What will our world be like not just hundreds of years from now, but thousands of years from now? Migration of the Kamishi, the first book in The Feral World series, explores this question in vivid detail by following a small band of people 3,000 years in the future as they traverse North America in search of a new home.
The story begins in the territory of Kamis, in what was once the state of South Dakota. One morning, the neighboring Ravashi tribe takes the resident Kamishi by surprise and nearly exterminates them in a gruesome battle. The only Kamishi survivors are two young men, Blake and Manosh, who manage to escape, bringing Blake’s two dogs, Saamu and Rita, with them. Rejecting life in the northern Great Plains, the two friends seize this opportunity to migrate south to the Warmland in search of a new home.
The decisive Blake soon takes charge. However, being a dreamer, he often has trouble seeing problems for what they are. What’s more, he is haunted by the horrors of the war in Kamis that claimed the lives of his friends and family. Nevertheless, his enthusiasm and determination spur the group on toward their goal. Manosh, on the other hand, is pragmatic and realistic. As they continue in their travels, they encounter many amazing creatures, hostile tribes, and exotic landscapes. Eventually, the group finds shelter in a Rubbletown – the ruins of an ancient metropolis, in this case Wichita, Kansas. There, they rescue a young woman named Lana from a gang of thugs. Lana is smart and insightful, learning new survival skills from Blake and Manosh, and teaching them new legends and traditions in return. She guides her guests around the Rubbletown and shows them that this ancient place is not merely the ruins of a city, but now an entire ecosystem unto itself. However, Lana is also naïve, and she soon finds that she needs her new friends as much as they need her. Soon, the travelers welcome Lana into their band, and together they continue their journey.
Blake and Lana begin spending much of their time together and develop a romantic relationship, prompting Manosh to become angry and resentful. But the group remains cohesive to face their challenges. They face harsh conditions on the plains are harsh, but eventually find shelter in another forest. There, the hostile Podeshi tribe attacks them. They kill Saamu, one of Blake’s dogs, and then kidnap and imprison Blake, Manosh, Lana, and the surviving dog, Rita, in a Rubbletown dungeon infested with insects and vermin. The Kamishi must then escape from this horrible place if they are to survive, and if they hope to ever make it to the Warmland.
Excerpt
"Dawn. The sun’s first rays struck the thick branches of a maple tree, under which Blake was still sleeping. He barely moved as he lay on his side, his head resting by the trunk, his arms folded cozily in front of him, and his legs comfortably flexed halfway. The darkness gave way to an overall gray-blue tone, and the golden light began to spread. As the sun slowly ascended into the sky, its bright, reddish rim peeked over the horizon. Higher and higher it went, changing from red to orange as it lit up the grassy plain. The light soon roused Blake, and he began to stir. His eyelids fluttered open and he looked around. He sat up, squinted, gently rubbed his brown eyes, and stretched. A young man of twenty-two years, he was barefoot, but he wore a loincloth and the pelt of a pronghorn antelope to keep him warm. For a moment, he watched the blazing sun as it rose, transfixed by its steady glow and its silent power. His thoughts drifted far away to a legendary place of warmth and abundant food."
Professional Reviews
Book Review for Gaddy Bergmann' - Migration of the Kamishi by Michael Timlin
Gaddy Bergmann's Migration of the Kamishi is the first book of three in The Feral World series. Though this
book is set in the fifty‐first century, readers will be transported back to a time when mankind lived off the land
and didn't have the modern day conveniences we have come to know and take for granted in our everyday
lives. The people of this time have made a conscious choice to live this way so as not to become what the
inhabitants of this era consider ‘managers’. The managers are the populace of the twenty first century.
During this age of transition the people who live on the Earth after just barely surviving a hit by an asteroid
have formed together in tribes. Bergmann first introduces us to the Kamishi tribe who live in modern day’s
North America. The Kamishi tribe is only two hundred strong as are most of the tribes of this time. They are a
friendly and peaceful people who occupy one of the most sought after grounds for food and living conditions.
Good for the Kamishi it would seem until their neighbors the Ravashi determine to take control of their lands.
The Ravashi are a warring tribe and attack early in the book without a hint of warning. They annihilate
everyone in the Kamishi tribe except for Blake, the son of their chief and Manosh, Blake’s closest friend. The
only material item saved is their ‘Bebel’ given to them by their tribe’s elder who dies in their arms. The ‘Bebel’
is sacred and compares to our modern day’s Bible. Left alone after the massacre of their people Blake
determines they should make the journey to the Warmlands, but not until they rescue Blake's dogs from a
handful of Ravashi warriors.
After killing the Ravashi warriors Blake and Manosh set out on their journey to the Warmlands where they find
themselves crossing over into other occupied territories until they reach what is known as a ‘rubbletown’. A
‘rubbletown’ is a twenty‐first century city that has crumbled away to nothing. While they are there they find
themselves rescuing a young lady, Lana, from some dangerous men. Becoming the third member of the group
they move on and continue to migrate towards the Warmlands together facing peril and tribulations along the
way.
This was a pleasant read. Gaddy Bergmann has woven a leisurely tale that leaves you wondering the
impossible. It’s intermingled with action and adventures, quietude and contemplation while filling you with a
sense of wonder. Could this happen to our Earth? What if this really did happen, could the world of today
survive and would they choose to survive as they had before? A book I highly recommend for readers of all
genres as Bergmann’s book stands out on a sea of many bookshelves. Open your minds and go on a journey
with the Kamishi. You won't regret it.
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