Deadly Going Dark by J.M. Erickson features David Montgomery Strong, an emotionally numbed young aristocrat who lacks a fear response. The setting begins on a ruined, highly stratified Earth before shifting to humid underground caverns on Mars. After surviving a brutal childhood assault and a botched chemical treatment that rewired his brain, David runs away from his tyrannical family at age thirteen. He survives in the lawless Dark Zone, rescues a commandant’s daughter named Isabelle Taylor, and receives a military commission to lead Fort Deadly on the Martian frontier. As his command grows, David’s tactical operations directly intercept and influence other major figures across the Martian frontier, including the legendary rebel Cassandra, elite naval officers, and exceptional frontline specialists. The real trouble begins when he rebels against the Earth system, switches broken laser rifles for reliable kinetic firearms, and confronts his childhood tormentors who arrive to seize his base. Can he successfully cut ties with Earth and keep his new frontier home from being crushed?

Deadly Going Dark by J.M. Erickson is a dystopian, military science fiction novel that offers a fascinating look at psychological conditioning. The descriptive prose lingers on every detail, like the specific mechanics of kinetic firearms, as well as the oppressive heat of the underground caverns. I didn’t expect that level of detail regarding the alliance between the frontier outpost and the neighboring Freeport Twelve network; in fact, this drew me deeper into the story. The pacing mirrors a calculated military campaign, building methodically as the protagonist establishes his cross-caste militia. The book develops high stakes through purely tactical maneuvers as we watch a leader who operates entirely without panic. The outer-rim scenes stay sharp and vivid the whole way through. The story offers a fresh take on revolution by prioritizing day-to-day survival over dramatic grandstanding. It’s a nice choice for readers who love precise background details and enjoy complicated political chess matches. I also think it’s a great match for fans of factional power struggles and detailed world-building. Highly recommended.

It’s 2100 C.E. America is now called the Great Third Republic, a state formed after the Great Conflict of 2041. In this state, people are divided into three classes: the Caucasian patricians at the top, followed by plebs, and slaves at the bottom. David Strong, a young patrician, is hated by his family because he insists on treating everyone equally. When he is admitted to the hospital after a scandalous incident, his father asks the doctors to administer a procedure to him to erase his memory. However, instead of losing his memory, the procedure only makes him more calculating and dangerous. At thirteen, David has already completed a couple of years of military school and is due to enter war college, the next level. As he leaves home for college, David has a secret plan. He intends to go to the Dead Zone, a haven for runaways, and never return home. Will David survive the challenges and responsibilities awaiting him? Find out in Deadly Going Dark by J M Erickson.

If you are looking for a dystopian sci-fi novel laced with drama, adventure, action, suspense, and a coming-of-age tale, Deadly Going Dark by J M Erickson is a worthy pick. Set in the near future, Erickson teases the return of classism and slavery in a technologically advanced world. I was drawn into the characters’ troubled world with steady narration and vivid depictions. I could see everything, from the controlled appearance of the living habitat’s interior to the harsh exterior shrouded in smog, dark brown skies filled with eroding particles, the grimy underground market of the Delta Exchange, and the Dead Zone’s desolate and ruined setting. I found the epigraphs interesting. As David dealt with his family’s toxic dynamics and the state’s oppressive system, I understood his hatred, rage, fear, defiance, and choices. Erickson uses the story to explore themes of family dysfunction, oppression, inequality, racism, discrimination, exploitation, and technology, among others. In a world where class and status determine power, David must use his own wisdom to bring change.