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jmoses's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not quite sure about this book. Parts of it were interesting, but it felt like the story never fully condensed for me. Not sure if I'm on board for the next entry in the series.
lyrareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I don't read a lot of Sci-fi, but heard good things about this book. I enjoyed it enough that I suspect I'll read more in this series.
kltemplado's review against another edition
4.0
Lots of action, reminiscent of Firefly in some ways. A really good, fast, read.
mjwerts's review against another edition
5.0
This review is based on a copy of "The Darwin Elevator" that I received for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Part dystopian survival story, part science fiction thriller, part mystery, this debut novel hooked me early by creating a fully realized world inhabited by a motley crew of heroes and some despicable foes. Swiveling between multiple viewpoints, the novel introduces an ensemble cast of memorable personalities, who are all engaged in surviving a future in which the human population has been decimated by an alien disease and whose only salvation is alien technology that supports life in orbit.
Hough does an excellent job of invoking the gritty, harsh life on Earth in contrast to the sterile world of life in orbit, while keeping up a steady, action-driven plot. While none of the elements in "The Darwin Elevator" are novel, the way they are intertwined felt fresh, and I can't wait to continue the story in "The Exodus Towers."
Part dystopian survival story, part science fiction thriller, part mystery, this debut novel hooked me early by creating a fully realized world inhabited by a motley crew of heroes and some despicable foes. Swiveling between multiple viewpoints, the novel introduces an ensemble cast of memorable personalities, who are all engaged in surviving a future in which the human population has been decimated by an alien disease and whose only salvation is alien technology that supports life in orbit.
Hough does an excellent job of invoking the gritty, harsh life on Earth in contrast to the sterile world of life in orbit, while keeping up a steady, action-driven plot. While none of the elements in "The Darwin Elevator" are novel, the way they are intertwined felt fresh, and I can't wait to continue the story in "The Exodus Towers."
ericbuscemi's review against another edition
4.0
This book was brought to my attention by author [a:Kevin Hearne|4414255|Kevin Hearne|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1289238438p2/4414255.jpg], who blogged about it thusly:
This is a good thing, though, because while that remains my favorite show of Whedon's, I prefer not to read rehashed fan-fiction with a cheap name-swapping veneer , a la [b:Fifty Shades of Grey|10818853|Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)|E.L. James|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1372516342s/10818853.jpg|15732562]. In fact, if I am jonesing for Firefly fan-fiction, I'll pick up well-respected SF author [a:Steven Brust's|27704|Steven Brust|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1361579656p2/27704.jpg] failed media tie-in, [b:My Own Kind of Freedom|2788448|My Own Kind of Freedom A Firefly Novel|Steven Brust|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1365193577s/2788448.jpg|2814215]. But I am getting way off topic here.
The story itself begins with a world decimated by an alien plague, which created the zombie like sub-humans, or subs. However, the plague was not the first contact of the aliens -- that would be the Darwin elevator, an alien cord dropped from space into Darwin, Australia. Being in its proximity grants reprieve from the plague, leaving the tattered remains of humanity trapped in its shadow. That is, except for plague immunes, like protagonist Skyler Luiken (is this a Luke Skywalker anagram?) and his crew, who are immune to the plague virus and free to leave the confines of the aura and scavenge supplies for the paying populous of Darwin.
Needless to say, even with this bleak, post-apocalyptic introduction, things only get worse for the Big Damn Heroes from this point. Confrontations with the warden of Nightcliff, who is tasked with protecting the Darwin elevator but is more concerned with grabbing power wherever possible, and Neil Plattz, the industrialist whose company harnessed the cord to create an array of space stations on it, are only the beginning.
The book's breakneck pace had me reading it in large chunks, and I'd highly recommend it for anyone that likes action-oriented, adventure paced sci-fi. I'm looking forward to starting the second book in the trilogy, [b:The Exodus Towers|17288868|The Exodus Towers (Dire Earth Cycle, #2)|Jason M. Hough|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1363264984s/17288868.jpg|23858943].
Jason’s the next big thing in sci-fi, folks. The publisher says his books are like Firefly meets Scalzi. Here’s what I say, because I blurbed him: "The best part about alien stories is their mystery, and Jason M. Hough understands that like no other. Full of compelling characters and thick with tension, THE DARWIN ELEVATOR delivers both despair and hope along with a gigantic dose of wonder. It’s a brilliant debut and Hough can take my money whenever he writes anything from now on."The publisher's comparison to Firefly makes me wonder if they read the whole book, because while in the beginning I was seeing the same thing with the scavenger crew of plague immunes -- Skyler is Mal, Samantha is Zoe, Jake is Jayne, etc. -- halfway through the book, certain events that I will not spoil here eliminate any further chance of comparisons to the show.
