Goddess in the Machine

May 1, 2020
A girl wakes up from cryogenic sleep in an unrecognizable world. In 2161 Andra went into stasis for space travel to a new colony. When handsome-yet-snarky Zhade wakes her on an unexpectedly devastated desert world, she learns she's overslept--by around a thousand years. Worshipped as the last of the three goddesses (the other two having already woken), Andra's expected to save the world. Along with differences between the world she knew and the one she awoke in, evolution of the English language into a futuristic dialect adds to her disorientation. While heavy use of this device will likely polarize readers, the dialect goes beyond a sprinkling of slang, possessing a strong intuitive internal logic, an authentic-feeling rhythm, and, sometimes, amusing origins. The characters aren't quite as successful as the prose--love-interest Zhade is pretty stock for YA, and at times reading about Andra's needing to be rescued gets old. Once readers (and Andra) get their bearings in Zhade's storyline and Andra's role, a series of twists and curveballs amps up stakes and tension, carrying the plot to its sequel-promising conclusion. Zhade is coded as white; Andra is fat and cued as biracial (with a redheaded mother and Hokkien-speaking grandmother); the world has diversity in skin tone, and Andra notes that those at the top tend to be lighter skinned. An exceptionally ambitious debut from an author to watch. (Science fiction. 12-adult)

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Starred review from July 1, 2020

Gr 8 Up-When Andra awakes after 1,000 years of cryonic sleep, she has a lot of catching up to do. She was supposed to end up with her family on an Earth-like planet orbiting Andromeda; instead, she awakes to a desert planet awash with dust, corrupted nanobots, and a rogue prince named Zhade who's willing to use her to reclaim a throne that is rightfully his. The problem is that the current King doesn't want to give up the throne, and he has the tech to make it nearly impossible for Zhade to carry out his plan-a plan that involves Andra, the "Third Goddess," whether she likes it or not. Here's an intriguing story filled with politics, science fiction, and romance, and which offers twists and turns galore, right up to the last page. Andra and Zhade are compelling characters with a believably fraught romance that may turn out badly for both-requiring readers to discern that sometimes what's best for everyone isn't best for you personally. VERDICT Reminiscent of Moira Young's "Dustlands" series, this novel by debut author Johnson is a must-purchase for all YA science fiction collections. Highly recommended.-Elizabeth Friend, Wester M.S., TX

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July 13, 2020
In Johnson’s science fiction debut, 17-year-old Andromeda “Andra” Yue Watts awakes from her cryogenic sleep in the year 3102 to a world changed beyond recognition. She was only supposed to sleep for a century: instead, a thousand years have passed, and her contemporaries are long dead. Now she is alone on Holymyth, the planet where she, her family, and the other colonists planned to settle as they escaped the dying Earth. Johnson explores the relationship between science and religion through the people of Eerensed, who view Andra as the Third Goddess and nanotechnology as magic. Determined to return to Earth, Andra teams up with the charmingly untrustworthy Zhade—the bastard exiled prince of Eerensed—to gather the resources she needs for a new spaceship. In return, she must perform “miracles” to secure his status—a dangerous undertaking with Maret, Zhade’s half-brother and the skeptical ruler of Eerensed, watching her every move. Though light on scientific exposition and heavy on evolved linguistics that may frustrate some readers, a complicated romance and passable worldbuilding round out the tale. Zhade, Maret, and Andra are compelling, morally ambiguous characters, and Johnson’s plot twists ensure the narrative maintains interest. Ages 12–up. Agent: Victoria Marini, Irene Goodman Agency.