ALBION

By Dr John Emsley (warning: spoilers)

Overall impression: once I started reading the book I was swept along by the story and read it all in a morning. It had me thoroughly hooked. Excellent and well written.

This is a dystopian novel set in 2050 in a world that has been badly affected by a new and fatal disease, the Sickness. This killed a third of the population, and resulted in a totalitarian state in the UK, whose name is now Albion. It would be nice to have been told a bit more about the Sickness itself, namely its symptoms and the effect it had on individuals. It kills both of the main character’s (James) parents, but Chapter 5 doesn’t say much about it.

The first part of the book is basically a love story between James and his childhood sweetheart Tamsin who is raped by members of the state-run Youth Command. James has also to serve his time with that organisation, before he chooses to become a trainee solicitor, but mentally and emotionally he is a rebel. He then falls in love with Jo, who is a left-wing activist and she becomes his partner. She produces a newspaper with anti-government views. (It would have been interesting if a few headlines from this publication could have been included.) The book contains descriptions of the prevailing conditions in London which I found very interesting. The coverage of the love affair, and the society they live in, is just about right.

I liked chapters 23-25, in which Tamsin re-enters the story but she is now part of the totalitarian state, and the unexpected consequences that follow.

In the final chapter of the book James appears to have become a suicide bomber who has decided to blow up some key government building. Not knowing whether he will be successful in this, is not spelled out and is a good way to end the book.

Reviewers will undoubtedly compare this book with George Orwell’s 1984 and I think it stands comparison with it, both in plot and style.

By Angelite 

James Benedict became an enemy of the state in subtle ways that left him undetected for a long time. His courage and charisma drew strong attractive women into life, women who helped shape his views and destiny. Kay's writing guides you effortlessly from scene to earth-shattering scene, seen through the eyes of a rebel. It's realistic enough, although no one seems to be micro-chipped and there aren't any robots. The final scene is a bit of a cliff hanger. Would like to see a sequel.

By Alice Southerby, Cambs

I read the book over a few days earlier in the week. I found it easy to read and the story had a good speed and was quite believable bearing in mind that it is post-apocalyptic and not the sort of thing I would normally read.