Stowaway by John David Anderson

Stowaway offers nonstop action, interesting characters, and food for thought with classic science fiction tropes.

Stowaway by John David Anderson. HarperCollins (Walden Pond), 2021, 368 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12

Recommended for: ages 10-15

Not that far into the future, the aliens have arrived. First it was the Aykari, benign beings far advanced from us (of course). Earth had something the Aykari wanted: ventasium, or “V,” the hitherto-unsuspected element with the capacity to fuel lightspeed transport. In exchange for mining their planet, the aliens offered their technology to end world hunger and promote world peace. Seemed like a good trade, until the Djarik came with their hyper-destructive war ships. Half the world’s major cities wiped out, just like that—including Los Angeles. Leo, his brother Gareth, and their dad were beachcombing at the time, and Leo will always remember the searing flash that incinerated a million people, including his mother.

His father, Dr. Calvin Fender, didn’t see much to keep him on earth after that—and besides, millions of humans were heading out to other planets as Aykarian tech and Djarik destruction made their home less appealing.

At first, heading into deep space on a research vessel seems exciting to Leo, but the novelty soon wears off. He’s more than ready to go home when the Djarik attack their ship, kidnap his father, and raid their supplies. It seems like insult added to injury when pirates board their vessel soon after, but Gareth has an idea: while the pirate ship is docked with theirs, Gareth boosts his brother into the pirates’ cargo hold, tells him to escape wherever they land and run for help—and locks him in the hold. Soon the unwilling stowaway is blasting into space with a crew of misfits and thieves.

An alert sci-fan fan will pick up echoes of Star Wars, Firefly, and Independence Day, but it all seems fresh. The plot never lags and distinctive characters add to the entertainment with snappy dialogue. In the midst of the action, the characters develop real emotional weight, with thoughts about exploitations and interspecies relationships that could apply here on earth. Will Leo find his father and brother? Are the Aykari really beneficial and the Djarik purely evil? This is only volume 1, so stay tuned.

Considerations

• The usual series cautions apply: Objectionable elements may appear in later volumes.
• Language: one misuse of God’s name, a sprinkling of “hells.”

Overall Rating: 4 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic/literary value: 4.5

Read more about our ratings here.                 

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews: More adventures in space can be found with The Lion of Mars, Jonesy Flux and the Gray Legion, and *We’re Not From Here (starred review).
• Reflection: See Betsy’s post on “The Need for Science Fiction.”

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