Next year. Sea levels begin to rise. The change is far more rapid than any climate change predictions; metres a year. Within two years London, only 15 metres above the sea, is drowned. New York follows, the Pope gives his last address from the Vatican, Mecca disappears beneath the waves. Where is all the water coming from? Scientists estimate that the earth was formed with seas 30 times in volume their current levels. Most of that water was burnt off by the sun but some was locked in the earth's mantle. For the tip of Everest to disappear beneath the waters would require the seas to triple their volume. That amount of water is still much less than 1% of the earth's volume. And somehow it is being released. The world is drowning. The biblical flood has returned. And the rate of increase is building all the time. Mankind is on the run, heading for high ground. Nuclear submarines prowl through clouds of corpses rising from drowned cities, populations are decimated and finally the dreadful truth is known. Before 50 years have passed there will be nowhere left to run. FLOOD tells the story of mankind's final years on earth. The stories of a small group of people caught up in the struggle to survive are woven into a tale of unimaginable global disaster. And the hope offered for a unlucky few by a second great ark . . .
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Flood
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Review
Baxter's vision of a drowning earth is compelling. (Lisa Tuttle THE TIMES )
A central narrative that's as relentless as a Panzer sweeping across lowland France in 1940. Amid huge events, the author still finds time for the intimate, the human-sized. (Jonathan Wright SFX )
He retains that uniquely easy way of dramatizing scientific possibilities into an engaging survivial narrative, while throwing in some satirical barbs. (STARBURST )
'FLOOD has an increasing sense of gravitas, and even, by the end, a genuine weight of mourning. It's actually a novel that gains in power as it goes along, and as it becomes increasingly apparent that no miracle technofixes are in sight. A largely old fashioned disaster tale presented with spectacle and efficient pacing' (LOCUS )
"Covering events from the UK to the US, from Australia to Tibet, this is a comprehensive disaster novel that has a very global feel. Perhaps mostly this book is an homage to human survivability - we endure should be our motto. [It] deserves to sit high on the blockbuster shelves." (SFFWORLD )
"For once a modern SF book where the central science doesn't need the reader to have memorised advanced quantum theory beforehand. Flood is a superbly enjoyable SF novel, although those living close to the sea may feel a bit nervous after reading it. And before anyone asks, yes, it's better than Waterworld. (THE WERTZONE )
Bold, compassionate, exhilarating, wrenching stuff. (Niall Harrison INTERNET REVIEW OF SF )
"A gripping near-future allegory of global warming. At times, Baxter's narrative is as relentless as the inexorable waters, but that, you suspect, is his idea Deeply scary." (Jonathan Wright BBC FOCUS )
"There is a degree of optimism throughout that belies any biblical doom; the world may be changed irrevocably, but there can still be a place for humanity." (Paul Cocburn INTERZONE )
The ever readable Baxter has a page-flipper in Flood. It will make you fidget in your beach chair this summer. It is not just a literary come-uppance for climate change deniers; it will give everyone pause to think. (John C. Snider SCI FI DIMENSIONS )
Baxter never loses sight in the bigger picture of the effect of the flood on the lives of individuals, societies and nations. The cast might be extensive, but the lives of the major players are skilfully interwoven with the plight of the planet. The sequel, Ark, will continue this enthralling story. (Eric Brown GUARDIAN ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
A central narrative that's as relentless as a Panzer sweeping across lowland France in 1940. Amid huge events, the author still finds time for the intimate, the human-sized. (Jonathan Wright SFX )
He retains that uniquely easy way of dramatizing scientific possibilities into an engaging survivial narrative, while throwing in some satirical barbs. (STARBURST )
'FLOOD has an increasing sense of gravitas, and even, by the end, a genuine weight of mourning. It's actually a novel that gains in power as it goes along, and as it becomes increasingly apparent that no miracle technofixes are in sight. A largely old fashioned disaster tale presented with spectacle and efficient pacing' (LOCUS )
"Covering events from the UK to the US, from Australia to Tibet, this is a comprehensive disaster novel that has a very global feel. Perhaps mostly this book is an homage to human survivability - we endure should be our motto. [It] deserves to sit high on the blockbuster shelves." (SFFWORLD )
"For once a modern SF book where the central science doesn't need the reader to have memorised advanced quantum theory beforehand. Flood is a superbly enjoyable SF novel, although those living close to the sea may feel a bit nervous after reading it. And before anyone asks, yes, it's better than Waterworld. (THE WERTZONE )
Bold, compassionate, exhilarating, wrenching stuff. (Niall Harrison INTERNET REVIEW OF SF )
"A gripping near-future allegory of global warming. At times, Baxter's narrative is as relentless as the inexorable waters, but that, you suspect, is his idea Deeply scary." (Jonathan Wright BBC FOCUS )
