Adapt Or Die: A Near-Future Thriller

I admit the title is what first drew me toward wanting to read this novel. Provocative but simple, a book named Adapt or Die definitely deserved at least a look at the blurb. That it was near-future science fiction with an LGBTQ+ protagonist only made me more excited at that point. For the most part, author Peter Vernerac did deliver on that initial reaction.

Despite the rating, there is quite a lot to love about this novel. A thriller revolving around technology and the relationship humans have with it, the premise is more believable than farfetched. Rooting motivations in very real and tangible concepts such as survival plays a huge part in why. Corey Smalls, or Cosmo as he's called, is the point of view character for most of the story, and one of its brightest points. Both likable and competent while not being inhumanly so in either area, I couldn't help but cheer for the character as the plot progressed.

The content of the book is largely very sound, and if it wasn't for other issues, this could have possibly been one of my must-reads for science fiction. The dialogue was a bit of a hit or a miss at points, particularly between certain characters or when more than two characters were talking in a scene. I think a large part of this was it could be so strong at some points that the points where it wasn't stood out more.

What the novel had to say was amazing, how it was said is the main reason for the lower rating. There are quite a few skips in time throughout Adapt or Die. Forward, back, forward, further back, etc. Some were time-stamped, some weren't. And while most of the book is written in 1st person from Cosmo's view, quite a few parts are from 3rd person with the spotlight on different characters, also moving between omniscient and limited at various points. This could get very confusing to read because there could be inner thoughts not attributed to specific characters. There's also an early concept introduced that doesn't really ever get picked up on, and I wish it had.

Errors though were the biggest issue for me. There are quite a few missing words or other problems that kept drawing me out of the story because I had to reread for clarity. I don't want to make it seem like the writing is bad because the author did craft a rather wonderful story. But there were enough errors throughout that I feel another round of editing would be beneficial.

I would still recommend Adapt or Die to fans of science fiction despite the rating. Particularly if you are a reader who enjoys speculation and exploration into the increasing dependence on technology.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.