The Book
Of Koli
Brave new world
Release 16 April
Writer M R Carey
Publisher Little, Brown
Book Group
Price £8.99Long after climate breakdown
has ravaged the world and
humanity has retreated into small
communities, a teenager named
Koli dreams of becoming a wielder
of the old technology and defender
of his village. When he steals an
old Sony music player, he sets off
a chain of events that sees him
forced out into a world where trees
hunt, people allegedly eat people,
and cult leaders capitalise on a
frightened, isolated population.
M R Carey’s The Book Of Koli is
the fi rst in a new trilogy all set to
be released this year. It’s the next
in a long line of fi ction dealing withNVK
Only lovers left alive
Release 22 March
Writer Temple Drake
Publisher Titan Books
Price £8.99At this point, it’s almost a cliché
to say that this is a vampire story that
dispenses with most vampire clichés.
Still, in this case, it’s true.
Set in Shanghai in 2012, it’s a
kind of love story between jaded
businessman Zhang and beautiful
but mysterious Naemi. He’s seeking
some excitement outside of his
stultifying marriage and unsatisfying
career, and Naemi, with her striking
black eyes, blonde hair, and tragic
life story proves irresistible. Their
fi rst encounter is intense, and though
both of them know they shouldn’t
take the affair any further, they’re
hopelessly drawn to one another,
embarking on a doomed romance.
Evocative prose makes for a
dreamy read, as Zhang and Naemi
enjoy themselves in a world ofluxury: they’re constantly being
chauffeured around the city, moving
between expensive hotels and
exclusive nightclubs, and dropping
by art galleries and/or bars. The
most vividly described scene takes
place in the famous swimming
pool of the Shanghai Holiday Inn,
an architectural wonder you’ll
immediately want to search Google
for to fi nd out if it’s real (it is!).
But as seductive as all of that is,
there’s a lot left unaddressed. The
nature of Naemi’s inhumanity is only
alluded to, even when the story’s
being told from her perspective.
She’s either a tragic fi gure or a
terrifying one, but while both
interpretations are valid, neither
come across with any particular
intensity. It’s a mystery novel that
doesn’t answer any of its questions,
what little action there is takes time
to unfold. It’s a mood piece, not a
thriller, which will alienate as many
readers as it enthrals, but there is
beauty to be found here.
Sarah Lines
BOOK CLUB
NVK // The Book Of Kolithe ongoing climate crisis and what
might happen to the world after
humanity meets the consequences
of its actions. It’s certainly one
of the more interesting entries,
examining the way technology may
be viewed in a world without it.
As a narrator, Koli is intriguing;
operating in both an omniscient
capacity and as an audience entry
point into this dangerous new
world. It’s a balance that Carey
doesn’t always strike, slowing the
narrative down in the fi rst half
as the reader gets used to Koli’s
idiosyncratic narration.
There is a lot of potential though,
and when Koli does head off into
the world, his story quickens to a
climax that sets up the next book
in the trilogy. Carey is a writer
with big ideas at the heart of his
fable-esque storytelling and there’s
a mythological quality that starts to
emerge in the novel’s fi nale. It’ll be
interesting to see what’s next.
Becky Lea
074 | Tell us what you’re reading on Twitter or Facebook WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK074-075_SFN_170 4xBooks.indd 74 19/03/2020 15:33The Book
Of Koli
Brave new world
Release 16 April
Writer M R Carey
Publisher Little, Brown
Book Group
Price £8.99Long after climate breakdown
has ravaged the world and
humanity has retreated into small
communities, a teenager named
Koli dreams of becoming a wielder
of the old technology and defender
of his village. When he steals an
old Sony music player, he sets off
a chain of events that sees him
forced out into a world where trees
hunt, people allegedly eat people,
and cult leaders capitalise on a
frightened, isolated population.
M R Carey’s The Book Of Koli is
the fi rst in a new trilogy all set to
be released this year. It’s the next
in a long line of fi ction dealing withNVK
Only lovers left alive
Release 22 March
Writer Temple Drake
Publisher Titan Books
Price £8.99At this point, it’s almost a cliché
to say that this is a vampire story that
dispenses with most vampire clichés.
Still, in this case, it’s true.
Set in Shanghai in 2012, it’s a
kind of love story between jaded
businessman Zhang and beautiful
but mysterious Naemi. He’s seeking
some excitement outside of his
stultifying marriage and unsatisfying
career, and Naemi, with her striking
black eyes, blonde hair, and tragic
life story proves irresistible. Their
fi rst encounter is intense, and though
both of them know they shouldn’t
take the affair any further, they’re
hopelessly drawn to one another,
embarking on a doomed romance.
Evocative prose makes for a
dreamy read, as Zhang and Naemi
enjoy themselves in a world ofluxury: they’re constantly being
chauffeured around the city, moving
between expensive hotels and
exclusive nightclubs, and dropping
by art galleries and/or bars. The
most vividly described scene takes
place in the famous swimming
pool of the Shanghai Holiday Inn,
an architectural wonder you’ll
immediately want to search Google
for to fi nd out if it’s real (it is!).
But as seductive as all of that is,
there’s a lot left unaddressed. The
nature of Naemi’s inhumanity is only
alluded to, even when the story’s
being told from her perspective.
She’s either a tragic fi gure or a
terrifying one, but while both
interpretations are valid, neither
come across with any particular
intensity. It’s a mystery novel that
doesn’t answer any of its questions,
what little action there is takes time
to unfold. It’s a mood piece, not a
thriller, which will alienate as many
readers as it enthrals, but there is
beauty to be found here.
Sarah Lines
BOOK CLUB
NVK // The Book Of Kolithe ongoing climate crisis and what
might happen to the world after
humanity meets the consequences
of its actions. It’s certainly one
of the more interesting entries,
examining the way technology may
be viewed in a world without it.
As a narrator, Koli is intriguing;
operating in both an omniscient
capacity and as an audience entry
point into this dangerous new
world. It’s a balance that Carey
doesn’t always strike, slowing the
narrative down in the fi rst half
as the reader gets used to Koli’s
idiosyncratic narration.
There is a lot of potential though,
and when Koli does head off into
the world, his story quickens to a
climax that sets up the next book
in the trilogy. Carey is a writer
with big ideas at the heart of his
fable-esque storytelling and there’s
a mythological quality that starts to
emerge in the novel’s fi nale. It’ll be
interesting to see what’s next.
Becky Lea
074 | Tell us what you’re reading on Twitter or Facebook WWW.SCIFINOW.CO.UK