The Future
by Naomi Alderton
science fiction
copyright 2023
read in May 2024
rated 6/10: read to pass the time
I've just deleted my first review of this book.
Not because I disagree with it but because I finally... finally, read past the wishful thinking and found an enjoyable novel.
If you can read to the end -- the book is easy to read but contains a lot of nonsense -- you will find a good science fiction novel.
The cast of characters is compact but the story includes a wide range of groups.
There are the preppers. Stockpiling weapons and supplies in preparation for the end of the world.
There is the influencer who reviews the weapons and supplies, with no practical understanding of their use or value.
There is the religious cult. Already living in post-apocalyptic survival mode.
And the internet discussion group. And clever coders who can crack security codes oved pizza and illegal substances.
And the filthy rich tech sellers who have built their own survival bunkers.
All of these people play important roles. Yet there is the strong feeling that the author has absolutely zero "lived experience". All of her ideas are from the public, or internet, perception of how these people will think and act.
One example: An escapee from the cult is able to impress her urban companions with her ability to dress a rabbit. Her method results in a mess of blood and gore. It's meant to demonstrate her knife skills. Circumstantial evidence would indicate that she had used a chainsaw.
The overall theme is, one, humans are destroying the environment. Two, Nice people could take simple actions to save the world. Of course these actions would be expensive, so they must be done by other, really rich, people.
There is a thread of fundamentalist religion, with the Old Testament interpreted to support the author's message.
We are told that all the world's ills are due to (1) brother hating brother and (2) city dwellers ignoring (or destroying) the Noble Savage. Cain and Abel are given as the original fighting brothers. Which is interesting. As I read the OT, It was God who *told* one brother to grow crops and the other to raise animals. (Not hunt and gather as this book says). Then it was God who praised one brother and dissed the other.
Not brother hating brother rather, the boss deliberately causing jealousy and hatred. (Feel free to correct my memory of the OT).
Finally... the book is very modern and exclusively "gender inclusive"
The lesbian lovers are "good". The male queer is almost as good. Straight couples are the evil manipulators and destroyers. The Enbee person is both good and clever.
It was when I read the enbee's list of actions which would save the world that I almost gave up in disgust. A list of nonsense items which -- if only someone else would spend a lot of money -- would save the world.
For example: insulation for everyone. Yes, that will save energy for the people who live in first-world structures. For the people of, say, Gaza and very poor countries -- who live in shelters made of plastic sheets and rubble -- it will need more than pink batts to raise their standard of living.
So at 40% read, I was embarrassed.
Still, easy to read, so I read on.
Somewhere past half way and the story began to make sense.
The author shifted from a woke diatribe to an engaging plot. With enough original ideas, futuristic science and human character to make for an interesting novel. Still a bit embarrassing but worth reading.
A good author can provide a readable novel with the spice of ideas which linger on in the reader's mind. This author slathers her ideas on like marmalade, which is fine -- if you already enjoy marmalade.
If you can read the first half, resist the urge to laugh out loud -- this book is worth reading. To pass the time. Or to reinforce your existing views.
a bit later: Oh, I almost forgot. One point where the author is absolutely correct... AI is absolutely *not* intelligence.
Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
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Bandaid solutions hurt when they are removed.
...Dying for you to Read my blog: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com
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