Product Description

In this novel, Maggie Gee speculates about the survival of love between men and women in a frozen future world where children are rare, child-size robots run out of control and homosexuality is the norm. Far into the the twenty-first century, civilisation has broken down in the face of the deepening cold. An old man, Saul, lives in a disused airport with a gang of wild boys, who spare his life only because of his skills as a storyteller. Saul tells of his youth, days of fierce heat and dwindling fertility. Men and women live separately, or "segged". The women cluster around the rare children; men turn to each other or to robot "pets". Saul is different...he falls in love with Sarah.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #334445 in Books
• Published on: 1999-05-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
This is a multifaceted story dealing with big, contemporary issues: how the Earth might change as it descends rapidly into a new ice age; what might be the consequences if falling sperm counts affect the frequency of child birth; how technological developments could alter everyday life.

These themes intertwine as we follow the fortunes of Saul, the technically astute but socially naïve husband of women's rights activist Susan. Saul works as a nanotechnologist, making breakthroughs in artificial life which help in the development of "mobots", automated housecleaning robots which become known as "Doves". Meanwhile Susan becomes a leading light in Wica, the women's political party that is running Britain.

However, as the weather continues to get colder, Saul eventually feels compelled to kidnap Luke, his sickly son, from mother Susan and head for Africa where it may just stay warm enough to sustain life. This marks the beginning of a different kind of adventure, one which will see Saul and co fighting for their lives as society disintegrates around them.

Gee, an established author and former Booker Prize judge, displays the full range of her talents in this densely written, fast-paced novel. --Sandra Vogel

Customer Reviews

Freezing Relationships in a freezing world.
This book is easily read in one sitting. It is exiting and bold in it's vision of a future that propells our imaginations to question our present. The important socio-ecological themes such as climate, population and race blend to paint a tale that serves to remind us that there is a need for relationships between men and women that goes beyond ideology- the survival of the human race. Gee inteligently parables the interests of the two sexes' priorities for survival in this moving, exiting and relevent story.

Memorable and Haunting
Easy to read, yet full of interesting and provocative ideas, I found this book to be very frightening but also very believable. It really does linger in the mind long after completion. My favourite book of the year so far.

Stunning
This is one of the greatest books I've read. It has so many layers - stories of the future including climate change, but also much of the present such as family relationships. Best of all, it's a really easy read - no pretentious language to get on the way of the story. It made me think a bit more about what's happening to us all.