The surface world of Peadar O. Guilin's The Deserter is a tough place to live. Stopmouth's tribe worries every day where their next meal is coming from all while avoiding becoming the meal for the other creatures on the surface. Something worse is on its way, a new creature that can and has overpowered every species it has encountered. To save his tribe, Stopmouth leaves the primitive surface to the roof, a high tech world suspended above the surface.

But the roof has its own problems. An entire floor of the roof is falling apart, the nanotechnology that controls every is breaking down and the decay is spreading. Over crowding is rampant and religious extremists are rebelling against the Commission. The Commission is hunting Stopmouth as he searches for the woman he loves, the one person he knows can save his tribe back on the surface.

In reading The Deserter I had the distinct feeling that I was missing out on something. Turns out this is a follow up to another book, The Inferior, which I have not read (but now intend to). Even without having read the first book, I was still able to follow everything The Deserter; I just have a feeling it would add to the completeness of the world having read both. The imagery and world in The Deserter is excellent and I had a real feel for the people of both the surface and the roof. There were parts that the action dragged, but overall the plot was engaging and interesting.

My Recommendation
The Deserter by Peadar O. Guilin is an interesting story that contrasts primitive and futuristic societies. While there are some monotonous parts I had to force through, overall I enjoyed the story. I would recommend The Deserter for anyone looking for an interesting, casual read.

The Deserter by Peadar O. Guilin
Published by David Fickling Books
448 pages

The Deserter by Peadar O. Guilin is available at Amazon.com