The Unforsaken Hiero

The Unforsaken Hiero continues the post-apocalyptic adventures of priest-warrior Per Hiero Desteen, first introduced in Hiero's Journey. The story takes place thousands of years after nuclear war has transformed North America into a wilderness filled with mutants and strange technologies. Hiero must navigate through dangerous territory on a critical mission for his secretive religious order. His telepathic abilities and bond with his riding moose Klootz help him face hostile forces, including an ancient evil organization known as The Brotherhood. This second book in the series expands the world-building established in the first novel, revealing more about the various societies and creatures that inhabit this changed continent. The mix of science fiction and fantasy elements creates a unique setting where both mutations and psychic powers exist alongside remnants of lost technology. The narrative explores themes of faith, duty and the preservation of knowledge in a world struggling to rebuild from catastrophe. Through Hiero's quest, the story examines how civilizations adapt and survive in the aftermath of near-extinction events.

Reader reviews for this 1983 sequel to Hiero's Journey are limited, with fewer than 50 ratings across platforms. Readers appreciated: - The post-apocalyptic Canadian setting - Continued development of psychic abilities and mutant creatures - Fast-paced action sequences - Themes of religious tolerance and cooperation Common criticisms: - Less focused plot than the first book - Unresolved story threads at the ending - Not enough worldbuilding compared to Hiero's Journey - Character development felt rushed One reader noted: "The charm of the first book gets diluted by trying to do too much at once." Ratings averages: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (31 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (8 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (12 ratings) Most reviews suggest reading Hiero's Journey first, as The Unforsaken Hiero relies heavily on knowledge of the previous book's events and characters.

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr. This post-apocalyptic novel follows religious orders preserving knowledge through a new dark age, mixing medieval monastery life with science fiction elements.

Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban A messenger travels through post-nuclear England where civilization has regressed to an iron age society with its own evolved language and mythology.

The Einstein Intersection by Samuel R. Delany In a far future where aliens inhabit abandoned Earth, a hero's journey unfolds through a landscape of transformed human myths and mutated cultures.

Always Coming Home by Ursula K. Le Guin This anthropological account documents a future California tribe that emerged after civilization's fall, complete with their customs, stories, and songs.

Dark Is the Sun by Philip Jose Farmer A tribal hunter searches for ancient technology across a far-future Earth where science and magic have merged and evolution has transformed all life.

🔹 Sterling Lanier was not only an author but also a sculptor and editor - as an editor at Chilton Books, he was responsible for publishing Frank Herbert's "Dune" after it had been rejected by numerous other publishers. 🔹 "The Unforsaken Hiero" (1983) is the sequel to "Hiero's Journey" (1973), both set in a post-apocalyptic North America 5,000 years after a nuclear war, featuring a telepathic priest-warrior. 🔹 The protagonist's full name, Per Hiero Desteen, is a play on the Latin phrase "per hiero dei" meaning "by the holy gods," reflecting the religious themes in the books. 🔹 The series combines elements of science fiction with fantasy, featuring both mutations caused by nuclear fallout and psychic powers, creating what some critics called "science fantasy." 🔹 Despite plans for a third book in the series, Lanier never completed it before his death in 2007, leaving many plot threads unresolved and making these two books the complete series.