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Darby Harn is the author of the forthcoming novel EVER THE HERO. His fiction appears in Strange Horizons, Interzone and other venues. He graduated from the University of Iowa and studied in the Irish Writing Program at Trinity College, in Dublin.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Ever The Hero is a work of science fiction in the superhero sub-genre, and it was written by author Darby Harn. The plot follows the emotional and professional lives of protagonists Kit and Valene as they struggle for survival in a devastated city on the brink of descending into total ruin. Kit, a scavenger of alien tech, begins a relationship with Valene when she finds the Empowered hero suffering with her powers of hearing everything, everywhere. As Valene falters, Kit tries anything to help her, and in the process she unleashes powers of her own that allow her to take energy and knowledge from anyone and anything that she touches.
It was absolutely delightful to sink into a sensitive and serious look at the superhero genre from a much more deeply human perspective, and to have LGBTQ+ representation on top of that was an extra slice of socially aware goodness. The relationship between Kit and Valene is excellently played, with beats of fraught romance and the complexity of Valene’s Empowered condition causing realistic stress and strain on their tentative romance. The world around them is expertly drawn by author Darby Harn, making for a dark and cinematic read which captivates your imagination with its many characters and backdrops. Whilst I think there’s plenty of potential for more in this world, this particular episode is well plotted and satisfyingly wrapped up as a singular read as well. Overall, Ever The Hero is highly recommended for fans of LGBTQ+ fiction, superhero genre readers and sci-fi fans alike.
