The Darwin Elevator is going to get compared to Joss Whedon’s cult-fav TV/Movie series Firefly/Serenity. They both have a quirky team of shipmates, a cool but rugged ship, a dashing/complex captain, space, earth or earth-like planet, and, of course, zombie-esque creatures. Because of these elements, comparisons are going to be made.

And they are worth it. This book is worthy of that comparison.

The Darwin Elevator is a hell of a ride.

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a space opera SF/F novel that I didn’t want to put down and couldn’t wait to dive in. The world he creates is complex, gritty, and feels solid under our feet. The characters are rich and interesting, nobody hogging up scenes that I wished they weren’t in.

As the beginning of a series, I can’t wait for the others. I have no idea where he’s going with this and will eagerly follow along to see what happens next.

It can only go up.