Darok 9
By H. J. Ralles
Top Publications - February 2002
ISBN:
Young Adult/Science Fiction

Reviewed by Jo Rogers, MyShelf.Com
Buy a Copy - coming soon--

DAROK 9 is another wonderful science fiction book for young adults by H. J. Ralles, author of KEEPER OF THE KINGDOM. Filled with nonstop action and suspense, it tells the story of a young scientist, Hank Havard, and his quest to keep his big discovery out of enemy hands.

World War III has been fought, and has rendered the Earth uninhabitable. The surviving humans have divided the Moon into four quadrants, and each of these quadrants are divided into cities, called Daroks. All are dependent on large shipments of water from Earth, and this must be decontaminated before it can be used. Hank has developed a vaccine which eliminates the human body's need for water. But his research is incomplete, although he has discovered that he has to keep the vaccine at a temperature of no more than forty degrees Fahrenheit for it to work.

The Fourth Quadrant was the last one settled and is the poorest in resources. They frequently attack the others to take what they want or need by force. When they attack the First Quadrant's Research Facility, which is outside all the Daroks and underground, Hank and his assistant, Lydia Grant, pack the formula in an insulapak. Hank then downloads his research notes onto memory cards and erases them from the computer system. With this done, he and Lydia run for their lives.

Hank and Lydia get separated before they get to the subway Bullet, and Hank goes home to Darok 9, not knowing if Lydia survived the attack. He heads for his apartment, but before he arrives, he sees a light in the window there, and knows someone has broken in. The only thing he has of value is his research.

Hank turns to his sister and her son, and leaves two of the vials for his sister to hide, and leaves a copy of his reseach notes with his teenage nephew. Before Hank can get to a place of safety, he and his family find themselves caught up in a web of deceit and murder. They are on the run, and they don't know who to trust. Can anyone help them out of the mess and save Hank's research for the good of all?

The language in this book is clean, as it was in KEEPER OF THE KINGDOM, something I found refreshing. Also, the message that violence doesn't pay is strong. The characters are believable, and the plot is solid. DAROK 9 is a can't-put-it-down, go-away-and-let-me-read science fiction thriller, sure to please any reader of any age!