Book / Week 26 - The Hard Switch (2023)
2024/07/22
The Hard Switch
Written and illustrated by: Owen D. Pomery
Synopsis:
Ada, Haika, and Mallic are on a mission . . . one last mission, before everything, everywhere shuts down. They’re raiding old, abandoned spaceships and wrecks for the (sometimes-expensive) parts – and they make just enough money to get by. But living their nomadic, exploring life isn’t sustainable when they can’t afford fuel anymore.
The time is coming when the mineral that makes inter-system jumps possible runs out. When it does, the scattered inhabitants of the vast galaxy will be stuck where they are. Everything will be different . . . unless the discovery in the latest wreck Ada, Haika, and Mallic are scavenging can unlock a whole new kind of interstellar transit.
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This book suggestion came about through a Substack post by Brian K Vaughn, who had listed off the top books he’d read so far this year. Some of those I’ve picked up for myself, including Homicide: The Graphic Novel, IN: A Graphic Novel, and The Hard Switch. The cover and interior art of the Hard Switch sold me, and I’m always down for a hardcover indie book, especially if it’s in the sci-fi genre.
// The Story
In this future, interstellar space travel is made possible through a special mineral used as fuel, to allow space jumps. But this is a finite resource, and it is running out. Nomadic scavengers, like the group in this book, search for and raid old, crashed ships, in the hopes of salvaging any remaining fuel. Once the space system’s fuel deposits run out, space jumping will no longer be available, and you’ll be stuck on the planet or system you currently reside in.
On one of these recent scavenging trips, the group comes across a piece of mysterious metal with markings on it. Rumour has it that before the discovery of the present-day fuel source, space jumps were possible. And this mysterious metal and markings could be part of the key to rediscovering the old ways.
While planning a trip to find out more about the mysterious metal and markings, the team gets offered a job transporting a container to another system along the way. The delivery was marked as low priority, and the fee would help cover the detour plus a bit extra. It seems a little shady, but the crew needs the money, and takes the job. Along the way, they hear banging in the shipment container. Against better judgment, and breaking delivery code-of-conduct (never look inside the box), they enter the cargo hold to discover that the shipment was transporting people – but due to lack of oxygen, they were all dead save for one creature who was still alive. This creature’s alien body make-up allowed them to survive on low levels of oxygen, and they were the one causing the banging, trying to alert somebody.
The discovery of the shipping container’s contents leads the crew to stop at a local space station to drop the cargo and notify the authorities – who in turn won’t do anything as the owner of the shipping company is a shady character and they don’t want to cause any trouble. Plus, now that the container has been opened illegally, they expect that a security force will be tracking the crew now – for breach of contract – and want nothing to do with the scavenging team. So now the crew is out the delivery fee, and potentially in danger for deciding to open the cargo.
The crew continue along their path to find answers about the mysterious metal and symbols. Inquiries about the piece lead them to an art collector who has other pieces with the mysterious symbols. They discover this guy is the owner of the shady shipping company, and it all comes to a head when the mercenary security team show up, culminating in a big firefight. The team escape, not entirely unscathed, but with some answers and direction. And they plan to continue their journey, on the run, to find more answers that may solve space travel without the reliance on the galaxy’s depleting fuel source.
//Thought bubbles
Owen D. Pomery is completely new to me, but this 100 page book was surprisingly good. A unique sci-fi story with cartoony, colourful art.
The character designs are simple with very limited facial details. The characters have a lot of personality and are very believable. And the ship, and space stations and environmental design is simple in style, yet full of minor details to make it feel believable. My only complaint is the story is short, as I’d like to know more about this universe, but I think that adds to the appeal. The ending is left open for a sequel though, so maybe there’s plans for more.
Pomery also has another book, before this one, called Victory Point, and I’ve ordered that as well, as I enjoyed this one so much. It’s another short story – 70 pages. Maybe I’ll add it as a bonus read to next week’s column.
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Next read:
Week 27: Chu - Vol. 1 - John Layman & Dan Boultwood
Week 28: Spider-Man: Noir - David Hine
Week 29: Far Sector - N. K. Jemisin & Jamal Campbell
Week 30: The Watchmen - Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
Previous read:
Week 25: Phenomena - Book One: The Golden City of Eyes
Week 24: Newburn Vol. 1
Week 23: Suicide Squad: Get Joker / Wolverine: Rot
Week 22: Jupiter’s Legacy Vol 1-5
Week 21: Head Wounds: Sparrow