This is a good thing, though, because while that remains my favorite show of Whedon's, I prefer not to read rehashed fan-fiction with a cheap name-swapping veneer , a la [b:Fifty Shades of Grey|10818853|Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)|E.L. James|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1372516342s/10818853.jpg|15732562]. In fact, if I am jonesing for Firefly fan-fiction, I'll pick up well-respected SF author [a:Steven Brust's|27704|Steven Brust|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1361579656p2/27704.jpg] failed media tie-in, [b:My Own Kind of Freedom|2788448|My Own Kind of Freedom A Firefly Novel|Steven Brust|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1365193577s/2788448.jpg|2814215]. But I am getting way off topic here.
The story itself begins with a world decimated by an alien plague, which created the zombie like sub-humans, or subs. However, the plague was not the first contact of the aliens -- that would be the Darwin elevator, an alien cord dropped from space into Darwin, Australia. Being in its proximity grants reprieve from the plague, leaving the tattered remains of humanity trapped in its shadow. That is, except for plague immunes, like protagonist Skyler Luiken (is this a Luke Skywalker anagram?) and his crew, who are immune to the plague virus and free to leave the confines of the aura and scavenge supplies for the paying populous of Darwin.
Needless to say, even with this bleak, post-apocalyptic introduction, things only get worse for the Big Damn Heroes from this point. Confrontations with the warden of Nightcliff, who is tasked with protecting the Darwin elevator but is more concerned with grabbing power wherever possible, and Neil Plattz, the industrialist whose company harnessed the cord to create an array of space stations on it, are only the beginning.
The book's breakneck pace had me reading it in large chunks, and I'd highly recommend it for anyone that likes action-oriented, adventure paced sci-fi. I'm looking forward to starting the second book in the trilogy, [b:The Exodus Towers|17288868|The Exodus Towers (Dire Earth Cycle, #2)|Jason M. Hough|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1363264984s/17288868.jpg|23858943].
pjwhyman's review against another edition
4.0
One of those times where I wish Goodreads did half-stars - almost very good (3.5 stars).
Good ideas, reasonably well written, and a good effort to avoid the Mary Sue trope.
I read one of the authors later novellas before reading this, and I suspect practice is making "perfecter".
I'll read the sequel.
Good ideas, reasonably well written, and a good effort to avoid the Mary Sue trope.
I read one of the authors later novellas before reading this, and I suspect practice is making "perfecter".
I'll read the sequel.
weweresotired's review against another edition
3.0
See more reviews at The Best Books Ever!
The Darwin Elevator is definitely a book which leaves you asking questions and wanting to know more about what happens next. The first book in a planned trilogy, there's just enough worldbuilding to get you settled, but there are still plenty of open ends left for the reader -- and the main characters.
The story follows Skyler, a ship captain and leader of a team of scavengers who travel to dangerous places to retrieve items for paying customers, or for resale on the black market. Darwin, Australia is the last inhabitable place on earth, thanks to an alien disease called SUBS that turned most humans on Earth into zombie-like creatures. There are strange things going along with Darwin's space elevator, which has allowed for people to live in orbit, with trade going back and forth between Earth and the space settlement, and Skyler and his crew unwittingly get dragged into the drama.
Skyler is an interesting choice for a lead. He's not your typical macho military dude type -- he's a bit downtrodden, given how crappy life is in Darwin, and he's pretty low down in the city's hierarchy as it is. He's a leader of a team but lacks a lot of confidence to lead them in the best way. Sure, he's kind of a badass, but I liked the fact that he was allowed to show weakness. I would have been interested in learning more of his backstory, which we only get hints at, to help see what drives him. Was he always like this, or was there some sort of traumatic event in the recent past that shook his confidence?
I also wish we got to see more of the supporting characters, which were almost universally a class of kick-butt women: Skyler's second in command Samantha; Tania and her assistant Natalie; and Kelly, who does some very special covert work aboard one of the space stations. They're all strong, capable characters who, with the exception of Tania, don't get fleshed out very much. I found them far more interesting than Russell Blackfield, the main bad guy who is basically has a huge ego and is a huge douchebag. I spent most of the book waiting for him to get what's coming to him, I disliked him that much.
There are a lot of different plotlines going on in this story: political/military corruption going on down in Darwin; the malfunctioning of the elevator; rivalries and tensions between the citizens of Darwin and the people who live up in orbit; and the discoveries that scientist Tania Sharma makes about the Elevator and its origins. As a result, there are a lot of moving parts and dynamics to keep track of, which sometimes made the plot a bit cumbersome. It's not a bad thing, I just found myself needing reminders sometimes of who was on what side, things like that.
Also, being a trilogy, there are a lot of loose ends. I mean, the book works okay as a stand-alone, but if you want to know the answers to the overarching questions of the book's mythology -- who built the elevator? how is it connected to SUBS? what will happen next? -- you'll have to stick around for the next two books.
