SENSOR

Combat-ready New East Texans valiantly defend their planet from vicious, dimension-hopping creatures in Pierce’s SF sequel.

Earth has been under threat ever since WARPs (Winged Appendaged Rapacious Predators) began attacking. Some of these apex predators, having breached the veil between “coexisting dimensions,” are invisible, and only human “sensors” have the natural ability to detect them immediately. Humans have rallied together, forming “battle packs” of trained individuals who’ve vowed to protect innocent civilians. In Texas, Cherokee County has inexplicably suffered an unusually high number of WARP assaults. The locals’ defense, heavily shielded, armed tractors, is the newest strategy for fighting the otherworldly creatures. Cherokee’s “Saber,” or battle-pack leader, assigns farmer Hans Berger the task of overseeing design of “battle tractors” and training drivers. In the meantime, WARP strikes show no sign of slowing down, and analysts such as Zoe Marie Best continually study the enigmatic monsters to better understand them; perhaps humans can devise a weapon to take out the WARPs for good. Pierce’s follow-up to Sensor (co-written by Alvino Hernandez, 2020) deftly reintroduces the series’ dystopian world. Although it’s likely a global invasion is underway, this streamlined plot centers on the people of Cherokee and a few surrounding areas. There’s a hearty batch of heroes, most notably Hans and his wife, Anakai (the namesake of his revered battle tractor), brothers Jude and Luke McLendon, and the brilliant Zoe. They fuel a story that builds to a significant battle, teased in the prologue. However, much of the narrative consists of characters discussing combat tactics, including at a lengthy “Summit” that takes up roughly 40 pages. Still, there are intermittent burst of action, and nice touches along the way, from the packs’ “battle jackets,” complete with patches awarded for kills, to the Governor’s Mansion, an abandoned high school turned into housing. A terrific open ending allows for further sequels.

An often-engaging series installment with a smartly detailed plot.