Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted over at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about and have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released, but not necessarily. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, which was originally hosted at Breaking the Spine.
My pick for this week is a sharply feminist, high-stakes thriller that explores how far a mother will go to protect her son from a hostile world transformed by the absence of men.
Title: Afterland
Author: Lauren Beukes
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Publication Date: July 28, 2020
Genres: Science fiction
Shelves: Female-fronted, female-authored
Children of Men meets The Handmaid's Tale in this shocking story of how far a mother will go to protect her son from a hostile world transformed by the absence of men.
Most of the men are dead. Three years after the pandemic known as The Manfall, governments still hold and life continues -- but a world run by women isn't always a better place.
Twelve-year-old Miles is one of the last boys alive, and his mother, Cole, will protect him at all costs. On the run after a horrific act of violence-and pursued by Cole's own ruthless sister, Billie -- all Cole wants is to raise her kid somewhere he won't be preyed on as a reproductive resource or a sex object or a stand-in son. Someplace like home.
To get there, Cole and Miles must journey across a changed America in disguise as mother and daughter. From a military base in Seattle to a luxury bunker, from an anarchist commune in Salt Lake City to a roaming cult that's all too ready to see Miles as the answer to their prayers, the two race to stay ahead at every step . . . even as Billie and her sinister crew draw closer.
A sharply feminist, high-stakes thriller from award-winning author Lauren Beukes, Afterland brilliantly blends psychological suspense, American noir, and science fiction into an adventure all its own -- and perfect for our times.
ooo... I loved Zoo City, but couldn't get on with The Shining Girls - too much horror... This one, though - sounds amazing:))
ReplyDeleteThis book has been on my TBR for way over a year, I think it's been push a couple of times. Glad it's finally here! I'm looking forward to it as well😁
ReplyDeleteThis sounds amazing! Thanks for putting it in my radar.
ReplyDeleteMy CWW
Sounds awesome. I've seen it on a few blogs and am really excited to read it!
ReplyDeleteI'm eyeing this in audio! I've enjoyed her previous work
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