Ice and Lemon [Kindle Edition]

This is an excellent novel. Brilliantly told and full of humour and pathos, dealing with grand themes on a localised level. The story, a familiar one, concerns survival in a post-apocalyptic existence where all living matter has ceased (rather than died), nothing decays and the only survivors are the ones who were in aircraft at the time 'The Event' happened. The resulting narrative goes through the various survival modes, but the attention to detail is wonderful - often startling in its clarity, as if the author had travelled forward in time to experience it first time and this is merely a report back.

I was reminded of Christopher Priest's Fugue for a Darkening Island, as well as PD James' Children of Men (and Alfonso Cuaron's excellent film version) and in the latter half, JG Ballards masterful tale of post-apoc madness The Drowned World. And yet Ice and Lemon cuts a fresh path away from all of these influences, and roots itself firmly in the well-sketched plethora of characters as well as vividly-realised landscape of North West England, particularly the suburbs of Preston and wind farm of Caton Moor.

There are profound leaps of imagination also especially towards the curious ending, as well as some joyful playing with theological themes all the way to the beguiling appearances of both God and Lucifer, two more figures trying to carve their existence into this grave new world.

A highly recommended read.

This post-apocalyptic journey captures a stark and gripping atmosphere keeping you hooked from the first to the last page. There is a never a dull moment, yet plenty to reflect upon; I enjoy the way in which the story takes the reader through what could be quite a realistic account of a man's struggle to adapt to a familiar world shed in a bleak light. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and would certainly like to see more!

A book that makes you think.. What kind of person would I be in this situation? Very believable scenario and characters that you care about. Will definitely look to but his next book