{"product_id":"the-darwin-elevator-isbn-9780345537126","title":"The Darwin Elevator","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e BESTSELLER\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJason M. Hough’s pulse-pounding debut combines the drama, swagger, and vivid characters of Joss Whedon’s \u003ci\u003eFirefly\u003c\/i\u003e with the talent of sci-fi author John Scalzi.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e In the mid-23rd century, Darwin, Australia, stands as the last human city on Earth. The world has succumbed to an alien plague, with most of the population transformed into mindless, savage creatures. The planet’s refugees flock to Darwin, where a space elevator—created by the architects of this apocalypse, the Builders—emits a plague-suppressing aura.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Skyler Luiken has a rare immunity to the plague. Backed by an international crew of fellow “immunes,” he leads missions into the dangerous wasteland beyond the aura’s edge to find the resources Darwin needs to stave off collapse. But when the Elevator starts to malfunction, Skyler is tapped—along with the brilliant scientist, Dr. Tania Sharma—to solve the mystery of the failing alien technology and save the ragged remnants of humanity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Darwin Elevator\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A hell of a fun book.”\u003cb\u003e—James S. A. Corey, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eAbaddon’s Gate\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[Jason M.] Hough’s first novel \u003cb\u003ecombines the rapid-fire action and memorable characters\u003c\/b\u003e associated with \u003cb\u003eJoss Whedon’s short-lived \u003ci\u003eFirefly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e TV series with the \u003cb\u003eaccessibility and scientific acumen of [James S. A.] Corey’s ‘Expanse’ \u003c\/b\u003eseries.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “The best part about alien stories is their mystery, and Jason Hough understands that like no other. \u003cb\u003eFull of compelling characters and thick with tension\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Darwin Elevator\u003c\/i\u003e delivers both despair and hope along with a gigantic dose of wonder. It’s \u003cb\u003ea brilliant debut\u003c\/b\u003e, and Hough can take my money whenever he writes anything from now on.”\u003cb\u003e—Kevin Hearne, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Newcomer Hough displays a talent for imaginative plotting and realistic dialogue, and the \u003cb\u003ebrisk pacing and cliffhanger ending will keep readers enthralled\u003c\/b\u003e and eagerly awaiting the next installment.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Jason M. Hough does a great job with this huge story. The world of Darwin and the Elevator is deliciously complex and satisfying. Skyler, Tania, and all the other characters are delightfully drawn and fun to spend time with. . . . The story unfolds with just \u003cb\u003ethe right balance of high adventure, espionage, humor, and emotional truth\u003c\/b\u003e. . . . As soon as you finish, you’ll want more.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eAnalog\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “\u003cb\u003eA debut novel unlike any other\u003c\/b\u003e . . . This is something special. Something iconic. \u003ci\u003eThe Darwin Elevator\u003c\/i\u003e is full of majesty and wonder, mystery and mayhem, colorful characters and insidious schemes.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eSF Signal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Fun, action-packed and entertaining . . . \u003cb\u003ea sure contender for science fiction debut of the year\u003c\/b\u003e!”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePat’s Fantasy Hotlist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Claustrophobic, intense, and satisfying . . . I couldn’t put this book down. \u003ci\u003eThe Darwin Elevator\u003c\/i\u003e depicts a terrifying world, suspends it from a delicate thread, and \u003cb\u003eforces you to read with held breath\u003c\/b\u003e as you anticipate the inevitable fall.”\u003cb\u003e—Hugh Howey, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eWool\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“A hell of a fun book.”\u003cb\u003e—James S. A. Corey, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eAbaddon’s Gate\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[Jason M.] Hough’s first novel \u003cb\u003ecombines the rapid-fire action and memorable characters\u003c\/b\u003e associated with \u003cb\u003eJoss Whedon’s short-lived \u003ci\u003eFirefly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e TV series with the \u003cb\u003eaccessibility and scientific acumen of [James S. A.] Corey’s ‘Expanse’ \u003c\/b\u003eseries.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “The best part about alien stories is their mystery, and Jason Hough understands that like no other. \u003cb\u003eFull of compelling characters and thick with tension\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Darwin Elevator\u003c\/i\u003e delivers both despair and hope along with a gigantic dose of wonder. It’s \u003cb\u003ea brilliant debut\u003c\/b\u003e, and Hough can take my money whenever he writes anything from now on.”\u003cb\u003e—Kevin Hearne, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Newcomer Hough displays a talent for imaginative plotting and realistic dialogue, and the \u003cb\u003ebrisk pacing and cliffhanger ending will keep readers enthralled\u003c\/b\u003e and eagerly awaiting the next installment.