Misfits by Gary Davis is a unique story that creates new paths for science fiction as the plot moves into comedy and then into conspiracy. To someone who takes it superficially, it will seem like a simple alien story; however, Davis seamlessly ties in threads of humor with an elevated high-stakes mystery in his plot. What sets Misfits apart is not just the discovery of alien life but how it does so with a group of local misfit teens and a series of comical, unintended blunders. Misfits center on a group of aliens stranded in the mountains, awaiting a way back home. But unlike most of these science fiction novels, this alien mystery gets subdued to some story of kids growing up in this small mill town and their urge to unburden secrets, which in better judgment are kept that way. Starting as an argument series of comic accidents and eventually spiraling right into a conspiracy where the children become key players unknowingly in a governmental operation to redevelop an artifact from aliens excavated during a mining process.
Which is where Misfits breaks the mold. While the plot hinges on classic sci-fi tropes-alien artifacts, secret government operations, and a small-town conspiracy-what really makes the story sing is the comedic elements. The kids are far from perfect; they’re not superheroes or geniuses, but their missteps and moments of sheer luck make the story incredibly relatable and human. The humor within the story dissipates the tension, making readers laugh while things are becoming worse.
One of the more enjoyable aspects of this story is the way the teens have contact with their environment. When one teen hacks into his father’s lab computer and starts ordering extra parts for the alien artifact, it was an innocent enough act that gets out of hand. It’s his naive decision to double the order, and a second alien object has been assembled deep inside the abandoned Cold War shelter of the school. The outrageousness of that situation then builds into a series of hilarious situations as the kids work around the military personnel trying to keep all the town secrets from unraveling.
The conspiracy element adds a layer of intrigue. The involvement of the military, along with the mysterious people in town who seem to know more than they let on, raises the stakes and gives the story a real sense of danger. As the tension builds with the children’s discoveries about the mysterious artifact, some hard choices are in order: do they risk everything to unmask the truth or protect their town and its secrets?
Gary Davis’s Misfits is a blend of science fiction and humor rarely used to date. With its plot full of twists, quirky characters, and a mystery that keeps people guessing, the story has a lot more to offer than alien encounters: it is a reflection on curiosity, friendship, and life’s capricious nature. Whether you’re a fan of science fiction or just looking for a thrilling, funny read, Misfits delivers a compelling narrative that is hard to put down.