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2.83 AVERAGE
2.83 AVERAGE
This is an interesting book. It's a very, very early post-apocalyptic sci-fi book. In it, the world reverts back to the medieval times, thanks to an unexplained phenomenom. The world created by the author is creative and interesting. The fact that this book was written more than 100 years ago also makes it even more interesting - some of the science may be wrong, but most of the things described by the author sound plausible!
However, not everything is perfect. The plot has a few interesting moments, but it also has big boring segments. Some parts of the book were a chore to read - even if the ideas are good, the way they are presented is a bit boring. The main character is boring, and the pacing is a bit uneven. However, some parts of the book are engaging, and those are kiiinda worth the chore.
Still, I'd recommend it only if you are curious about early sci-fi. It's not the best I've read, but it's also far from the worst.
However, not everything is perfect. The plot has a few interesting moments, but it also has big boring segments. Some parts of the book were a chore to read - even if the ideas are good, the way they are presented is a bit boring. The main character is boring, and the pacing is a bit uneven. However, some parts of the book are engaging, and those are kiiinda worth the chore.
Still, I'd recommend it only if you are curious about early sci-fi. It's not the best I've read, but it's also far from the worst.
http://apolloreborn.blogspot.com/2012/12/after-london-or-wild-england.html
adventurous
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's really interesting comparing this to modern post-apocalyptic literature, particularly in the depiction of the post-apocalyptic world and in the things it things it concerns itself with. It's idyllic in a way, an England returned to its natural state—for the most part there is nothing to 'clean up' where in most of what I consider to be post-apocalyptic literature the world itself is destroyed and the survivors are shown dealing with that. This book concerns itself largely with the loss of knowledge, particularly as it concerns politics and warfare, alongside the little things, like fifty years without tea.
The darkest part was also my favourite: the journey into the heart of ravaged London, still toxic and completely unrecognisable. I liked the book (aside from the inevitable sexism and other prejudices of the time) and there were some particularly lovely insights and descriptions, but it would have been more to my taste if there had been more of that.
The darkest part was also my favourite: the journey into the heart of ravaged London, still toxic and completely unrecognisable. I liked the book (aside from the inevitable sexism and other prejudices of the time) and there were some particularly lovely insights and descriptions, but it would have been more to my taste if there had been more of that.
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There where moments of suspens that grasp you, yet it always felt like it led no where. Even though the book makes it clear that every thing he did was met by problems, they feel barely like inconvenience because before the weight of them can be felt there already over. And he just feels lucky. It takes you on a long journey, which I love, but never takes you truly anywhere. Only the description of nature are truly strong, especially the begging part (or part 1). May because it started out like that, with such strong world building/setting, I expected to be even more drawn in to that world, it's people, and there new ways once the actual story started. But where I found part one only a little unrealistic, part two felt just like a slightly fantasy version of the mid-evil-times, where it all resolved around him and his 'big' problem. Which again I'm not against (if done wel) but was not expecting from the first half (not onlyr part 1but also the begging chapter ofor part 2). But they way it was done here felt like it could have taken anywhere and so the world never fully took place for me. All by all not a bad book, but not a great one either and I wish there was just something... something more.
A curious book in two halves. The first charts the re-wilding of Britain after an unspecified disaster wipes out London and most of civilisation. The second half is more like a medieval adventure story where Felix is off to find his fortune so he can marry his love in this new feudal society. This is an early example of post apocalyptic fiction (which had some nicer outcomes in it given that this is pre-nuclear).
Richard Jeffries is better known for his nature writing (well, at least I know him for that) so it's not great surprise that the nature writing in this imagined future is detailed and believable. I found that to be the best part of the book anyway. The adventure story is fairly standard but more stories should have a go at describing the ecological succession of the landscape after a disastrous change in it!
Richard Jeffries is better known for his nature writing (well, at least I know him for that) so it's not great surprise that the nature writing in this imagined future is detailed and believable. I found that to be the best part of the book anyway. The adventure story is fairly standard but more stories should have a go at describing the ecological succession of the landscape after a disastrous change in it!
A seminal post-apocalyptic novel. The premise is interesting, the hero is interesting and sympathetic, and the story structure is terrible. Ah, well. A pleasure while reading, but not satisfying at the end.
I'm so torn about this book. Part one was absolutely fascinating faux-history, and part two an enjoyable story which put me in mind of A Strange Manuscript Found In a Copper Cylinder.
The descriptive language is very evocative and paints a wonderful mental picture of this imagined land - clearly the author was a naturalist.
However, it ends so abruptly! I felt invested in the characters and would have liked to have known their fate.
The descriptive language is very evocative and paints a wonderful mental picture of this imagined land - clearly the author was a naturalist.
However, it ends so abruptly! I felt invested in the characters and would have liked to have known their fate.
Do not ask me about this book. All I have to say is mice infestation and the Irish and the English suffer and the human-nonhuman boundary is a warning about classism.