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Jason M. Hough does a great job with this huge story. The world of Darwin and the Elevator is deliciously complex and satisfying. Skyler, Tania, and all the other characters are delightfully drawn and fun to spend time with. . . . The story unfolds with just \u003cb\u003ethe right balance of high adventure, espionage, humor, and emotional truth\u003c\/b\u003e. . . . As soon as you finish, you’ll want more.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eAnalog\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “\u003cb\u003eA debut novel unlike any other\u003c\/b\u003e . . . This is something special. Something iconic. \u003ci\u003eThe Darwin Elevator\u003c\/i\u003e is full of majesty and wonder, mystery and mayhem, colorful characters and insidious schemes.”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eSF Signal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Fun, action-packed and entertaining . . . \u003cb\u003ea sure contender for science fiction debut of the year\u003c\/b\u003e!”\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePat’s Fantasy Hotlist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Claustrophobic, intense, and satisfying . . . I couldn’t put this book down. \u003ci\u003eThe Darwin Elevator\u003c\/i\u003e depicts a terrifying world, suspends it from a delicate thread, and \u003cb\u003eforces you to read with held breath\u003c\/b\u003e as you anticipate the inevitable fall.”\u003cb\u003e—Hugh Howey, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eWool\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Hough writes with irresistible energy and gritty realism. His puts his characters through hell, \u003cb\u003eblending a convincing plot with heart-stopping action and moments of raw terror\u003c\/b\u003e as the world goes crazy in the shadow of unfathomable alien intentions.”\u003cb\u003e—Sara Creasy, author of the Philip K. Dick Award–nominated \u003ci\u003eSong of Scarabaeus\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “\u003cb\u003eA thrilling story right from the first page\u003c\/b\u003e . . . This book plugs straight into the fight-or-flight part of your brain.”\u003cb\u003e—Ted Kosmatka, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Games\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “If you enjoy \u003cb\u003ehigh adventure with a kick-ass crew\u003c\/b\u003e, I suggest you take Hough’s \u003ci\u003eDarwin Elevator\u003c\/i\u003e for a ride.”\u003cb\u003e—Warren Hammond, author of \u003ci\u003eKOP Killer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eJason M. Hough\u003c\/b\u003e was born in Illinois, but grew up on the mean streets of suburban San Diego, California. In 1978, at age six, his parents took him to see \u003ci\u003eStar Wars,\u003c\/i\u003e and so began a lifelong love of sci-fi and all things geek. He later worked for a decade in the videogame industry as both a 3D artist and game designer. Today he lives in Seattle with his wife and two sons. In his spare time he likes to build Lego spaceships with his boys and other similarly grown-up pursuits.Chapter 1   \u003cbr\u003eAbove the Indian Ocean   12.JAN.2283   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlood streamed down the inside of the tiny vial and pooled at the bottom. A finger, the source of the fluid, knocked against the glass with a dull thud.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSkyler turned the vessel over again. Fresh from its temperature-controlled sleeve, the vial felt cool against his skin. A small refreshment in the otherwise balmy cockpit.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe scene replayed again in his mind. The dead subhuman, half its scrawny body still smoldering, the scent of burned hair so strong that Skyler had retched. Then Samantha, always acting, never thinking, stood triumphant over the corpse. In one swift motionher dark combat knife flashed from a sheath on her calf, flashed again as she brought it down on the poor creature’s hand. Two fingers and half of a thumb skittered away. “Before it all burns,” she’d said.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “We only need one,” Skyler had replied when his nerves allowed.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHair would have been simpler, cleaner, but the hair had all singed away.  A messy piece of work, though the end result was all that mattered, or so he kept reminding himself.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Visual on the Elevator,” Angus said from the pilot’s chair.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSkyler grunted acknowledgment and flipped the vial over again. The muscular digit was caked with dirt and ended in a yellow, cracked fingernail chewed to uneven length. It almost defied belief that it had been shorn from a once-human hand. Almost.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEven by subhuman standards, this creature had been extraordinarily aggressive. And part of a large pack, twice the typical “family.”  Strange, yes, but thankfully in the past now.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe glanced up. Ahead, a series of lights marked the line of the Elevator cord. Eight climbers, Skyler counted, from the peaks of the clouds all the way to the stars above. He watched them long enough to discern which way they were going. Up, at the moment.Air and water then, for the Orbitals. Some spare parts, maybe. A little contraband thrown in for good measure.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe pictured the contents of his cargo bay, flush with spoils from a decaying Malay air force base outside Kuala Lumpur. Tomorrow, maybe the day after, one of those climbers would lift the items stowed back there.  Paid for first, of course.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSkyler grinned. Success felt good. He’d almost forgotten the sensation.  The finger alone would cover the mission’s cost, if the DNA matched.