NABUKKO

In Gadeken’s YA debut and prospective series launch, people survive on a strange planet with no recollection of how they got there.

Eighteen-year-old Eff Sharp has no idea how she wound up stranded on an unknown world. She has only “snippets” of memories of Earth and her parents, but this is definitely not Earth; an orange dwarf star paints the sky a marigold hue. After three months of solitude, she’s shocked to see other humans—two men, who take her back to their colony, Nabukko. The colony is inhabited by a few hundred people who, though they remember more than Eff, they don’t know the circumstances that led them to this planet. Eff gradually befriends the colonists, helping to forage for “anything edible” and scavenge for supplies. She finds herself drawn to a couple of guys who open up to her. That’s quite a feat, as most of the Nabukko residents are reluctant to divulge anything about themselves or where they’re from. This lack of candor ultimately leads to a startling revelation and ensuing accusation. Gadeken’s story thrives on mysterious details, from seemingly random pods housing supplies to the colonists’ evasive responses to virtually all of Eff’s questions. While not all of her questions are resolved in this series opener, some answers come to light, and not just in the final act. The enormous cast comprises a bevy of distinct personalities. An understated love triangle serves as an effective backdrop for discussions about survival, the protagonist’s slowly returning memories, and Eff’s vibrant, bizarre dreams and visions. The author masterfully depicts the environment, including the dense Black Forest and Nabukko’s well-constructed buildings (as well as signs of the planet’s unnerving creatures). The prose brims with vivid metaphors—pipes running between tanks in the hydro and aquaponics building resemble a “sea of mechanical jellyfish.” The astonishing ending will leave readers craving a sequel.

Superlative characters and worldbuilding ensure this SF tale will linger for some time.