It's time for another scifi read...and that with dystopian flair. I saw the cover and knew I had to take a look at this one. The cover, I think, screams danger and seems to fit well with this week's creepy, scary thoughts. Although I'm pretty sure this read isn't horror, I'm still looking forward to the danger and action, which it appears are held in these pages. It involves a lab-grown hybrid as the main character and takes place somewhere out in the broader universe.
So, let's sit down and see what this book holds.
THE INTERGALACTICS
by Erik Jon Slangerup
Aladdin
Middle Grade Science Fiction
336 pages
ages 8 to 12
A mutant boy questions the truth of his existence after crash-landing far from everything he knows in this fast-paced, action-packed middle grade sci-fi adventure perfect for fans of The Last Kids on Earth.
Brinx wasn’t born. He was created.
As one of the gene-spliced, vat-grown experiments living on Base Lab 9, Brinx’s existence has always been focused on one surviving the tests forced on him by his creators, with the goal of one day reaching the Graduation Center. Brinx doesn’t know what awaits him there—and it’s not like anyone ever comes back to tell—but it must be better than Base Lab 9.
When Brinx narrowly survives his final test, he boards the armored transport vessel en route to the Center along with the other graduates, including his best friend, Jang—only to have the vessel downed by a meteor shower. Now Brinx, who’s stranded with a handful of other survivors, has to stay alive in an uncharted region of their planet that’s teeming with monstrous flora and fauna, all while trying to find Jang, who’s among the missing—or worse.
Brinx wasn’t born. He was created.
As one of the gene-spliced, vat-grown experiments living on Base Lab 9, Brinx’s existence has always been focused on one surviving the tests forced on him by his creators, with the goal of one day reaching the Graduation Center. Brinx doesn’t know what awaits him there—and it’s not like anyone ever comes back to tell—but it must be better than Base Lab 9.
When Brinx narrowly survives his final test, he boards the armored transport vessel en route to the Center along with the other graduates, including his best friend, Jang—only to have the vessel downed by a meteor shower. Now Brinx, who’s stranded with a handful of other survivors, has to stay alive in an uncharted region of their planet that’s teeming with monstrous flora and fauna, all while trying to find Jang, who’s among the missing—or worse.
MY TIDBITS
Get ready for action and tension because these pages keep that coming the entire way through with little room for breath in between.
Brinx was created in a lab as part of an ongoing, huge project to form ultimate hybrid survival beings. All sorts of hybrids. The goal is to survive 1000 deadly tests. Brinx's life is dismal, to say the least, but he has found a beam of light in a fellow hybrid as a best friend. Together, the two graduate and are sent off to take on their new roles, but underway, their transport ship is hit with meteors and crash lands on a planet, where everything is out to get them. Brinx and his friend are separated during the crash, but a few other hybrids have survived, and Brinx bands together with them to figure out what to do and, maybe, find his friend as well. Surviving is almost impossible as everything is completely unknown and nothing intends to let them live. But the biggest surprise comes when they discover a hidden society beneath the surface and learn that there is more to life than they thought.
Anyone who enjoys action, danger, survival, and original worlds is going to devour this read. The author heads off into the far corners of the universe, where nothing resembles Earth. Even the characters carry unique attributes from webbed hands to blue skin and more. The imagination is vibrant and grabbing, making this a world to get lost in...and what a dangerous world it is! Nothing is safe, warm, and fuzzy. From Brinx's 1000 dangerous trials to the impossible planet, every moment means possible death. And there are enough deaths in these pages to make that clear. Tension packs every page as very unexpected situations hit, one right after the other. The sudden shift to the underground world later on, might slow down the danger just a tad bit, but it opens up a whole new direction of possibilities. And while this book wraps up nicely, it still leaves room for more to come.
This is a read which is hard to put down. It's also not one for wholesome moments and sensitive readers. Still, it stays appropriate for the middle grade audience. There's also the wonderful twist that Brinx and the other hybrids do not fight each other. Instead, they band together to survive and use the various strengths each one has to try to get through the impossible situations. And they need all the help they can get because nothing is going to give them even a moment's pause.
And here he is...
Erik Jon Slangerup writes action-adventure novels for young readers—usually something with a monster, robot, or spaceship in it. His books include The Intergalactics and the Far Flung Falls series. He has also written several picture books. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Erik is the father of six, which has been his greatest adventure yet. Discover more at ErikJonSlangerup.com.
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