Book review: Marooned by Andrew Williams.

 

Synopsis

My name is Bee Bee, well, at least that’s what everyone calls me, and I’m 15, nearly 16. The last year has been tough, and I’ve found myself on the Empress of Incognita, travelling through the stars toward a new life with my dad and step-mum. Or at least that’s what should be happening.

When the Empress hits a mine in deep space, things go from bad to worse. Not only are some of the other passengers a threat, once we leave the Empress and end up on ‘Arcadia’, we realise that its occupants, the Great Ones, are going to make life extremely difficult for all of us.

Find out how we get Marooned! 

Excerpt

I could immediately sense that Dad didn’t want me there cramping his style, but Ed Fyfield gave him a sharp look and said, “We need to get your documents sorted out.” The expression on Dad’s face suddenly changed, “Ah! Right. The documents.” As Ed Fyfield finally walked away, Dad gave me a nudge, tapped the side of his nose and said, “Don’t say anything to Mary about this, okay!” When I remained silent, Dad became more aggressive, “Okay?” I was tempted to ask for clarification. Did Dad mean about being told off for going into a restricted area, bribing Carl Whyler, or was he asking me to stay schtum about his alleged relationship with Suzanna Fyfield? When I didn't reply, Suzanna overcame her apparent dislike for my scars and went on a charm offensive. She gave me a winning smile, “I’m sure your Dad doesn’t want to worry your stepmother about any of this. Despite what my brother implied, your dad and I are just friends. You won’t say anything, will you, Bee Bee?” Falling under Suzanna’s spell, I nodded, “Okay. I won’t say anything.” “Promise.”

“Yeah!” Dad cracked a smile and patted me on one shoulder, “Thanks, Bee Bee. I appreciate it.” But once we’d left Carl Whyler and Suzanna Fyfield and began walking back to our apartment, Dad became more forceful, “You don’t say anything to Mary when we get back, right! If you do. I’ll make you regret it.” “I said I wouldn’t.” “Well, don’t!” Although I kept my promise, I felt very guilty. Deep down, I knew Dad was lying, and I didn’t want to be disloyal to Mary.

~*~

A few hours later, Dad took Mary and me to the recreation area, and I was amazed at how crowded it was. As some people were wearing ships colours, I guessed they were crew. The rest were passengers. Seeing us, Ed Fyfield unwound himself from an exercise machine, came to greet us and said, “Glad you could make it.” I expected him to take us straight to the shooting range, but instead, he led us to a side office. Glancing at Dad, Ed Fyfield opened one hand. It was the same action he’d used when confiscating Carl Whyler’s bribe. Dad responded by handing over a large envelope. Ed Fyfield retreated behind a cabinet.

As I could hear money being counted, I guessed that Dad had just handed over the last payment for our new identities. I heard a safe being opened, the money swapping for documents, and Ed Fyfield returned. However, before handing over our new IDs, Ed Fyfield told Dad to give him the forged documents that allowed us to board the Empress of Incognita. Once he was satisfied, he then presented us with our official IDs. 

When Dad started inspecting what he’d been given, Ed Fyfield said, “Don’t worry. They’ll pass muster, and once the ship reaches the Kepler-452 system, I will make sure that you and your family are well looked after. It’s all part of the service.”

When Dad nodded, Ed Fyfield then said, “Right! That’s that complete; I’ll take you down to the shooting range.” Once there, Dad introduced me to a rifle, showed me how to use it and then let me pump away at a target in a well-padded enclosure. Once I’d finished, Dad began instructing Mary on the art of gunmanship.

I sat down, but I wasn’t on my own for long because Chas Foony saw me, gave me a wave and came over. I was pleased to see him because there were very few people of my age on the Empress of Incognita, or if there were, they must have been in different suspension groups.

After slumping down beside me, Chas said, “So what are you doing here?” “Ed Fyfield invited us,” Chas replied. “And you?” “The same,” Chas said. He let out a slight laugh, “I think he uses the same invitation for everyone when he has documents to hand out to rat liners.”

