The Future
A gripping exploration of survival in a collapsing world
Format:Hardback
Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers
Published:7th Nov '23
Should be back in stock very soon
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£9.99(9780008309176)
In The Future, survivalist Lai Zhen and corporate strategist Martha Einkorn face a world on the brink of collapse, exploring themes of resilience and privilege.
In The Future, the latest novel from the Women’s Prize-winning author of The Power, readers are taken on a thrilling journey through a world on the brink of collapse. Lai Zhen, an Internet-famous survivalist, finds herself facing the ultimate test of her skills. Cornered in a mall in Singapore, she grapples with the reality of her impending death, questioning whether she will leave this world without truly understanding it. As she fights for survival, the question looms: if she escapes, what future awaits her in a world spiraling into chaos?
Meanwhile, Martha Einkorn navigates a high-stakes gathering of the ultra-wealthy, each intent on securing a future that benefits only themselves. Having escaped her father's oppressive compound, she is haunted by the apocalyptic warnings from his sermons. As the signs of impending doom become increasingly evident, Martha must confront the consequences of her past choices and the reality of a world that seems to be crumbling around her.
As the lives of Zhen and Martha intertwine, the narrative builds towards a climactic confrontation between the privileged elite and those fighting for a chance at a better future. The Future explores themes of survival, privilege, and the human spirit's resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. It poses the question: can hope and curiosity triumph over destruction, or is it too late for civilization?
'Gripping' Margaret Atwood
'Intricate, compelling' The Financial Times
'Alderman has crafted characters readers will want to follow wherever they go—even to the end of the world. A smart, engrossing fable about digital technology and human community' Kirkus Starred Review
'Immensely readable' Washington Post
‘Alderman has gone from promising young author to publishing phenomenon, a writer gifted with the double Midas touch of commercial success and literary prestige … Alderman is a fabulous, witty writer on the digital world’ Sunday Times
‘This is a terrific novel that, for all its dystopian elements, may even make you optimistic about what lies ahead’ SFX Magazine
'The endless intrigue and surprising twists keep the pages turning' Publishers Weekly
'Playful, incisive, horribly relevant and surprisingly hopeful, The Future is a thrill ride that’s also a powerful manifesto. A little Atwood, a little Gibson, all Alderman, it’s brilliant and I loved it' Lauren Beukes, bestselling author of The Shining Girls
'It is the genius of Naomi Alderman to embed a smart and thought-provoking meditation inside a page-turner of a book. This is one wild (and thoughtful) ride' Karen Joy Fowler, bestselling author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
'How can a novel of big ideas be such compulsively readable entertainment? A nail-biting love story and a witty page-turner about the pros and cons of human civilization, The Future is a wow' Emma Donoghue, bestselling author of Room
'The Future couldn't be more timely, or more welcome … a rollicking, fun-packed thriller with juicy stakes, constantly escalating twists, and a cast of characters who feel like they already exist somewhere out there in our fragile, free-wheeling present' Alastair Reynolds, author of Eversion
ISBN: 9780008309138
Dimensions: 240mm x 159mm x 36mm
Weight: 660g
416 pages