The Defectives – Jim Bates

Pages: 146
Released On: 01/03/2025

Life for Len and Alex is not pleasant. It’s the 27th century, and they are living in an orphanage with thirty other boys like themselves. They are labelled Defectives. They don’t fit the accepted mould for the appearance-based society. Their faces are covered in purplish/red birthmarks, their vision is poor, and they are slight in stature. They also live in an underground city like the rest of the world’s population. Humans were driven there by tracliodytes, cockroach-like creatures who attacked and took over Earth in the 22nd century. Because the boys are defective, they will be sent to work when they turn twelve, digging tunnels. For the rest of their lives.

With this bleak future in front of them, Len and Alex decide to make a bold escape. They travel through the city’s ventilation system to the Earth’s surface. They are captured by a tracliodyte patrol, and so begins a new life for Len and Alex. Being held captive is not so bad for the two boys. The tracliodytes have evolved into a benevolent and peaceful society. For the two friends, it’s a life far better than the two ever imagined, especially compared to living underground. They love the sunshine and the fresh air and make many new friends.

When word of their escape reaches the orphanage of defective girls, Kyla and Fae, the two of them also escape to the surface. However, along with themselves, they bring all of the other twenty girls of the orphanage with them. Their escape is an affront to Supreme Commander Botta. He vows revenge, and plans are made to bring both the girls and Len and Alex back to face trial, torture, and a final hideous fate. With an army from underground led by Botta, he stages a surprise attack on the peace-loving tracliodytes. The stage is set for an epic confrontation that will determine the fate of not only the young defectives but the future of life on Earth.

*****

Thanks to Jim for sending me a gifted copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I have read several of Jim’s novels, novellas, and short stories over the years, and I’m always very impressed by them. I’ve said before that whilst there’s nothing “lesser” about self publishing instead of going the traditional route, I’ve always felt Jim’s books could rival those in popular bookshops.

It does pose some interesting questions. Is it better to have your own life, but have your physical freedom taken away from you, being forced to stay underground, with no natural light, no fresh water, bad food? Or is it better to live under someone else’s control but be able to live out in the world with fresh water and food and flowers? What do you value more?

I think it also looks at the way we treat others that don’t look the same as the majority. And I mean this in two ways. Firstly, the children who look different due to birthmarks of bad eyesight or other “defective” qualities. Why should those that are, for all intents and purposes, perfect be more valued than others? But also it looks at the comparison between the humans and the Tracliodytes, the differences and similiarties in them.

I did enjoy the interactions between the human boys and girls, and then their interactions with the Tracliodytes, they were interesting to compare.

I did enjoy what was there, there’s nothing wrong with it. But having finished it, I think I would have preferred it without the whole Tracliodytes invasion bit. I think it would have been a great commentary on society’s obsession with perfection if it had just been focussed on the defectives being hidden away and only the “perfect” being allowed their freedom. But I’m aware this is aimed at young adults and perhaps that kind of thing is more attractive to them. So it’s not a problem with the story as such or what Jim has written, it’s just my preference.

But overall, Jim has created an interesting, thought-provoking, exciting story that captured my attention from the very first page.