It is heavy on the action and light on the romance, although there are some hints of it between Skyler and Tania. There is some violence, a lot of cursing, and some sexual situations, so I would recommend this for older teens and up.
The Darwin Elevator is definitely a book which leaves you asking questions and wanting to know more about what happens next. The first book in a planned trilogy, there's just enough worldbuilding to get you settled, but there are still plenty of open ends left for the reader -- and the main characters.
The story follows Skyler, a ship captain and leader of a team of scavengers who travel to dangerous places to retrieve items for paying customers, or for resale on the black market. Darwin, Australia is the last inhabitable place on earth, thanks to an alien disease called SUBS that turned most humans on Earth into zombie-like creatures. There are strange things going along with Darwin's space elevator, which has allowed for people to live in orbit, with trade going back and forth between Earth and the space settlement, and Skyler and his crew unwittingly get dragged into the drama.
Skyler is an interesting choice for a lead. He's not your typical macho military dude type -- he's a bit downtrodden, given how crappy life is in Darwin, and he's pretty low down in the city's hierarchy as it is. He's a leader of a team but lacks a lot of confidence to lead them in the best way. Sure, he's kind of a badass, but I liked the fact that he was allowed to show weakness. I would have been interested in learning more of his backstory, which we only get hints at, to help see what drives him. Was he always like this, or was there some sort of traumatic event in the recent past that shook his confidence?
I also wish we got to see more of the supporting characters, which were almost universally a class of kick-butt women: Skyler's second in command Samantha; Tania and her assistant Natalie; and Kelly, who does some very special covert work aboard one of the space stations. They're all strong, capable characters who, with the exception of Tania, don't get fleshed out very much. I found them far more interesting than Russell Blackfield, the main bad guy who is basically has a huge ego and is a huge douchebag. I spent most of the book waiting for him to get what's coming to him, I disliked him that much.
There are a lot of different plotlines going on in this story: political/military corruption going on down in Darwin; the malfunctioning of the elevator; rivalries and tensions between the citizens of Darwin and the people who live up in orbit; and the discoveries that scientist Tania Sharma makes about the Elevator and its origins. As a result, there are a lot of moving parts and dynamics to keep track of, which sometimes made the plot a bit cumbersome. It's not a bad thing, I just found myself needing reminders sometimes of who was on what side, things like that.
Also, being a trilogy, there are a lot of loose ends. I mean, the book works okay as a stand-alone, but if you want to know the answers to the overarching questions of the book's mythology -- who built the elevator? how is it connected to SUBS? what will happen next? -- you'll have to stick around for the next two books.
It is heavy on the action and light on the romance, although there are some hints of it between Skyler and Tania. There is some violence, a lot of cursing, and some sexual situations, so I would recommend this for older teens and up.
breenmachine's review against another edition
3.0
Page turner, innovative story line, fun characters.
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
Holey CATZ!! Just finished this today and I need a nap! I am exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. I stayed up late or walked another mile on the treadmill just for more time with Skyler and his scavengers and the rest of the characters in this dystopian/post-apocalyptic world.
I had a feeling of stepping into a combo world of 'Firefly' and 'World War Z' and 'Elysium'. A very exciting combo. *whoosh*
Darwin, Australia is the only place safe due to a shield known as the Aura. A rough place to live unless you are in power. Or can escape to space where the food is grown and scientists are studying a way forward.
Skyler and his band of scavengers are immune to the virus that has spread worldwide. It's a virus turning victims to what's known as Subs or Subhumans. Only knowing that they want to kill.
The immunity allows Skyler and the scavengers to leave the 'safety' of the Aura and fly outside for needed parts and supplies. This makes them a very valuable commodity.
Action-packed thrill-ride and I loved every minute of it. There are characters to cheer for, villains to hate, grey area characters to not know which way to feel.....
I love finding new authors, especially as talented as Jason M Hough.
Off to upload the next in the Cycle!!
I had a feeling of stepping into a combo world of 'Firefly' and 'World War Z' and 'Elysium'. A very exciting combo. *whoosh*
Darwin, Australia is the only place safe due to a shield known as the Aura. A rough place to live unless you are in power. Or can escape to space where the food is grown and scientists are studying a way forward.
Skyler and his band of scavengers are immune to the virus that has spread worldwide. It's a virus turning victims to what's known as Subs or Subhumans. Only knowing that they want to kill.
The immunity allows Skyler and the scavengers to leave the 'safety' of the Aura and fly outside for needed parts and supplies. This makes them a very valuable commodity.
Action-packed thrill-ride and I loved every minute of it. There are characters to cheer for, villains to hate, grey area characters to not know which way to feel.....
I love finding new authors, especially as talented as Jason M Hough.
Off to upload the next in the Cycle!!