Review: Degrade (Tesla Expansion Book 1) by Mark Lingane

Across the brutal landscape of a nearly parched Earth, MechRigs and MechCities vie for dominance in Degrade, the first book in the Tesla Expansion series by Mark Lingane. In a world where mobile cities wage desperate war like futuristic monsters, one young boy may hold the key to salvation – or destruction.

Arid Geiger is the seemingly hapless hero embedded at the heart of this story. While minding his own business in the blasted plains, searching for sources of precious water, he gets his small craft embroiled in a rig duel between two powerful factions. Miraculously, he manages to save the Lady Moonshine – the legendary rig of Queen Bea – from defeat.

His heroic actions don’t go unnoticed, but it doesn’t take long for Arid’s family history to be revealed, and for violent suspicions to swirl. Bearing the last name Geiger, Arid is linked to the mad geniuses who invented a weapon of mass destruction, The Omen, before betraying Queen Bea and escaping with the sinister design. An epic battle is brewing in the strangled remains of Earth, tensions are high, and when an attempt is made on the Queen’s life, Arid becomes the prime suspect.

Escaping into the wasteland with a child of the queen named Frey, Arid begins an arduous quest to discover his powerful potential, the significance of his family pendant, and what secrets lie buried inside his past. To prove his innocence, protect his friends and potentially stop a catastrophic war, this compelling young protagonist comes into his own power and seizes his destiny, one that could change the course of humanity.

This young-adult adventure is steeped in action, bizarre creatures, and unexpected allies, as well as a bit of romance and self-discovery thrown in for good measure. While the dystopian premise of the series is reminiscent of a recent blockbuster and book series by Philip Reeve, the setting of the books is original, and many of the characters are painstakingly crafted by Lingane’s skilled pen. The world-building on display here, from cyborg culture and engineering jargon to immersive historical exposition and interwoven plot lines, help this book stand apart from its peers.

In terms of story development, there are certain classic fantasy elements at play, particularly the unexpected journey by an intrepid young hero who attracts a growing fellowship. However, what works particularly well is the absence of clear good and evil within the story. In the harsh struggle for survival, morality becomes a blurry line, making it difficult for readers to immediately side with one faction or another. Avoiding the classic dichotomy of supreme evil versus overmatched heroes, Degrade is more realistic and less predictable. Despite being targeted at YA readers, there are complex and nuanced issues that lie beneath the surface of this narrative.

The descriptive passages are rich and visceral, and the majority of the character interactions are believable and purposeful for the plot. Some dialogic exchanges are somewhat clunky and drag down the pace of action sequences, but there are few other issues to speak of, and the prose is tightly polished.

Blending elements of sci-fi and fantasy with dystopian horror and suspense, Mark Lingane has struck upon something special with Degrade, which bodes well for the rest of this riveting new saga.