The Transall Saga

“The inside of the tube contained myriad surging colors: reds, blues, and yellows. It was like watching a spectacular laser light show being performed just for him.”

Mark comes across a tube of light in the desert. The strangeness of the light alludes to its origins, as it will transport Mark to the world of Transall for four years. His struggle to either find his way back home or establish a new home (as per the theme of Creating a Safe Home in an Adversarial Setting) starts here.

“He took two steps and found himself in gooey red mud up to his knees. He tried to climb out but every time he moved, it sucked him down. Quicksand.”

Mark faces many challenges when he arrives on Transall—including dangerous animals and quicksand. The overall danger of Mark’s situation is symbolized by the quicksand: He must quickly draw on his knowledge of survival (and learn on the go) in order to navigate Transall.

“The monkey-bear waddled over, picked up the rock, inserted one of its razor-sharp claws in the middle and easily broke it open.”

Mark’s friendly interaction with Willie the monkey-bear foreshadows future interactions in which he must identify potential friends and foes—a recurring theme in the novel. Willie and his friends initially throw tree rocks at Mark, but later, Willie assists him in accessing the liquid and meat within the tree rocks.

“The tube of light. Of course—he had to find it again. It was his way back to Earth and home.”

Mark acts the part of a classic hero, motivated by a challenging quest. Mark’s quest in the four years he spends on Transall (until he gives up hope and decides to marry Megaan) is to rediscover the tube of blue light—which proves easier said than done.

“Mark had chosen this particular tree because it had two strong limbs that forked into a perfect V. For the better part of the morning he had been hauling dead branches to his tree and arranging them across the two limbs to form a floor.”

Mark creates a base for himself by constructing a tree house out of the reach of a fierce buffalo-like creature. His effort to create a safe home in the adversarial land of Transall is a recurring theme—Creating a Safe Home in an Adversarial Setting—and also illustrates his reliance on Survivalist Intuition and Courage.

“Life was simple. Find food, scout the countryside, try to make new things and sleep.”

Mark has always yearned for a life of adventure. His wish is fulfilled in a dramatic way when he is transported to Transall. Although Mark is homesick, lonely, and oftentimes hungry or injured, he finds a certain spiritual and emotional peace in his simple lifestyle—which is centered on eating, scouting, constructing simple tools, and sleeping.

“Finding the arrow changed everything. It meant that he was not alone in this place.”

Upon finding an arrow, Mark deduces that there are other intelligent species on Transall. His goal shifts from merely keeping himself alive to finding these mysterious people. This plot point leads to Mark joining the arrow people and then being taken by the Tsook. Discoveries like the arrow heighten the novel’s suspense.

“When it had lunged for him, Mark had instinctively raised the spear. The sharp point had gone through the animal’s heart, killing it instantly.”

Mark manages to save Leeta by killing the wolf-like Howling Thing, portraying his Survivalist Courage and Intuition. This is an important act, as it establishes Mark as a courageous and skilled warrior to Leeta’s tribe, the arrow people. It also gives him confidence in his own abilities. He wears a necklace made of the claws of the Howling Thing, a reminder of his victory.

“None of this made sense. If he was a prisoner, why would they let him keep his weapons?”

A recurring theme in the novel is Discovering Friends and Foes. However, differentiating between the two proves difficult. The arrow people knock Mark unconscious, but then allow him to wander their village. Mark sees the arrow people as friends at this point, but is forced to question his judgment upon witnessing their unnecessary raid on a neighboring village.

“Leeta hung back. When they were all gone she pointed at him. ‘Mawk.’ Then she indicated herself. ‘Lee-ta.’”

Despite the pair’s language barrier, Leeta and Mark manage to communicate in their respective languages. At this point, Mark’s friendship with Leeta is his most consistent relationship on Transall; it carries over to their time in the Tsook town, as the two often worry about each other once separated.

“They had wiped out a whole village as if it was a huge game. In the morning he would go back to his tree house and live alone in the dark jungle.”

Mark’s disgust at the arrow people’s attack on a nearby village characterizes him as a principled person. This revelation alludes to the theme of Creating a Safe Home in an Adversarial Environment: It is important for Mark to live in a place that aligns with his morals and practices. For the same reason, Mark initially doesn’t feel at home in the Tsook town, where he is kept enslaved.

“Dagon’s second in command, a surly bearded man called Sarbo, angrily drew his sword and threatened to drive it into Mark’s chest for daring to speak to the leader.”

Discovering Friends and Foes remains a recurring theme. Sarbo is initially characterized as adversarial, but later becomes a loyal friend to Mark who risks his life to help him on his quest. Sarbo’s actions in this quote also illustrate the cruel way the Tsook treat those they enslave, whom they consider “nonpeople” unworthy of respect.

“‘Stop!’ Mark yelled in Tsook. He stepped between her and the man.”

Sarbo attempts to kill Leeta when she cuts her foot, as this will slow the Tsook’s pace. Mark steps in front of Leeta to protect her from the executioner. This speaks to Mark and Leeta’s friendship, which will persist throughout the novel. It also illustrates Mark’s principled nature: He acts the part of a classic hero who advocates for those who are powerless.

