Book info

• Title Eden
• Author Dean Crawford
• Year 2013
• Genre Science Fiction

When a horrific natural disaster causes the collapse of civilization and strands Cody Ryan deep inside the Arctic Circle, he is forced to embark upon an impossible journey. Thousands of miles from home in a brutal new world where only the strongest will survive, Cody and his companions must conquer seemingly insurmountable odds in a search for their loved ones, the limits of their own humanity and the rumored last refuge of mankind… Eden.

Thoughts

This dystopian book takes place after a supreme electrical storm wipes out the infrastructure of humanity and leaves everyone vulnerable. A plucky bunch of scientists are studying at one of the poles, and thus escape the brutal nature of the storm, only to find themselves thrust into the horrific world of the survivors.

The story is great, although it takes a while to get going and is in two very distinct halves. The first part is very much about surviving against the odds when the rest of the world has forgotten you. The second half is where things ramp up and start getting brutal, as society unwinds itself. It’s quite hard to reconcile one part with the other, particularly by the end you’re left thinking this was not the same book you started.

Nevertheless, I quite liked it. None of the characters were particularly generous although our protagonist’s desire for everyone to work together rather than be out for themselves was something to latch on to. A good read, and a good ending I thought!

Rating: 3 / 5