freedoms and the misplaced trust that the citizenry accord on their leaders.
The novel draws the parallelism between the continuing life on earth and the new life on the planet “Coyote”. Allen Steele brings the nostalgic feeling as the story incorporates likeness of the American pilgrimage and the beginnings of America as a nation. The desire for liberty, technological progress and justice is the underlying concerns for the voyage and colonization of the new planet. This is a very great comparison to the pilgrim America that comprised of pilgrims in search of better lives and freedoms. The book is a masterpiece as it incorporates the reality of the Northern America history and the science fiction of planet “Coyote’.
