If you like science fiction and adventure ~ Go buy this book!
The Darwin Elevator is the first of three exciting science fiction novels from Jason M. Hough (the series does need to be read in order). It's rare to find science fiction that, for me, hit all the right notes.
My expectations were exceeded! It hit the New York Times bestseller list at #24, right up there with World War Z and Nicholas Sparks.
I was hooked from the very start by the premise, the characters, the style. It included all my favourite themes of great SciFi, with multiple story lines, inventive plotting, and mysterious unseen aliens.
I've seen it correctly described as a cross between Arthur C. Clarke and Josh Whedon's Firefly series, twisted up with Contact.
In the late 23rd century, a massive alien ship hovers in space over Darwin, Australia before embedding a fine metal line into the Earth below. The ship is an empty shell and the aliens become known as the Builders. Over time, space platforms are built and attached to the line with cargo elevators shuttling air and water up, and the food grown on these agricultural platforms down to Earth.
Darwin is the last human city left on Earth. Shortly after the line is attached, the world succumbs to a mysterious plague which turns people into wild, animalistic creatures - strong, fast, and hell bent on attack. The only safe place is within the Aura, an invisible plague-supressing dome around the base of the elevator.
Skyler Luiken is one of the rare immunes to the disease. His international team of scavengers work the underground, moving through infected areas to collect parts and supplies needed for the space stations, or the base camp Nightcliff. The action and humour quickly attached me to each of Skyler's team, and I thought the novel would be about their continuing adventures. Not so! Jason has no problem killing off characters, even depriving Skyler of their ship, the Melville. It constantly surprised me.
Meanwhile, the industry which controls the elevator, stations, and even purified water production is working a secret plan with head scientist Tania Sharma to discover more about the Builders future plans. Tania hooks up with Skyler to venture out to a secret lab in Hawaii where they meet the full force of the Sub Human population. His vivid descriptions of the action kept me turning the pages and literally sitting on the edge of the couch. The constant encounters with the SUBS throughout the novels were pulse-pounding and you really never knew what was going to happen.
I can't do justice to the whole plot in this review, the novel is far to intricate and fascinating.
If you are still interested in this review, just go get the book. You'll be glad you did!
There is a power struggle within the council controlling the elevator, a dictatorial head of the Nightcliff base camp, sabotage, spies, camaraderie, bloodthirsty subhumans attacking whenever they can, and constant action rolling the novel forward.
Jason gives you just enough information, not everything needs to be explained, and the political and technical aspects never stop or drag the momentum. The chapters alternate between the base camp, Skyler, Tania, Neil - each chapter packed with action and intrigue, leaving you hanging. While I am sometimes disappointed when I have to wait before finding out what happens next, not with these novels. There are multiple characters and each have their own exciting storyline. I could have read a novel about each one of them!
On top of all this action is the central mystery of the Builders and why they have sent the ship to Earth. As the stories progress, there is malfunction in the elevator line, signalling a possible change event from the Builders, and the arrival of another Builder ship.
I haven't enjoyed a science fiction novel like this in a long time. This had the technical aspect of SciFi I go for (as in 2001), the political side like Ben Bova's novels, the mysterious unknown alien ship like Richard Russo's Ship of Fools, twisted up with Blade Runner and Elysium. Yes, The Darwin Elevator echoes other science fiction - but - reinvigorated in a fresh new way with though provoking writing that is never derivative. This is the kind of book you keep reading in the kitchen while making dinner, in the bathroom, and well past midnight. Couldn't put it down.
About a third of the way into the novel I was so impressed, I had to stop reading and check out online who Jason M. Hough was. He has an official website, and a blog, and started writing the series as a NaNoWriMo project in 2008. I sent him a message saying how much I loved the book, and then he wrote me back! I can see from his website and his recent author events he loves his readers.
For fans of all types of science fiction and adventure, I highly recommend The Darwin Elevator. How this isn't a movie by now I don't know. This novel has it all and I was hyped to begin the next in the series, The Exodus Towers.
2013 / Paperback / 480 pages
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