The Second World

De: Jake Korell

Narrado por: Ted Evans

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.

©2026 Jake Korell (P)2026 Jake Korell

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Brimming with humorous descriptions...flush with a variety of turning points, the story moves with speed through action scenes and lighthearted, entertaining ones." -Foreword Clarion Reviews

I Laughed, I Cried… and Now I Want to Go to Mars

The Second World is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read.

The creativity in this story is unreal. I genuinely want to sit down with the author and ask, how did your brain even come up with this? It’s imaginative, hilarious, touching, and completely original.

I listened to the audiobook while I was at work—which was probably a mistake—because I caught myself laughing out loud and even tearing up a few times. Definitely not the most professional moment in front of coworkers… but honestly, totally worth it.

The narration really escalates this experience. It feels like you’re actually there on Mars, living through the story with the characters.

And the ending? Perfect. Truly perfect. The kind of ending that feels complete but still leaves you wanting more.

I need this to become a TV series or a movie because I know my imagination isn’t even doing half justice to the world the author created.

If a trip to Mars looked anything like this… I’d sign up tomorrow.

I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone. It’s funny, heartfelt, wildly creative, and one of those rare stories that sticks with you long after you finish it.

Outstanding

What a good time! The consistent humor, relationships between characters, and political machinations were SO GOOD! This is unlike any story I have ever read and I can’t wait to recommend it! There’s nothing I love more than a book that feels so singular and unique that I don’t know what to comp it to 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 originality is a 10/10!

falls flat.

I was only able to listen to half the book. This was recommended because it was supposed to have funny moments like project Hail Mary and the Bobiverse. I waited and got nothing like that. I found the comedy in the book to fall flat.