Book Review: Drift by M. K. Hutchins
- bigwhitebox1
- Oct 17, 2014
- 3 min read
By Matt Warnock
I just finished M. K. Hutchins’ Drift and I can easily say it has been a long time since I’ve seen such inventive worldbuilding. If it doesn’t jump right out at you from the cover, turtles play a large part in the story. But we’re not talking about some garden variety box turtles, or even mutagenically altered, anthropomorphized, martial arts practicing turtles. We’re talking about ginormous turtles that float around on endless oceans carrying civilizations upon their massive backs.
That’s right, in the world that Hutchins has created, everyone lives on the back of turtles so enormous they can support thousands of people as well as a giant tree that reaches up into the heavens. The people, in turn, support the turtle, defending it from the monsters that swim in the ocean and other turtles whose masters are on the lookout for smaller, weaker turtles they can conquer. Through the unique ecosystem described in Drift, the turtles provide food and shelter for their inhabitants while the people steer their turtle to massive reefs where they can feed on the ocean life that congregates there.
The society Hutchins’ has created from this backdrop is equally inventive. The highest ranking anyone from the society can achieve is to be one of the Handlers that defend the turtle, care for the tree, and act as the ruling class. At the opposite end of the societal spectrum are the Hubs, men and women who spend their lives farming and raising families. While it is necessary to have people to farm and populate the turtle, it is also seen as a disgrace, because each person slows down the turtle just a little more.
But that’s just where Hutchins gets started. Throughout the book, the main character's sister hints at another way of life, of a kind of paradise where they don’t have to worry about the monsters in the deep and the other turtles roaming the ocean. Tenjat, the main character, thinks this is all nonsense and believes the only course of action he should strive for is to become one of the Tenders that defend the island.
Through the natural progression of the story, the reader comes to understand all the complexities of this very different society without the need for infodump moments that would take one out of the experience. When Hutchins finally reveals the mystery behind the turtle islands and their inhabitants there is another layer added to the richness of the story. The mythologies that Hutchins ties together make a more complete picture that completely change the struggles of the main characters as they traverse the seas.
Hutchins’ book is immersive and well written. The characters and their motivations are clear and their relationships are shifting and multifaceted. I was pulled into the story quickly and completed the book almost as quickly, which is saying something for me. One thing that I really appreciated from this book, that I don’t personally see enough of in fantasy is that this is a complete story. Sure, Hutchins leaves room for other tales in this world, and even with these characters, but this story is done. Too many times I’ve picked up a fantasy novel only to be left with a cliffhanger ending that I have to wait for the next volume, or volumes, to complete the story. Series and trilogies are attractive in fantasy settings, I get that, but I truly appreciate it when an author weaves a complete tale in one book.
Despite being a book about turtles and not featuring any appearances by four pizza-loving brothers that go by the names of Leonardo, Donatello, Michaelangelo, and Raphael, I say M. K. Hutchins’ Drift is a must read and a great example of worldbuilding. Considering Drift is Hutchins’ first novel, I’m very interested to see what her next book will be.
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