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A review by vinayvasan
Adrift by W. Michael Gear
4.0
A 4.5 starrer. This is a terrific entry in the Donovan series. This is really SF horror done fabulously right.
Michael Gear peels the layers on Donovan further by focusing on a newer side of the planet like he did in the previous book - the ocean. And lo, Donovan doesnt disappoint. So far, we have seen our group of settlers achieve some sort of tenuous fragile equilibrium with Donovan. The 4th book showed a side of the land that indicated that they had barely scratched the surface. This book hammers that point down - no matter how prepared they are, the threats are simply beyond human thinking and the consequences rather severe.
A planned first outing to the ocean brings about inadvertently a new kind of threat. The kind of threat that has hidden under the ocean, away from sunlight, biding its time. A threat that is by an order of magnitude significantly intelligent than human beings. A threat that impacts kids. By far, this was the scariest, creepiest part of the book and also is the primary storyline/ threat of the book. The underwater nature of the habitat the scientists reside in coupled with their siege mentality borne out from their previous travails journeying to Donovan makes this an intensely claustrophobic horror read. In some of the best parts, it evokes movies like Alien and Life. Despite being told about Donovan, this group fails to anticipate how bad it could get and it makes for an uncomfortable read, esp given the target of the threat's attacks
Couple of other side stories find their way in - both of which look into the Donovan we have known before through the key characters of the previous books. Dek Taglioni spends most of the book trying to figure out who he is and how he fits in Donovan. He also has to contend with the alien symbiote within him trying to take control. He think he has changed, for the better and is unsure. All of this takes place even as Talina watches and waits - not knowing if he is an asset of a threat. The relationship growth between Dek and Taline felt entirely organic through the book and slightly unconventional as well
On the other end, Superior Kalico Aguila finds that the mines, that are so essential to the functioning of trade in Donovan, are as lethal and deadly resulting in risk to life. She also struggles with her feeling towards Dek given the debt she owes to the Taglioni's. She also struggles with her place in all of this - her past as a Supervisor, the power and influence that she wielded then to the situation now at Donovan, where she is a power and a leader but exposed and to an extent, addicted to the danger. Kalico's growth is another part where this series has matured (though the book itself takes time to remind how much she has changed - that was probably not needed to be called out so many times)
The side characters, each play their small but vital role and bring Donovan to life - etched in color and vibrant.
As a series, this has so far been fantastic - 4 terrific books and 1 dud (the 3rd book). The series has also evolved - initially the books had been about humans jockeying for what humans usually do to a greater focus on Donovan. However, while I do believe that the author can extend the series indefinitely, it would be good to know where all of this is heading. (Thats the half star being docked)
Michael Gear peels the layers on Donovan further by focusing on a newer side of the planet like he did in the previous book - the ocean. And lo, Donovan doesnt disappoint. So far, we have seen our group of settlers achieve some sort of tenuous fragile equilibrium with Donovan. The 4th book showed a side of the land that indicated that they had barely scratched the surface. This book hammers that point down - no matter how prepared they are, the threats are simply beyond human thinking and the consequences rather severe.
A planned first outing to the ocean brings about inadvertently a new kind of threat. The kind of threat that has hidden under the ocean, away from sunlight, biding its time. A threat that is by an order of magnitude significantly intelligent than human beings. A threat that impacts kids. By far, this was the scariest, creepiest part of the book and also is the primary storyline/ threat of the book. The underwater nature of the habitat the scientists reside in coupled with their siege mentality borne out from their previous travails journeying to Donovan makes this an intensely claustrophobic horror read. In some of the best parts, it evokes movies like Alien and Life. Despite being told about Donovan, this group fails to anticipate how bad it could get and it makes for an uncomfortable read, esp given the target of the threat's attacks
Couple of other side stories find their way in - both of which look into the Donovan we have known before through the key characters of the previous books. Dek Taglioni spends most of the book trying to figure out who he is and how he fits in Donovan. He also has to contend with the alien symbiote within him trying to take control. He think he has changed, for the better and is unsure. All of this takes place even as Talina watches and waits - not knowing if he is an asset of a threat. The relationship growth between Dek and Taline felt entirely organic through the book and slightly unconventional as well
On the other end, Superior Kalico Aguila finds that the mines, that are so essential to the functioning of trade in Donovan, are as lethal and deadly resulting in risk to life. She also struggles with her feeling towards Dek given the debt she owes to the Taglioni's. She also struggles with her place in all of this - her past as a Supervisor, the power and influence that she wielded then to the situation now at Donovan, where she is a power and a leader but exposed and to an extent, addicted to the danger. Kalico's growth is another part where this series has matured (though the book itself takes time to remind how much she has changed - that was probably not needed to be called out so many times)
The side characters, each play their small but vital role and bring Donovan to life - etched in color and vibrant.
As a series, this has so far been fantastic - 4 terrific books and 1 dud (the 3rd book). The series has also evolved - initially the books had been about humans jockeying for what humans usually do to a greater focus on Donovan. However, while I do believe that the author can extend the series indefinitely, it would be good to know where all of this is heading. (Thats the half star being docked)