I am trying not to make this the year of generation ships, so let’s settle for the quarter of this wonderful sub-genre. This is just what happens when Alex gets to read what Alex wants. I want to highlight this particular book because Adam Oyebanji’s debut hits on so much of what I crave in a generation ship novel. Going in, I did not realize its young adult leanings, but by the time I started to feel it, I was hooked into Oyebanji’s story. Braking Day is an impressive debut filled with satisfying characters that flesh out its world and conflict with zeal.
It’s been 100 years since the Archimedes and its two companion ships left the solar system in search of a new home. In the stratified culture of the Archimedes, the MacLeod’s are seen as criminals destined for recycling. Ravi MacLeod is trying to break his family’s curse by training to be an officer and an engineer. While performing an inspection near the ship’s engines, which are about to fire up for the first time in 100 years, he hears a faint tapping on the outer hull of the ship. When he investigates it he sees a woman floating in outer space. What makes it weird is that she isn’t wearing a suit. It’s not long before she disappears, but Ravi is haunted by her again and again. With the help of his cousin Boz, Ravi begins scouring the ship’s systems to find out who this woman is, and why she is haunting him in particular so close to Braking Day.
My favorite thing about Braking Day is Oyebnaji’s sincere attention to detail. The world of the ship feels lived in and grown into, instead of a contemporary society smashed into an enclosed space. The vocabulary and slang of the ship’s inhabitants is informed by their intimacy with the ship. Places have their own names, some are curses, and some are praises depending on their history within the ship. Archimedes itself feels like a world that people exist in, with restrictions based on class and occupation. The economy revolves around the distribution of water, whether it’s used to clean or drink. I got a very distinct and satisfactory sense of place within the ship, knowing where people were at all times. It was a world in and of itself, with its own norms and rules, informed but not entirely chained by the past.
The characters were a joy too, despite my lack of investment in the main one, Ravi. This I think was more due to his more rigid adherence to societal norms than anything else. He was willing to break the rules when it came to impressing a love interest, but constantly reminded his chaotic cousin to cool it, lest she be deemed “deadweight” and recycled. Speaking of, Roberta, or Boz, was an absolute riot and the perfect secondary character. She was a force unable to be constrained by the ship. She fit the hacker archetype to a tee, and spilled over in pure charisma. Her constant flirting with danger added some much-needed personal stakes throughout the narrative. She perfectly balanced Ravi’s more wary sensibilities leading to a fun adventure.
I enjoyed the plot, even though it wasn’t mind-bendingly original. I think this was due to Oyebanji’s impeccable ability to flavor the story throughout. There are hints of histories in the beginning that are explored as more of the plot is revealed. Words that were indecipherable gain definition as Ravi and Boz figure out just what the hell is going on. Oyebanji knows how to play his hand in just the right way to get maximum effect on each reveal. The cherry on top is that everything also felt seamlessly integrated into the broader themes of the story. While they weren’t particularly deep, they were well executed and sprinkled throughout. Dealing with the crimes of the past in preparation for the future, instead of sweeping them under the rug was particularly resonant. The second one I want to call attention to is how Oyebanji approached AI, as it was definitely a fresh take on some of the more tired overlord tropes that really fit into the conflicts he creates. I don’t know where I land in the overall arc of the AI within the story, but I respect Oyebanji for leaving the morality of it nebulous. It doesn’t feel like a final statement, instead leaving it up for discussion while solidifying a specific moral good for it to revolve around: autonomy.
When it comes down to it, Braking Day is the perfect introduction to generation ship stories. It doesn’t overstay its welcome and remains compelling to its last pages even with some of its more predictable storylines. Oyebanji’s strength is in deeply considering the history and culture of the Archimedes. It’s a lot of fun, and for a younger audience, it will certainly dazzle. If you’re curious about the sub-genre, but don’t know where to start, take a shot with Braking Day.
Rating: Braking Day – Don’t wait a few generations for this one.
-Alex
One thought on “Braking Day – Pedal to the Metal”