“Rat liners?” Chas shook his head, “You’re very naive, you know that, Bee Bee. Or maybe it was the bang on the head that made you that way.” The comment annoyed me slightly, and I half regretted telling Chas about the car crash.  Referring to my accident as a bang on the head was flippant in the extreme, but I let it pass. Instead, I said, “Go on. Educate me, Chas. What’s a rat liner?”

“The Earth security authorities unofficially refer to the likes of my parents and your Dad as rats,” Chas replied, “The escape routes used by rats are ratlines.”

“Why do they call them rats?”

Marooned by Andrew Williams | Goodreads

Amazon.com: Marooned: A Prequel to the Arcadia's Children Series

Marooned: A Prequel to the Arcadia's Children Series | Reedsy Discovery

 

Review

“Eventually, we were told that the Empress of Incognita was heading towards an unknown semi-Earth type planet. Someone dubbed it Arcadia, and the name stuck.”

The goal sounded easy enough, but as with all good stories, once twists were added, it changed the objective. Suspense, greed, power, and control became part of the story, and you have a page-turner.

The recent addition of the Arcadia series was marked with these human behaviours, but only unity and one young man’s ability to listen could save the day. 

Being in space on a ship would have been perfect for most people. But for Bee Bee and his fellow travellers, it was an entirely different thing. 

Bee Bee (James) Kinfrank was a typical teenager that asked a lot of questions, to everyone’s chagrin. Left disfigured after a gruesome accident, the scare in his face didn’t make him a favourite. But this was also the reason for him to connect with people on differently, which made him in the end more acceptable, even a leader in his ‘tribe’. 

His father was a genuine piece of work which showed his true colors at the end. And Mary was his only support when things really became difficult, even though she was only his step mum. 

To be stuck into deep space without knowing if you would be saved created all sorts of problems and soon to be sixteen-year-old Bee Bee had to grow up. 

Not only were there an enemy in the wormholes, but there were enemies inside. And he had to listen to the inner voice for guidance. 

Lack of space, oxygen and food added to the tension as the depilated ship tried to stay on course. 

This is the prequel to the Arcadia series and because I have read most of it, I struggled to understand where the new characters fit into the bigger plotline. But in the author’s typical writing style it became clear, and it was worth the read. It gives the reader a better understanding of where it had all begun. 

Chas Foony knew too much but was a good informant/friend to Bee Bee. Then there was the Whiston family—the bain in everyone’s life that caused havoc wherever he and his gang of misfits went. Charl Whyler was thrusted into a leadership position and way over his head. Mary became Bee Bee’s support and protector while he became her purpose for being in the ‘tribe’.

The fast-paced plot quickly takes you from one suspenseful scenario to another while the group tries to survive. First on the ship, then on the new planet, where more twists made for adventurous moments. 

When an alien appeared on the ship, killing everyone on its path, it left Bee Bee a strange message. This was where the story escalated and became very interesting. With flashbacks from Mars and his mother’s death, you could sense the building tension.  

Especially the secretive ‘Great Ones’ no one knew about except for Bee Bee and his dreams. A force that added an additional layer of tension to the entire plot.  

“The Great Ones were sent to this planet for security reasons. This planet is far from the rest of our culture. Under our laws, execution is not possible. So sending them here seemed a sensible solution; they were banished to repent for their war crimes.”

These parasite creatures or beings controlled the new planet, and the survival game has stepped up a notched. Adding more drama, mystery, and suspense. Especially when Suzanne Flyfield stepped into the picture. 

Except for a few grammar problems, this was a good read that every science fiction reader would enjoy. The story touches on primal behaviours and how humans would cope when put in a strange environment where the only aim is to survive. Not only as a human, but as a race. 

The character of Bee Bee became the centre of their survival, which made this a good plotline. In the end, his own struggles and how he had to overcome it were woven into the many layers and a race was saved.