The novel “Victories Greater Than Death” by Charlie Jane Anders was published for the first time in 2021. It’s the first book in the Unstoppable trilogy.
Tina Mains may appear to be a normal teenager, but she knows she’s an alien, given up for adoption on Earth to remain hidden on a remote planet. When the beacon implanted in her body lights up, signaling the arrival of a Royal Fleet starship to take her back to her true people, she’s tense and excited at the same time. Rachael, her best human friend, stays with her, partly to support her and partly to live an adventure better than her life on Earth. However, the new situation proves bittersweet, and even recruiting young Earthlings proves complicated.
Tina discovers she’s a clone of the legendary Thaoh Argentian, a legacy she immediately finds truly burdensome because everyone says she’s a great heroine. She must undergo treatments to reverse the effects of the genetic modifications that make her appear human, and most importantly, restore Thaoh Argentian’s memory. Something goes wrong, and Tina finds herself with the woman’s knowledge but not her personal memories. As if that weren’t enough, the starship is attacked by the enemies from the Compassion, led by Marrant, the one who killed her. Her survival depends on the secret of the Shapers, and the Talgan Stone is a clue.
“Victory Greater Than Death” begins a young adult trilogy set in a fictional universe filled with sentient species. It’s comparable to the Star Trek universe, with the big difference that Earth is a primitive planet and therefore not part of the interstellar civilization. That civilization also has a cyborg queen, but instead of wandering the galaxy assimilating technologies and various humanoids, she acts as a link to a series of highly advanced computers.
This fictional universe is truly rich in sentient species. Many of them are humanoid, and this is due to a very specific reason that is integral to this novel’s plot. However, there are many non-humanoid sentient species. Even with the best of intentions, it can be difficult to recognize another person – a term that should be understood very broadly – which is why it’s common to introduce oneself by also declaring one’s gender.
Tina knew her life would change radically once she met all these aliens, but things don’t go exactly as she imagined. She and the young Earthlings she recruited become embroiled in a clash with the Compassion, whose members have decidedly violent views despite the name.
These young humans are the protagonists, and this can be a problem for many readers, in the sense that the setting is very “teen” in the development of various themes. Friendship, diversity, and inclusion are ageless themes, but the romantic element is developed in a very teen way.
The setting is also evident in the plot section where young humans become practically indispensable to the survival of the Royal Fleet starship because the regular crew members don’t seem particularly bright. To continue the Star Trek comparison, it’s as if the Enterprise-D had a number of Wesley Crushers and a few redshirts, without any highly skilled superior officers.
In the end, in my opinion, the novel’s strength lies in its exploration of a fictional universe that is vast in space and time, with a quest that explores the secrets of the mysterious Shapers. Given the nature of the story, I’d label it young alien rather than young adult, meaning that if you’re a young alien looking to escape the flat reality of Earth, “Victory Greater Than Death” is suitable for you. The novel has an ending, although the story remains open to developments that will come in the sequels. Charlie Jane Anders also wrote a prequel short story titled “A Soul in the World.” You can find it on Amazon USA, UK, and Canada.
