Afterland

By Lauren Beukes

Book Overview

Children of Men meets The Handmaid's Tale in this "bowstring-taut, visceral, and incredibly timely" thriller about how far a mother will go to protect her son from a hostile world transformed by the absence of men (Cory Doctorow).

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031626783X
• ISBN13: 9780316267830
• Release Date: July 2020
• Publisher: Mulholland Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Better than anticipated

I read this because I am going to read everything by this author. I am typically not a big fan of reading about dystopian societies or the end of world, etc. Life is depressing enough. Lol. I read this one anyway, and I was glad I did. The author put a lot of thought in to feelings and thoughts and motivations of the characters. She's really good at making her main characters relatable and realistic. They are wounded warriors. Seems to be a theme for her as an author. I like it! The story is very thrilling. Imagine being the mother of one of the few remaining males on the planet. I can't even imagine. Well she did. Worthy read.