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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
DNF - 20%
The premise to this book sounds fun, and is the reason I picked it up. Unfortunately the writing is very poor and the characters are unlikeable and pretty bland. It seems like Boffard reads a lot of scifi, but couldn't come up with his own ideas. Much of the story is filled with jargon that either other writers have already used, or is new but never described, making it just sound like nonsense.
Honestly I think he read the Expanse series, or at the very least just the first book, and tried to write his own version, but just go read Leviathan Wakes instead and don't waste your time with this.
The premise to this book sounds fun, and is the reason I picked it up. Unfortunately the writing is very poor and the characters are unlikeable and pretty bland. It seems like Boffard reads a lot of scifi, but couldn't come up with his own ideas. Much of the story is filled with jargon that either other writers have already used, or is new but never described, making it just sound like nonsense.
Honestly I think he read the Expanse series, or at the very least just the first book, and tried to write his own version, but just go read Leviathan Wakes instead and don't waste your time with this.
Boffard, Bob. Adrift. Orbit, 2018.
Bob Boffard, whose Outer Earth series was set on a space station after a population collapse on Earth, has the knack of writing fast-paced science fiction thrillers with characters whose fates engage us. Adrift is also such a book, with the added virtue that its plot is tighter and more controlled than the earlier series. A large space station at the end of a wormhole is a tourist destination. A young woman is working her first day as a guide on a shuttle that gives passengers a good view of the Crab Nebula. Their pilot is a chain-smoking Russian with post-traumatic stress. But she has the skills to pilot the shuttle out of danger when the station is blown up by an unknown spaceship. The characters are a mixed bag, and we get to know them all. My favorite is Corey, a kid whose name I bet is an homage to Cory Doctorow in that he resembles so many of Doctorow’s clever juvenile protagonists. The story’s ancient ancestors include Alfred Hitchcock’s Lifeboat and a host of films about airliners with baddies onboard. Is it mind candy? Sure. But that did not keep me from staying up late to finish it.
Bob Boffard, whose Outer Earth series was set on a space station after a population collapse on Earth, has the knack of writing fast-paced science fiction thrillers with characters whose fates engage us. Adrift is also such a book, with the added virtue that its plot is tighter and more controlled than the earlier series. A large space station at the end of a wormhole is a tourist destination. A young woman is working her first day as a guide on a shuttle that gives passengers a good view of the Crab Nebula. Their pilot is a chain-smoking Russian with post-traumatic stress. But she has the skills to pilot the shuttle out of danger when the station is blown up by an unknown spaceship. The characters are a mixed bag, and we get to know them all. My favorite is Corey, a kid whose name I bet is an homage to Cory Doctorow in that he resembles so many of Doctorow’s clever juvenile protagonists. The story’s ancient ancestors include Alfred Hitchcock’s Lifeboat and a host of films about airliners with baddies onboard. Is it mind candy? Sure. But that did not keep me from staying up late to finish it.
I'd give it 3.5 if we could do half stars. The plot was pretty interesting, and the characters weren't super bad, but they weren't especially great either. Another review I read said it's hard to like anyone, and that is true. At least for the majority of the book, no one feels like someone you can really like and root for because they're all either irrational, yelling, yelling irrationally, or not doing anything. The kid Corey was the best and the old lady was OK too, but that's 2 people out of like, 7 or 8? I don't even know how many bc I don't care enough to keep track or count. I'll at least say they do get better by the end of it though.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It took a lot for me to get into this book. I disliked the characters a lot but the plot and mystery/suspense kept me interested. I skimmed a lot of the character backstory scenes and some of a certain character’s perspective. Overall, this was tense and suspenseful and the mystery kept me intrigued but I did not enjoy the characters and that really detracted from my enjoyment.
Hop in as Boffard takes his readers on a thrilling adventure in space filled with action, betrayals, and secrets.
Adrift follows a few characters as they’re trapped in a tour ship as a mysterious technologically advanced space ship attacks a luxury hotel. Those trapped on the ship are regular civilians who have to work together in order to survive the unforgiving confines of space.
Adrift is told through multiple perspectives: Corey, a preteen, Hannah, the tour guide, and Jack, a hotel reviewer. Each perspective offers something different to the story by allowing the reader insight into each of the characters. I enjoyed Hannah’s perspective the most since her character sees the most amount of growth. Throughout the novel, she transitions from someone with no confidence to a self-assured individual. I especially loved her opening chapter. It’s perfectly written in its introduction to the character as well as the world itself. It situates the reader immediately in the setting.
The pace throughout Adrift is consistently fast. The characters are faced with problem after problem as they navigate the perils of space. I would hesitate comparing this to The Martian by Andy Weir because Adrift lacks the believable scientific explanations regarding survival. Though, if you’re looking for something similar you’ll be pleasantly surprised with Adrift.
Adrift follows a few characters as they’re trapped in a tour ship as a mysterious technologically advanced space ship attacks a luxury hotel. Those trapped on the ship are regular civilians who have to work together in order to survive the unforgiving confines of space.
Adrift is told through multiple perspectives: Corey, a preteen, Hannah, the tour guide, and Jack, a hotel reviewer. Each perspective offers something different to the story by allowing the reader insight into each of the characters. I enjoyed Hannah’s perspective the most since her character sees the most amount of growth. Throughout the novel, she transitions from someone with no confidence to a self-assured individual. I especially loved her opening chapter. It’s perfectly written in its introduction to the character as well as the world itself. It situates the reader immediately in the setting.
The pace throughout Adrift is consistently fast. The characters are faced with problem after problem as they navigate the perils of space. I would hesitate comparing this to The Martian by Andy Weir because Adrift lacks the believable scientific explanations regarding survival. Though, if you’re looking for something similar you’ll be pleasantly surprised with Adrift.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had a hard time getting through this. While there seldom was dull moments, the uncompelling characters, uneven plot and bad writing made reading it a chore.
(Disclaimer: I received this free book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Rounding up from 3.5
Can I just say that I've been reading more and more thrillers recently and I love it? There's something gripping, obsessive, about reading a thriller. It normally pulls me right out of a slump. Adrift is no different. Each chapter has a different perspective and this allows you to really get in each character's head. We get to see their motivations, desires, and secrets - but not even totally. There's always an element of mystery, anticipation, and tension.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-adrift-by-rob-boffard/
Rounding up from 3.5
Can I just say that I've been reading more and more thrillers recently and I love it? There's something gripping, obsessive, about reading a thriller. It normally pulls me right out of a slump. Adrift is no different. Each chapter has a different perspective and this allows you to really get in each character's head. We get to see their motivations, desires, and secrets - but not even totally. There's always an element of mystery, anticipation, and tension.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/review-adrift-by-rob-boffard/
went in directions I was not expecting, worth reading
A very entertaining, highly cinematic novel about a group of strangers cut off and adrift in space. Boffard does a great job of making all of the characters and their backstories truly vivid, and he ratchets up the tension from scene to scene.