If you follow this blog you’ll know that Dystopian/Sci Fi/Speculative fiction is definitely not my usual genre to read but I thought I’d give this a go, as it’s by local Armagh writer Byddi Lee. I’m going to review this without giving the storyline away, apart from the general background, as that would spoil the fun and surprises in the plot.

In June 2034, Planet Earth has just about survived a devastating attack from aliens called ‘Melters’ which has resulted in the rapid heating up of the planet. Most of the world is now underwater, with societies now existing in ‘subscrapers.’ The book certainly starts with a bang, straight into the action with really strong imagery (the Statue of Liberty melting) - it’s global warming with the fast forward button being pressed hard.

The Protagonist is Bobbi Chan, a doctor who works with the ‘ultra elderly,’ who becomes concerned when some disturbing symptons start appearing in her patients. Her employers aren’t overly concerned - it’s ‘just’ the elderly after all - but Bobbi cares for her patients and is determined to get to the bottom of the disease.

Dystopian fiction works well because it’s rooted in our fears, and here the issue of euthanasia and an ageing population, as well as global warming and the problems that this causes for societies. I also thought of the Chinese ‘One child Policy’ when reading this, as you can’t have a child until someone in your family dies.

Part of the pleasure for me in this book was seeing places I’m familiar with, even if they are underwater. Travelling into Armagh was particularly enjoyable, to see how the Cathedral city, and now Irelands capital, had coped. I’m hoping my landlord won’t have read this, as they may put my rent up as it looks as if my apartment may have survived. City hall and Seagahan dam also feature. But if you have extra cash lying around and are looking for an investment opportunity, I’d suggest underwater tourism.

There is a lot of technology here - it’s not my strong point, but it’s well explained. I think in world building, especially when it comes to the future, the tech has to be believable, and it is - I was so happy to see, finally, flying cars - but the problem for me is that it can be then to used to explain almost anything. Not saying it’s a particular problem in this book, it’s just an issue I have with science fiction/dystopian fiction in general.

And too much technology/acronyms get in the way of the story. If I get it once, and I believe it, I’m happy to go along with it for the rest of the book. I think I’d be happy to live without the ‘blinks’ in this book but each to their own (imagine your skull buzzing if you received a text). Nano paint, carebots, sensorfabrik - you can tell Byddi Lee had a lot of fun coming up with this technology.

Science is also a bit of a weakness of mine and I did struggle at times but I got how it related to the overall story. Again, it’s part of the reason why I don’t bother with Science Fiction but I am glad I persevered.

An issue I’ve had with dystopian/science fiction in the past is that the characters are a bit one dimensional but it’s certainly not a problem here. Bobbi Chan is an interesting and complex character, who has built a career fighting illness and death and was affected deeply by the loss of her twin at an early age, and her relationship with her sister Joy is at times a complicated one. I liked the banter between the characters and there is plenty of humour throughout.

If the pace seemed to flag a bit in the second third (though I understood why it had to, in order to move all the pieces into place) it builds to a crescendo towards the end, frantic and action packed with a lot at stake.

As I was reading the book I came across this article in the Guardian. Just you know, er, leaving this here……’Scientists rejuvenate tissues in middle aged mice…’

I received a copy of this book from the author, in return for an honest review.

Published March 25, 2020 Castrum Press

236 Pages

Authors Website

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