“Even Megaan and her superior ways didn’t deserve to be dinner for the Rawhaz. He had to go back.”

After escaping, Mark sees a Rawhaz tribe moving to attack the Tsook town. Mark risks enslavement or even death to warn the town of the attack. This speaks to his principled nature, his desire to protect life whenever possible. Mark’s decision also results in him being freed and inducted as a Tsook warrior, which improves his quality of life significantly.

“Megaan rolled her eyes in exasperation. ‘He told the people that you are brave and risked your life for us. Because of what you have done, he says you are no longer a nonperson. You are an equal.’”

Megaan tells Mark that her father Dagon has decided that he will be freed and become a member of the Tsook community, rather than enslaved. The girl’s exasperated delivery illustrates her and Mark’s current relationship—which will evolve as per the enemies-to-lovers trope.

“‘A friend is coming with us. I hope that is all right.’ The Merkon stiffened. ‘It is unnecessary. My men will see to your every need.’”

The Merkon’s reluctance at Sarbo’s attendance on his men’s trip to Trisad (the home of a shaman) hints at his sinister motives: He plans to stage an ambush on his own men to kill Mark, whom he feels threatened by. Furthermore, this hints at the Merkon having a similar background to Mark: He knows about the blue light because he, too, was transported from Mark’s time, his version of Earth.

“So many died that the bodies were piled up and there was no one left to sing the songs. When the blood sick came to this land it spread like a fire. No one was safe.”

The “shaman” in Trisad, Pet, gives a confusing spiel about a time of sickness and death. Although it doesn’t make sense to Mark (or the reader) at the time, Mark later learns from the Merkon that an Ebola virus spread and killed millions, and was followed by nuclear war, years ago—leading to Earth becoming Transall. This foreshadows Mark’s later discovery that he is still on Earth, not another planet.

“‘Why do we not go?’

‘I will not leave Sarbo.’”

Yonk beseeches Mark to leave the Samatin camp while they have the chance, but Mark risks his life to venture further into the camp to rescue his friend Sarbo. Again, this illustrates Mark’s principles: He helps those in need and is loyal to his friends, even a man who was once a foe.

“I am not from Transall. I am from your time. Or at least close to it.”

The Merkon is illuminated when he explains that he, too, was transported by the tube of blue light from Earth to Transall (a future Earth). He feels threatened by Mark’s knowledge and intelligence, and plans to kill him. Despite their similar backgrounds, Mark and the Merkon are foils; while the former is selfless and seeks to protect, the latter is selfish and enjoys exercising power over others.

“Scientists tried everything but they couldn’t find a cure. It swept over the world, killing at least seventy percent of the population. The infrastructure broke down, whole countries were virtually depopulated and for several generations the virus kept the population so low there could be no progress [...] When major powers like the United States began to crumble, the nuclear weapons were taken over by terrorists who shot them off at will. Everything on Earth underwent a tremendous chemical change and over the next two thousand years only the strongest of any species survived.”

The Merkon explains the history of Transall, a version of Earth devastated by a deadly virus and nuclear war. This revelation informs Mark’s life’s work when he returns to his own time: A classic hero, Mark tries to save humanity from Transall’s fate by working on cures for the Ebola virus.

“Before I kill you, Kakon, you should know that you never would have found the light. It strikes where it wants, randomly. There is no predictable pattern.”

Mark’s heroic quest has centered on rediscovering the blue light to return to his own time. However, the Merkon reveals the futility of this quest. Mark must reassess his life’s purpose after this conversation, ultimately deciding to invest in his life on Transall.

“Life in this world wasn’t so bad. He did what he wanted and went where he pleased. He was a Tsook warrior and in a few months he would have a wife. They could start a family.”

Mark accepts that he will never return to his own time. He turns his attention to creating a happy life with Megaan as a Tsook warrior. His engagement to Megaan symbolizes his future on Transall; he is satisfied with his prospects despite abandoning his quest.

“Lightning struck the boulder, sending balls of electricity shooting in all directions. A tube of blue light enveloped Mark and brutally shook his body. He could feel himself falling. [...] A small boy stepped out of the crowd. ‘Mister, do you need a doctor? I think there’s one here in the mall.’ Mark pulled the arrow out of the fleshy part of his arm. There was no wound. He looked up at the people. The little boy had spoken to him in English. This was his time. His world. The blue light had brought him back.”

Ironically, Mark rediscovers the tube of blue light and is transported back to his own time when he has given up all hope of doing so. Although the reader is positioned to feel disappointment for Mark’s community at his abrupt disappearance (especially Leeta, Sarbo, and Megaan), the plot itself reaches a satisfying, circular conclusion—in which returning to Transall’s jungle (where he was first transported) sees him home. The sudden end to his relationship with Megaan symbolizes a general loss of loved ones that may very well repeat itself in the face of Earth’s future.