Overview of My Second Book – The Drift

The Drift is very near and dear to my heart. Although there is no question that I wrote it, I felt like the characters were telling their stories themselves and I was only serving as the conduit.

The book, written in two parts, starts with a near-cataclysmic blizzard in the small resort community of Crystal Lake. Residents who have remained behind during the off-season period are forced to contend with the storm. Each character is well thought out with unique personalities and traits. The first part of the book is an adventure in survival.

In the second part of the book, we meet Ra, a man from the future who believes he is doing the right thing. Ra’s job is to incapacitate and collect individuals who would otherwise die and bring them to a future world that is struggling for survival. In this instance, that means the entire town of Crystal Lake.

Upon arrival, the tight-knit community must band together to survive in this strange new world and find a way to get back home.

From a kid who loves his donuts to a dog who loves his master, you’ll engage with the characters in vivid detail. There’s even a robot who can pop his head off for entertainment!

If you’re partial to dystopian thrillers, then give The Drift a read and let me know what you think. The Kindle version is only $3.99 on Amazon and I often run free promotions.

REVIEWS

Reviewed by Lex Allen for Readers’ Favorite

“I’ve been fortunate to have read for review a string of top-notch novels for Reader’s Favorite the past several weeks and The Drift by David Maxwell earned its way to the top of that list. In this stunning science-fiction thriller, the town of Crystal Falls is hit by a winter storm of unbelievable proportions and intensity. The townsfolk struggle to survive and assemble in the local clinic. Following a series of hair-raising events, characterized by great acts of bravery and determination, it looks like almost everyone has survived the worst … and that’s when the shite really hits the fan.

The Drift is a strong, character driven, magnificent story that touches on several emotional themes and personal discoveries as the actors struggle within a dystopian world in which an advanced society’s strategies for survival and rejuvenation of their dying world infringes upon and enslaves another. Mr. Maxwell is expert in building and defining his characters. Regardless of their place in the story – major or minor actor, protagonist or antagonist – he brings them to life with an unparalleled sense of verisimilitude. These actors are true to life and unforgettable.

The Drift is a refreshing view of a familiar (for sci-fi fans) theme, told in compelling fashion, perfectly paced with each scene meshing and setting the stage for the next. You’ll find little to no “tell” in this story; it’s almost entirely “show.” I easily visualized every scene. As applicable, I felt love, empathy, sympathy, dislike, and/or hatred for every character. If I could reduce this review to a single sentence, it would be this: If you read only one book this year, make sure it’s The Drift by David Maxwell.”

“Okay, wow. I read David Maxwell’s first novel, Rebirth, and enjoyed it. With The Drift, the author has really won me over.

The plot was fantastic, well thought out and surprising. There were plenty of times during the course of the story that I had reservations (“How can this be?”) and I was afraid that the answers would either be unsatisfactory or completely missing. I was so happy to discover that all the questions that occurred to me throughout the book (and believe me, plenty of questions get raised!) ended up not only being answered, but answered in a way that was not just satisfying but perfect. And all that without being at all predictable.

Having said all that about the plot (and I refuse to say more because in this book it would be way too easy to give a spoiler – I think it will be far better for the reader to come to the various plot revelations just as I did!), I don’t think I can say enough about the characterization. There are a lot of characters in this book, major and minor – a whole town’s worth. The author brings each of them their own personality and makes you feel you know them. Not only are the characters themselves vivid and believable, but the town of Crystal Falls is itself a character, fully and richly realized. In fact, the storm that descends on Crystal Falls at the beginning of the book is a well-wrought character in itself.

Oh yeah, and I cried at the end (happy tears). You know you’ve got me when I get that involved in a story.

The Drift was a journey well worth taking and I strongly recommend it to lovers of science fiction, intricate plotting and great characters. Well done!” – Davyne DeSye

“Very well written. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen I was wrong. I loved the emotional roller coaster the story takes you on.” – Kindle Reader “Thinking back on the complexities of each character and the way Maxwell was able to unfold the twists and turns of the narrative in such an easy flow, I feel compelled to write this review and to recommend The Drift to other readers.

I can’t escape the feeling that Maxwell really put a piece of himself into this.” – Kindle Reader

“So much fun to read! From the beginning chapters, my heart was racing and I couldn’t get through the pages fast enough. The suspense builds as the characters come to life, leaving the reader anxiously wondering what their fate will be. I found myself really worrying about the sweet and relatable citizens of Crystal Falls! That anxiety grew as the story unfolded, with twists and turns that I never could have dreamed up. The plot is fascinating and thought-provoking, whether you are a science fiction fan or not. David Maxwell did an excellent job of drawing the reader into the story, eliciting the reader’s concern and interest in his characters, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, creating a unique and entertaining plot, and wrapping it all up in a perfect way. As I read this book, I could envision every bit of it on the big screen. It would make such a great movie! I really enjoyed this book and encourage everyone to give it a try!” – Lindsay Asawa

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