You may have noticed I haven’t posted many reviews of late. Given my rule that if I read a book and don’t like it, I don’t post a review, I’ll let that stand as my answer as to why. I’m pleased to report Derelict by LJ Cohen has broken this dry spell. Yes, I’ll break the suspense now and say, I liked it! Why?

Well, first, while managing to keep the story moving and entertaining, the author succeeds in building an intricate, vividly drawn world. If you love technical details about artificial intelligence, coding, and hacking, you will get it here. And if your interests lie elsewhere, not to worry: the story and its characters will still pull you along with near irresistible force.

Second, and perhaps most notably, we meet distinct, strong characters, each with their own flaws and struggles, all of them intertwining to produce a credible and compelling narrative. Starting with Ro, our protagonist, we meet a rag-tag team of youngsters thrown together by circumstances, and ultimately, the failings of the adults in their lives. Oh, yeah. And then there’s that sick AI that needs some serious help.

Some might fault the story for lagging a bit in the buildup of its first third, but I found that portion rather enjoyable. It pulled me into an unfamiliar world that soon became mine. The author’s use of intimate (personal) point of view proved particularly effective as well. We get to explore and discover this world through the way each of the characters interacts with and, in many cases, struggles against it. Without this foundation, the ensuing escalation would not ring as true or move us along as compellingly.

Once that action takes off (literally!), the story speeds ahead with even more of that irresistible umph I’ve already mentioned. While all that is happening, the peril is real and immediate. None of the characters gets a free pass, physically or emotionally. The stakes are high, and the situation exacts correspondingly high costs from each of them.

Only in one respect did the story falter–and only slightly. For me Nomi’s character felt injected, and in the end, given what happens (and doesn’t), she also seemed superfluous. In truth, I feel rather divided about pointing this out, since I found Nomi well-drawn and compelling in her own right. Yet I did not find her essential to the story. I could elaborate, but I’m trying to avoid spoilers.

But for that minor demerit, I think you can tell I found this novel enjoyable in a variety of respects, some of which I’m unable to articulate here. I’ll leave it at, yeah, pick it up, and read it.

[Rating: 4.5 out of 5]