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[/amazon_link]Title : The Darwin Elevator
Author : Jason M. Hough
Genre : Sci-fi
Publisher : Del Rey
Pages : 496
Source : Netgalley/Publisher ARC
Rating : 4/5
In the first novel of a trilogy, Hough builds a futuristic, dystopian 23rd century world. Skyler Lukien is a space-age scavenger, setting off on his missions from his home base in Darwin Australia. Darwin is also home to the Darwin Elevator, a relic left by aliens (called Builders). After the arrival of the Elevator, humans on earth have been beset with the SUBS disease, which reduces humans to an animal-like, sub-human state. The Elevator’s “Aura” seems to provide immunity from the disease and so the Darwin area is now home to the remnants of humanity. The Elevator is the mode of commerce between earthlings and the Orbitals – humans stationed in space stations, located off of the Elevator.
The Elevator starts having power outages, and it’s Aura seems to be less powerful in keeping SUBS at bay. Tania Sharma, an Orbital scientist has a theory about this, and mentor and rich scientific industrialist Neil Platz promises to help her get data to prove this theory. Russell Blackfield, the commander of Nightcliff, the Elevator port on earth, resents Platz’s power and wants it for himself. As Russell jockeys for power against Platz, Tania and Skyler, who is brought in to scavenge for Tania’s data, might just end up as collateral damage.
Hough has an interesting cast of characters. While Skyler is not the perfect commander he is good and brave, and ready to risk his life to see his crew safe. He is the underdog, small fry on Darwin, subject to the whims of the arrogant, aggressive NightCliff Commander. This intrepid “SUBS-immune”explorer is supported by his crew of “immunes” – Angus his pilot in training, Jake his sniper, Takai his engineer and Samantha – the lone woman of the crew-members.
Tania Sharma is a rare character in sci-fi; she is of Indian descent. Her mother Prathima was a famed Mumbai beauty (which makes me want to roll my eyes a tad) and her father Sandeep a scientist and close friend of Platz’s. After their death Platz is her guardian and mentor. Tania has grown up to be an intelligent scientist, and a gorgeous beauty – so beautiful in fact, that when Skyler and his crew first set eyes on her they can’t help but stare. There are also other Indian names sprinkled around in the book; there is a Renuka – an old woman who runs a coffeeshop, and Ramesh, a random soldier.
Hough describes this plague-ridden world very well, and gives us a look-see into the lives of humans on earth and those of the privileged Orbitals. Resources are few, and the poor live a life of misery. The quick-witted scavenge and barter; even things like Top Ramen and coffee are prized possessions. The relatively well-off live in garden-topped buildings, while a precious few get to go live in the sanitized environments of the orbiting space-stations.
This novel got off to an action-packed start with a scavenging mission, and Hough keeps up the suspense. Skyler’s forays into SUBS territory are well described – I had my heart in my mouth, hoping the crew would be safe. The book did drag a bit in the middle when we get too caught up in procedural descriptions, but goes back to being action-oriented in the latter half. For a debut, “The Darwin Elevator” is structured and plotted beautifully – there is the mystery of the Elevator, its enigmatic creators and the scheming, hungry-for-power humans, to keep things interesting. And there is a hero worth rooting for.
The great new sci-fi novel is hard to write, but Hough succeeds with this one. Recommended.
