Review: Enemy Immortal by Jim Meeks-Johnson

Two centuries in the future, our world will look very different, but hopefully it won’t turn out anything like the vision Jim Meeks-Johnson’s presents in Enemy Immortal, his debut work of science fiction.

Two alien empires – the Entanglement and the Immoral Ascendency – are vying for control of the galaxy, and the fate of Earth may hang in the balance. Lieutenant Jade Mahelona works for the Solar Defense Force, and is tasked with investigating a lost colony on a distant world with a motley crew of bizarre companions. Little do any of them know that they are placing themselves directly in the path of a hideous, massive cyborg blob named Umlac, and are blindly flying into the fight of their lives.

The joy of reading this book comes primarily from the deep world-building that Meeks-Johnson achieves, with unique histories, species abilities, planetary systems and technology that doesn’t resemble the tropes of so many other sci-fi authors. Jade’s companions are an ideal example of this, as they consist of a sentient plant, a robotic insect creature and the aptly named Ironsides, who has an annoying proclivity for following the rules. This ragtag assortment of adventurers is immediately engaging, and provides plenty of levity during interpersonal moments. However, they also contribute to the plot, drive the action, and earn the reader’s trust, making them far more than recyclable sci-fi sidekicks.

Although this space opera is heavy with action and intrigue, the author clearly enjoys the potential for campy moments, and pays homage to the traditional genre in certain ways. There are a few eye-rolling moments in the dialogue-heavy sections, as well as last-minute heroics that are somewhat hard to swallow – flying in the face of the laws of physic and the reader’s willingness to suspend disbelief. That being said, there is no denying that the book makes for a fun read, packed with engaging characters and a pace that never lets up.

In terms of larger thematic directions, the author tackles universal ideas of belonging and nationalism, the importance of individual cultures and personal independence. The classic war of good against evil is at the center of this book, but there are smaller battles waged over other ideas that could be easy to overlook. This is not an overtly political book, but the policies of the Entanglement feel slightly allegorical, and provide a philosophical belief structure for Lieutenant Mahelona that readers can stand behind. Meeks-Johnson does an excellent job of presenting ideas and themes without ramming them down readers’ throats.

While many of the scenes are tightly written and polished, there are also numerous other moments that seem disconnected – in the sense that the narration goes on for too long, the action doesn’t feel justified, or the dialogue is unbelievable. Some of the most outlandish descriptions and events could also be tempered, to avoid leaning too far into a pulp sci-fi style and to ensure the book’s credibility. The world that Meeks-Johnson has dreamed up is strange and engaging enough, so he may want to better tow the line of being weird for the sake of it. A thorough edit to find some of these weak points and buttress them with more effective language and motivation would turn this very enjoyable book into a very great one.

All in all, Enemy Immortal is a fun and engaging read, and a great first outing for Meeks-Johnson. Even with the surreal distractions of his tongue-in-cheek storyline, the novel has surprising depth compared to other books in the genre.