"There is a degree of optimism throughout that belies any biblical doom; the world may be changed irrevocably, but there can still be a place for humanity." (Paul Cocburn INTERZONE )
The ever readable Baxter has a page-flipper in Flood. It will make you fidget in your beach chair this summer. It is not just a literary come-uppance for climate change deniers; it will give everyone pause to think. (John C. Snider SCI FI DIMENSIONS )
Baxter never loses sight in the bigger picture of the effect of the flood on the lives of individuals, societies and nations. The cast might be extensive, but the lives of the major players are skilfully interwoven with the plight of the planet. The sequel, Ark, will continue this enthralling story. (Eric Brown GUARDIAN ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
The ultimate disaster - the world is drowning and there is nowhere left on earth to go.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By G. J. Oxley
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book begins in 2016 with the story of five hostages held in Barcelona, where it's raining heavily and won't stop. They're rescued by a team sent by Nathan Lomockson - a technocrat and very rich man - but not before one of them is brutally killed. The remaining four pledge to look out for each other from then on. Lomockson himself takes a lifelong interest in each of them, and their fates thereafter are tied in with his. The ensuing events in the novel take place over a span of around sixty years.
The narrative moves forward by chronological increments as the world's water level increases, and continues to rise. The episodic structure suits the book perfectly - it's a neat narrative trick. Baxter provides us with a series of snapshots of important events and details the human reaction to each stage of the increase.
Nathan sets himself up as a would-be saviour of the world. He appears at pivotal points throughout the story as the sea levels rise higher and higher, and we see the impact of important events on his and/or one or more of the former hostages. Although a hard-boiled, nuts and bolts SF writer, Stephen Baxter realises that his book would be nothing if the reader weren't allowed to engage emotionally with the characters.
And even though the characterisation isn't as strong as your average mainstream writer's, it's still good enough to carry the story of the watery death of an entire planet.
If you remember back to your schooldays (a harder and harder job for some of us!) the hydrologic cycle taught us that there is not one extra drop of water now than there was at the time of creation. So where is the extra water coming from? Melting icecaps? That would only be responsible for a limited increase. The author comes up with a fairly plausible reason for the scenario - and guess what? - we're responsible! But I'll say no more about this aspect, as I don't want to spoil the book for readers.
This is a big fat tome but I galloped through it very quickly. There are a lot of evocative scenes that resonate in the mind long after the book is finished, and it reminded me of why I fell in love with SF in the first place some thirty years ago. I for one am greatly looking forward to the follow-up `Ark', due out next year.
The narrative moves forward by chronological increments as the world's water level increases, and continues to rise. The episodic structure suits the book perfectly - it's a neat narrative trick. Baxter provides us with a series of snapshots of important events and details the human reaction to each stage of the increase.
Nathan sets himself up as a would-be saviour of the world. He appears at pivotal points throughout the story as the sea levels rise higher and higher, and we see the impact of important events on his and/or one or more of the former hostages. Although a hard-boiled, nuts and bolts SF writer, Stephen Baxter realises that his book would be nothing if the reader weren't allowed to engage emotionally with the characters.
And even though the characterisation isn't as strong as your average mainstream writer's, it's still good enough to carry the story of the watery death of an entire planet.
If you remember back to your schooldays (a harder and harder job for some of us!) the hydrologic cycle taught us that there is not one extra drop of water now than there was at the time of creation. So where is the extra water coming from? Melting icecaps? That would only be responsible for a limited increase. The author comes up with a fairly plausible reason for the scenario - and guess what? - we're responsible! But I'll say no more about this aspect, as I don't want to spoil the book for readers.
This is a big fat tome but I galloped through it very quickly. There are a lot of evocative scenes that resonate in the mind long after the book is finished, and it reminded me of why I fell in love with SF in the first place some thirty years ago. I for one am greatly looking forward to the follow-up `Ark', due out next year.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For some reason the end of the world is rarely terrifying. From even the nastiest plagues, the most ferocious wars, the most apocalyptic asteroid strikes or alien invasions there is usually hope - hope of recovery, of rebuilding, a glimmer of light at the end of a long dark tunnel.
