People of the Dune (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781965278109)

In a tense showdown between corporate interests and community values, the fate of the Voyager Dune hangs in the balance. Mython Corporation's ambitious plans to extract the dune and replace it with a sprawling residential complex along one of North America's Great Lakes spark a grassroots movement of resistance. Led by local tribes, residents, and conservation groups, protesters gather at the base of the dune, forming an encampment to block the mining operation. Legal battles ensue, with Mython filing lawsuits to remove the encampment. Meanwhile, the tribes and concerned citizens rally under the banners of the Mound People Coalition and People of the Dune, seeking legal avenues to halt the destruction of this cherished landscape.

Amidst the legal wrangling, the weight of Judge Odom "Odie" Holmes's decision looms large. Despite his adherence to the principles of law, he grapples with the profound moral implications of his ruling. As the trial unfolds in his courtroom, the clash between property rights and the cultural and natural significance of the dune unfolds before him. When he ultimately upholds the law, permitting the removal of the dune to proceed, he finds himself haunted by doubt and introspection. Confronted by a haunting visitation on the eve of the mining operation, Judge Holmes is compelled to confront not only the fate of Voyager Dune but also the broader implications for humanity and the earth's commons. In a pivotal moment of reckoning, he must navigate the intersection of legal duty and ethical responsibility, grappling with the profound consequences of his decision for both the people involved and the fragile balance of the earth itself.