Slavemakers

Joseph Wallace

Dec 2015 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

The new postapocalyptic thriller from the author of Invasive Species

IT’S THEIR TERRITORY NOW.

Twenty years ago, venomous parasitic wasps known as “thieves” staged a massive, apocalyptic attack on another species—Homo sapiens—putting them on the brink of extinction.  

But some humans did survive. The colony called Refugia is home to a population of 281, including scientists, a pilot, and a tough young woman named Kait. In the African wilderness, there’s Aisha Rose, nearly feral, born at the end of the old world. And in the ruins of New York City, there’s a mysterious, powerful boy, a skilled hunter, isolated and living by his wits.  

As the survivors journey through the wastelands, they will find that they are not the only humans left on earth. Not by a long shot.

But they may be the only ones left who are not under the thieves’ control...

Ratings and reviews

An unbelievably compelling read. Slavemakers is a sequel to Joe Wallace's Invasive Species, but there is no need to have read the first book to read and appreciate Slavemakers. I was as hooked in the first ten pages as I was by Invasive Species. The imagery was vibrant and allowed me to visualize every step, every action by the characters, to the point of hearing their voices in my head. Every page felt as if I was walking the journey alongside Malcolm, Kait, and Aisha, experiencing every momentary rise of hope and shiver of fear. The future portrayed in Invasive Species and Slavemakers is poignantly plausible, requiring only a few evolutionary or genetic tweaks and mutations in a species to bring about. This amplifies the fear the books impart, as well as the intensity of the experience. And yet, at it's core, it comes across more as an examination of human nature than anything else. The characters provide insight into their own humanity as well as both our modern world and simpler times, particularly our true place on the totem pole in nature. I would highly recommend this novel and its precursor to anyone who loves good scifi, good literature in general, or even is just looking for something to read on a long plane flight.

Its rare that a sequel is better than the first novel, but in my opinion, that is the case for Slavemakers in many ways. While the first novel, Invasive Species, had a group of likable, distinct, and well developed characters, the setting for Slavemakers allows for the author to come up with really unique points of view. The backstory to these characters (and a few recurring heroes) bridges the gap between the two books in a way that is compelling and thought provoking. The action from last novel is not lacking here but strengthened by new points of view in a new world. The "monsters" of the story have only somehow become more terrifying and surviving them even more important in a new world struggling to rebuild humanity amongst the chaos and wreckage left behind by the Slavemakers.

About the author

Joseph Wallace, author of Slavemakers, Invasive Species, and Diamond Ruby, has written for Sierra, Audubon, Newsday, and many other publications, and contributed short stories to Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, among others.