The brilliant thing about Flood is the sheer lack of hope. For once you lose the land you lose everything. Any terrestrial species, however brilliant, is doomed from the moment the waves lap around the highest mountains. Baxter at his hard sci-fi best here, providing a plausible mechanism for an implausible catastrophe. The episodic treatment works well and the characters, although a tad cliched (the grizzled old astronaut, a brace of plucky hardbody female scientists, several annoying teenagers) are engaging enough to carry the story along.
The brilliant thing about Flood is the sheer lack of hope. For once you lose the land you lose everything. Any terrestrial species, however brilliant, is doomed from the moment the waves lap around the highest mountains. Baxter at his hard sci-fi best here, providing a plausible mechanism for an implausible catastrophe. The episodic treatment works well and the characters, although a tad cliched (the grizzled old astronaut, a brace of plucky hardbody female scientists, several annoying teenagers) are engaging enough to carry the story along.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Kralia
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed reading this, the idea behind it is terrifying and that alone keeps you reading just to find out what's going to happen. It really feeds your imagination, the mental images you get whilst reading Baxter's descriptions of a flooding world. However, in parts I found myself bored and a bit overwhelmed by all the science he includes. At first it's interesting stuff, but I ended up flicking past a lot of it as it got very boring and unnecessary; much like listening to a Science teacher going off on a tangent that you can't follow! I wonder if it would have made a better story if there were more mystery surrounding the flooding, or in other words a heck of a lot less science.
Would have also liked more insight into the flooding from the point of view of other, more "normal" characters. The gang you follow seem never to be in the worst of it, meaning that sometimes you don't get that sense of panic, dread and imminent danger that makes the idea of a flooding world so chilling.
Despite that, a very worthwhile and impressive read, can't wait to start reading the sequel!
Would have also liked more insight into the flooding from the point of view of other, more "normal" characters. The gang you follow seem never to be in the worst of it, meaning that sometimes you don't get that sense of panic, dread and imminent danger that makes the idea of a flooding world so chilling.
Despite that, a very worthwhile and impressive read, can't wait to start reading the sequel!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than a novel
Fabulous novel. It begins with the familiar and gradually takes you further and further into nightmare. Read more
Published 1 month ago by TheShandycat
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beginning's almost prophetic! Very plausible scenario
First it doesn't stop raining in London, then a hurricane hits New York, flooding it. Rather accurate! Read more
Published 4 months ago by BeckyS
3.0 out of 5 stars
It's ok, but.....
I was really looking forward to this book (and the sequel "Ark"), but by the end I was willing it, almost begging it to end. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. A. J. Carr
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning and chilling
I loved this book, I'm struggling to understand the negative reviews. I was utterly transfixed. If you like to imagine dramatic events in todays world then this is for you.
Published 9 months ago by Sam Ross
5.0 out of 5 stars
Flood was a delight
I really enjoyed this book, very thought provoking, and a clever way of proceding along the timeline. Also very apt with the current worldwide weather conditions
Published 10 months ago by Claramity
4.0 out of 5 stars
enjoyed this but the science it too far fetched...
a really great story, great characters and the writing is not too bad either... the big let down for me is that the science is just too far fetched for a sci-fi novel that keeps... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Johan RF
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting theme, promising start, but lost the plot...
I really like authors merging science and fiction. Flood looked very promising in this regard and for the first 100-200 pages I was quite excited about the book. Read more
Published 12 months ago by H. C. Vaandrager
4.0 out of 5 stars
Water, water everywhere
This reminded me (fairly obviously why) of Flood by Richard Doyle - same scenario - but both authors have treated the subject in very different ways. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Keen Reader
2.0 out of 5 stars
Told, not shown
This is the type of book that gives science fiction a bad name. The central premise is intriguing and sprinkled with details that appear, at least superficially, plausible. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Ian Brawn
2.0 out of 5 stars
Too Long. Too Implausible.
Baxter's apocalyptic novel offers fresh perspective on at least the causes of rises in sea-levels. Some research tends to suggest that subterranean oceans exist, presumably under... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Rod Williams
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