The Second World

By Jake Korell

Book Overview

"Korell's tale, which spans a couple of decades, is quintessential satire... There is much gleefully silly humor...and sound worldbuilding." -Kirkus Reviews

Founding fathers. Fathers. Daddy issues.

Welcome to Mars.

Mars has declared its independence from Earth. But building a country takes more than a new flag, an arena-worthy anthem, and naming Pluto the donkey the national animal. As the Red Planet spirals into political upheaval, Flip Buchanan-the irreverent, reluctant son of the most powerful man on Mars-stumbles through two tumultuous decades of alien discoveries, killer clones, and the chaos of a new nation still working out the kinks.

Always second-best in a family obsessed with being first, Flip must grapple with the absurdity of Martian society and the gravity of legacy to step out of his father's shadow and define self-worth on his own terms-a feat that can feel as impossible as climbing Olympus Mons.

Equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, The Second World navigates found family, generational divides, and the outrageous struggle to make your finite life matter in an infinite universe-with poignant reflections on power, sensationalized media, and fractured culture.

For fans of Andy Weir and Kurt Vonnegut, this satirical coming-of-age space epic blends sharp wit, surprising emotional depth, and bold worldbuilding.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FV95TQGX
• ISBN13: 9798999639004
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Jk Lawlz LLC
• Length: 422 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Readable

3.50 Stars, Readable THE SECOND WORLD By Jake Korell This is a readable coming of age story, told in first person by a boy nicknamed Flip-Flop. I found that it was an interesting story of Flip-Flop's life on Mars, living under a dome. There were several things I didn't care for, the twist on common names for places, but giving it a "Mars" twist. Some people may like that, I like it when the author makes up new names; God is never capitalized; there were many emphatic religious profanities. It could have been a great story, if not for those few things. Freckle, Flip-Flop, and Pluto are my favorite characters. I received a complimentary copy from #LibraryThing #BooksForward @JakeKorell I was not obligated to post a review. I also received a wonderful swag package along with the book. I was pleasantly surprised. #scifi #space #Mars #humor #fiction