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A review by reading_rainy
Dark Space by Lisa Henry
5.0
*4.5* Loved just as much on a re-read. Such a different experience reading vs listening to the audiobook. I picked up much more this second time around.
*****
"And then I realized that I was wrong…that every mixed up, fucked up, piece of my life that had ever stuck in my memory, my subconscious, or my dreams, was part of his life now as well."
What would you do as an enlisted man, when your superior tells you to step forward, face the giant upside down scarab holding a capsule, and touch it?
This is a sci-fi, MM, futuristic, original and unique, violent-yet-beautiful, an introspective space journey. Character driven, and feels dystopian from the brief descriptions of what's happened to Earth. TW: physical abuse and rape.
At 19, Brady is a bit of an anti-hero. He's not brimming with bravery or confidence, he grew up in extreme poverty, quitting school at the age of 12, to raise his baby sister. He's a scrapper, stealing and fighting for survival. He is conscripted into the military at 16, where he learns he hates outer space, and he hates the military. He is physically assaulted (off-page but describes the damage) yet he's determined to do his best, sending home every paycheck for his sisters care. He is befriended by the doctor on the ship, who sees the 'real him' under all his defenses, and helps him begin training to become a medic.
Cameron is the poster child for the military. No but really, he's actually on all their posters. Good looking, an officer, and from a wealthy family. At the age of 22, he's taken captive by an alien entity known only as the faceless. It's been four years now, and he is assumed dead, when he shows up with a message for humanity.
The relationship between these two men starts off quite unique. As much as I loved their interactions, I didn't really feel a real connection between the two men until the very end. Mostly because they were together for survival reasons. So it felt Stockholm-like with their affection. While there was only a seven year age difference between these two, the age-gap felt larger with Brady's inexperience.
I was his heartbeat. I was his fucking universe. Now I was, but soon I wouldn't be. I would miss that, miss being important. I would miss having someone.
Because this story is character driven, and because of particular circumstances, these men are constantly together. The steam is very steamy, and I appreciated how kind and gentle Cam was around Brady's inexperience.
Kai-Ren is a formidable enemy. He sees humans as insignificant, possibly as we see ants. Somewhat a nuisance, a slight annoyance, and easily wiped out. Huge props to the narrator, Chris Chambers, for making the voice of Kai-Ren chillingly creepy. Cam-rennnnnn *shivers*
The story isn't perfect, and it did leave me with some questions, mostly the enlisted men's violence towards each other (why??). Also, considering the abuse both of these men had survived, I didn't quite understand why there wasn't a ship psychologist heavily invested in helping them to recover. Have they done away with mental health care in the future?
Overall, I loved the intelligence behind this story, and the way it's told. I've already downloaded the second and can't wait to get back into this universe.
*****
"And then I realized that I was wrong…that every mixed up, fucked up, piece of my life that had ever stuck in my memory, my subconscious, or my dreams, was part of his life now as well."
What would you do as an enlisted man, when your superior tells you to step forward, face the giant upside down scarab holding a capsule, and touch it?
This is a sci-fi, MM, futuristic, original and unique, violent-yet-beautiful, an introspective space journey. Character driven, and feels dystopian from the brief descriptions of what's happened to Earth. TW: physical abuse and rape.
At 19, Brady is a bit of an anti-hero. He's not brimming with bravery or confidence, he grew up in extreme poverty, quitting school at the age of 12, to raise his baby sister. He's a scrapper, stealing and fighting for survival. He is conscripted into the military at 16, where he learns he hates outer space, and he hates the military. He is physically assaulted (off-page but describes the damage) yet he's determined to do his best, sending home every paycheck for his sisters care. He is befriended by the doctor on the ship, who sees the 'real him' under all his defenses, and helps him begin training to become a medic.
Cameron is the poster child for the military. No but really, he's actually on all their posters. Good looking, an officer, and from a wealthy family. At the age of 22, he's taken captive by an alien entity known only as the faceless. It's been four years now, and he is assumed dead, when he shows up with a message for humanity.
The relationship between these two men starts off quite unique. As much as I loved their interactions, I didn't really feel a real connection between the two men until the very end. Mostly because they were together for survival reasons. So it felt Stockholm-like with their affection. While there was only a seven year age difference between these two, the age-gap felt larger with Brady's inexperience.
I was his heartbeat. I was his fucking universe. Now I was, but soon I wouldn't be. I would miss that, miss being important. I would miss having someone.
Because this story is character driven, and because of particular circumstances, these men are constantly together. The steam is very steamy, and I appreciated how kind and gentle Cam was around Brady's inexperience.
Kai-Ren is a formidable enemy. He sees humans as insignificant, possibly as we see ants. Somewhat a nuisance, a slight annoyance, and easily wiped out. Huge props to the narrator, Chris Chambers, for making the voice of Kai-Ren chillingly creepy. Cam-rennnnnn *shivers*
The story isn't perfect, and it did leave me with some questions, mostly the enlisted men's violence towards each other (why??). Also, considering the abuse both of these men had survived, I didn't quite understand why there wasn't a ship psychologist heavily invested in helping them to recover. Have they done away with mental health care in the future?
Overall, I loved the intelligence behind this story, and the way it's told. I've already downloaded the second and can't wait to get back into this universe.