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Do you want the stick back?” Angus asked.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe grim, hypnotic spell of watching blood slide down the glass tube vanished with the question. He slipped the vial back into its sleeve and sealed it. Out of pure habit he reached for the flight stick, then stopped himself. Old habits die hard. He balledhis fist and pulled his hand away. “You handle it this time.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Sure?”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You’re ready. Just take it slow.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAngus turned in the pilot’s seat, trying to see Skyler over his shoulder and failing. A few seconds passed before the kid flashed a halfhearted A-Okay.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Melville tilted forward and began to descend. Skyler leaned to his left and looked down, watching mountainous clouds rise toward them.  Lightning danced beneath the purple morass, which grew and grew until finally the aircraft slipped into the thick haze.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA ghostly fog roiled around the cockpit window for less than ten seconds and then they were through. Once below the storm, monsoon rain pelted the cockpit window and hammered against the fuselage.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnother minute went by before they passed under the storm. Over Darwin itself the sky was clear, such a rare thing in wet season. A nice welcome to their return.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Aura’s Edge,” Angus said. “In ten, nine . . .”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSkyler closed his eyes. Some small part of him wanted to feel it, wanted to know the Elevator’s strange aura on a physical level. The invisible field emanated roughly nine kilometers out from the space elevator before abruptly ending. It protected thosewithin from the alien disease that had laid waste to the rest of the planet. How, or why, the aura did this was as much a mystery as the Elevator itself.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“. . . five, four . . .”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe shifting, rippling effect ended in a zone coined Aura’s Edge. A no-man’s-land where the protection faded.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSkyler leaned his head back against the copilot’s seat. He would feel nothing. He never did; nor did the rest of his crew. The disease had no effect on them.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey were immune, an inescapable fact. A blessing and curse, a trait few others shared. Very few.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“. . . three . . .”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThough immunity allowed him to leave the city at will, there remained that small part of him that wanted to be normal, to be trapped like all of the rest of them. He didn’t want to be special. Or sought after.  Truth be told he’d rather be back in the Netherlands, flying mundane patrols for the air force, living a good life. But that was a long time ago, in a different world.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “. . . two, one . . . mark.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe aircraft bucked.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNot much, but Skyler felt it. Damn fine timing for a spell of turbulence, he thought. An embarrassed laugh escaped his lips.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBelow, out the window, trash fires dotted the city’s edge. Small crowds huddled around the flames for protection more than warmth. The worst-off lived here, so far out from the Elevator, so close to the Clear. Skyler thought it must be like living on theedge of a cliff.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Weird. Did you feel that bounce?” Angus asked. Then, “Oh, shit. Look at this.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSkyler glanced up. The kid’s voice had shifted from wonder to fear.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSomething had changed, ahead of them. Skyler couldn’t decide what—   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Where’d the climbers go?” Angus asked.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The lights on the cord were gone. “What in the world?”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe wireless crackled. “Melville, this is Nightcliff control,” a panicked voice said over a hiss of static. “What the hell did you do?”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSkyler’s throat went dry. He could only stare at the thin strip of sky where the climbers had been.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Melville! Answer or be shot down!”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Angus,” Skyler said, ignoring the radio. “Hover here.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe kid nodded and tilted the aircraft back, switching to vertical thrust.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Think, think,” Skyler whispered to himself. He leaned forward in his seat, as if a few extra centimeters would give him a better view.  Squinting, Skyler traced a line from the tip of Nightcliff’s tower.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere, against the dim clouds, he saw the black shape of a climber, motionless on the cord. Not vanished, then, just dead.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLoss of power? he thought. It shouldn’t be possible. Something about friction with the atmosphere, he remembered. The Elevator couldn’t help but generate power. In the five years since he first came to the city, he’d never seen Darwin’s skyline withoutthe awe-inspiring sight of climber vehicles gliding their way along the cord, taking fresh air and water up to the Orbitals, or bringing food back down.