RATS: Revolutionary Army of Teens
We Are One
A novel about first contact and global connectivity, R.A.T.S: Revolutionary Army of Teens is about video-game players from around the world working together in the name of ecological concern.
In Claudia Daher’s insightful science fiction novel R.A.T.S: Revolutionary Army of Teens, teenagers train to combat an extraterrestrial threat through a virtual reality game.
Intertwined storylines follow a historical mystery related to a Machu Picchu temple, a girl’s coming-of-age travels to the US with a friend, and a secret US program to study unidentified objects. These threads connect through David, an Arubian teenager in 2040, as he begins to master R.A.T.S, a virtual reality game created by his grandfather. The nonviolent game promotes global connectivity, encouraging players from around the world to work together to mutual benefit. When an alien force arrives and begins siphoning off Earth’s water, threatening an apocalyptic collapse, David and his friends, bolstered by the game, take up the call to confront the invasion, coming to terms with their potential deaths and saying goodbye to their families.
Though the narrative is at first nonlinear, switching between formal cadences and relaxed banter to reflect its different periods, there is an easier flow after David’s arrival. As David learns the true purpose of the game, the story becomes more tense as well. When he’s speaking to his friends, he is exuberant and inspiring, encouraging them to fight. The secondary characters are underdeveloped in comparison to David, though. Further, the book is forceful when it comes to discussing ecological preservation and social cooperation: There are frequent discussions about the necessity of living in harmony with nature and asking for help rather than going it alone.
The writing style is at times poetic, as with “the silver jet began its slow, steady descent,” and it shifts between inner musings and cinematic narration well. For example, while awaiting the pulsating, glimmering alien force amassed in space, David reflects on the success of the game and the loyalty of his friends. Indeed, room is made for contemplative moments throughout, even in the midst of action: First contact shatters the teenagers’ worldviews and also pushes them to act. The action itself is handled in quite brisk terms, though, resulting in unevenness.
In the provocative science fiction novel R.A.T.S: Revolutionary Army of Teens, game-fed ecological consciousness complements a young team’s planet-saving adventure. This series-opening novel leaves some questions unanswered, including about David’s grandfather, HB. Still, the cliffhangers related to the alien invasion and its aftermath generate interest in the teenagers’ continuing story.
Reviewed by
John M. Murray
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