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Melville,” came the garbled voice again. “Last warning.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSkyler absently tapped the transmit button. “Nightcliff, this is the Melville. Don’t fire. We’re holding position. What happened?”  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEven as he waited for a response, Skyler saw the beacon lights on the climber cars flicker, then come back on at full brightness.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA few seconds later they turned off again. One by one this time, in perfect sequence from space down to the fortress.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMinutes passed. Skyler felt a trickle of sweat run down the side of his face and he mopped it away with the back of his hand.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA blast of static from the tiny speaker preceded the controller’s voice.  “You will reroute to Nightcliff and submit to inspection. Failure to comply will result in the destruction of your vessel. Any delay will result in the destruction of your vessel. You have thirty seconds to acknowledge.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe order rattled Skyler like a sick joke. The mission had been flawless, a masterpiece, until this. Inspection. He shook his head. All their hard work, dashed with that loaded word.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “What do I say?” Angus asked. He strained against his harness to glance over his shoulder at Skyler.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe young man’s brown eyes pleaded for reassurance. Skyler could only shrug. “Stall,” he said. “I’m thinking.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe tried to conjure a memory of the last inspection. It must have been two years ago. More than that. They’d claimed fear of a flu epidemic on that occasion. A case of vodka had settled the matter, if he remembered right. He’d been the pilot then, stuckin the cockpit, uninvolved. This time it would be his neck on the chopping block.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe first successful mission in months, since Skyler took over the captain’s chair.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd now this. Inspection. Goddammit.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey probably just wanted a handout. The pick of the litter from a returning scavenger ship. Maybe they’d blinked the climbers’ lights on purpose, now that he thought about it. A clever ploy, really.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe ran through a mental tally of the Melville’s cargo bay. For two days they’d rummaged through the abandoned complex, and they’d packed the old girl full. There’d be no shortage of goods to bribe Nightcliff with. The trick would be steering them awayfrom the high-value items. The specific requests.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe neoprene sleeve hanging from the back of the pilot’s seat caught Skyler’s eye. He thought of the morbid contents within, and the commune that had pooled their money to have the evidence recovered. A lot of money, in fact, along with the promise ofsix crates of fresh food. Even after Prumble’s cut, it was too tempting a reward to pass up. “All we want is to know the fate of our father. Bring us something, anything, that we can give a proper burial.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLike a finger. Skyler yanked the container from its cord and slipped it into his inner jacket pocket.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe activated the intercom. “Sam, Jake, I need you to bury that welder.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA few seconds passed before Samantha replied. “We could toss it overboard. Pick it up later.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Negative. We’re over the Maze.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You’re not going to land, are you? Call their bluff,” she said. “They won’t waste a missile on us.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSkyler bit back an urge to argue. The welder, a special model suitable for work aboard a space station, had a large reward associated with it.  The highest out of everything they carried. Trying to wrestle it back from the occupants of the slum below them would be difficult, and very dangerous.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAngus interrupted the thought. “Five seconds. We’d better answer them.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUnhappy with the alternative, Skyler sighed. “Acknowledge it. Change course for Nightcliff, and drop to two hundred meters.”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWithin seconds the aircraft began to turn and descend. The fortress of Nightcliff, which surrounded the Elevator’s base, came into view.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSamantha’s voice crackled over the speaker. “I guess we’re playing along then?”  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “We can’t risk our lift privs, Sam. Can you and Jake go through the crates and put anything valuable at the bottom?”   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith a frustrated groan, she said, “Aye, aye,” and clicked off.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSkyler grunted. He thought of placing a few choice items near the door—an unspoken bribe—but that might backfire.","brand":"Del Rey","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46303713558757,"sku":"NP9780345537126","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780345537126.jpg?v=1767738937","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/the-darwin-elevator-isbn-9780345537126","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}