Another winning story by Naomi Alderman! This is a tale about tech genius, artificial intelligence and the ability of tech to improve our lives. It highlights the desire to mold the world to fit your vision, how very little actions can eventually achieve large results. You follow 3 major industry magnates and learn of their plans to survive and thrive following a pandemic. You also follow tech gurus and learn how intuitive tech can help us survive a disaster. Press and bloggers also play a big part in the public's perception of reality. All of this is so realistic and could be happening right now. But this tale goes one step beyond by exploring an actual disaster and the fallout seen around the world. Scary because there is nothing that is unrealistic. All in all, The Future is a captivating tale full of characters that are authentic and organic, the events so deceitful and chilling. Such creativity!

An interesting concept: what if individuals closest to those with the most power cause use their positions to create long-lasting, positive change in the world? The Future is Naomi Alderman's attempt to answer that question and many others: what can we as individuals do to make this world a better place? How can we leverage what we know to slow the seeming inevitable end of the world due to climate change?

The first part of the book is about who's who: what do they do, how do they do it, why do they do it, and where did they come from, and after all of it, how it made them who they are with their specific belief systems. From the woman who grew up the daughter of a cult leader finding her way to the right-hand position of the CEO of one of the most powerful people in the world to the survivalist/influencer with a tragic childhood teaching the world how to live in any kind of situation, the characters start off separately and then, by the middle of the book, they come together as they're united by a common cause. They've realized that their boss/spouse/resident billionaire are the source of the problems around the world. The disparity of wealth and all the power that comes with that amount of money means that those in the very top of the pyramid get all the information, cause all the problems, and choose not to do anything because it means their power/wealth will go away.

So the second part of the book is bringing the friends' plan to reality. We don't really know what the plan is, but we know something is coming. And then we read about the execution of the plan, and how it shifts things, but does it ever really change anything? Alderman takes the questions about what could be done about climate change and answers them in ways that just really make you think.

The book is good in its delivery, but the second half of the book/execution of the plan seemed a bit rushed. The build-up was 80% and the rest was just jammed in there. The subject matter of climate change, disparity of wealth, religion, and their interconnectedness was fascinating and sobering.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of The Future. I had a very hard time finishing this book. Kept hoping it would get better but it never really did. The timeline was so back and forth and I really had a hard time following what was going on.

It's been 5 years since I read something by Naomi Alderman . . . and it was worth the wait!

In this future, the richest people in technology are influencing all aspects of the world in both positive and negative ways, but all the while looking out for themselves by investing in multiple secret survival bunkers for the end of the world. While Ellen Bywater, Zimri Nommik, and Lenk Sketlish are preparing to retreat to safety at a moment's notice, Martha Einkorn, Lai Zhen and 3 other players are concerned about our world and the damage being done to it. Is there anything they can do to save the future of Earth and prevent it's destruction?

The story was told in a non-linear way and once I realized that, it helped me follow along with the narrative, even when I was in a section that I was struggling with, it would be explained in a clear and satisfying way shortly. The story centers mostly with Lai and Martha as the narrators, with occasionally having a shift to one of the other 6 characters.

If you liked "The Power" and you liked "The Circle" I'm confident you'll enjoy this book! It does make you wonder what would happen if those with the greatest wealth in our world . . . "instead of hurtling unthinkingly toward ever more profit, they decided to think primarily about the kind of world they would leave behind"

Thank you to NetGalley.com, & Simon & Schuester for providing free advance copy to me as a reader for my review.

I enjoyed this book but liked the power better. I liked this concept but some parts like the Bible chapters on message boards, I was not a fan of. It was a little confusing going back and forth with no notice of who was speaking or if it was a present or past chapter but I enjoyed the plot. I really liked the end and did not see that coming at all.

If there is a such a thing as a hopeful dystopian novel, The Future certainly qualifies. Set in the near-future, this novel explores artificial intelligence, corporate responsibility, wealth inequality, post-apocalypse survival, and climate change while also managing to have an addictive plot and compelling characters.

The first half of the book moves quickly, sucking you in to the plot and weaving all sorts of interesting ideas together. The action slows down as the book continues, but the thought experiments and philosophical tangents are so relevant to our world today that the reader stays engaged.

I found the timelines sort of confusing, as events seem to be occurring within a five year span - but it isn't always clear what happened first. I think this may be intentional, but I don't want to discuss it further here as I think it might give too much away about the plot.

Overall this was an interesting read, especially for someone who has read quite a bit of dystopian fiction. The corporate analogs are thinly veiled and this book provides a lot of food for thought about our current situation on earth. I would recommend this book to fans of The Circle by Dave Eggers or Alderman's previous book The Power.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the advance copy.

We have all met survivalists - preppers. Watched Naked and Afraid, Survivor, and Man vs. Wild. This is the book that pulls it all together. Tries to give us a look into The Future. This book was so interesting. The pacing was great. The author ties together multiple stories into one but does it seamlessly. There are references to recent events, so maybe this book won't hold up in ten years, but for now, it was amazing. There are biblical references discussed and cults. Seems a favorite theme for this author if you also read The Power. It is the discussion and breakdown of those topics that do it for me. The application of those themes to the end of the world. This a must-read, unless you already have end-of-the-world anxiety, then maybe only if you are in a safe space. There are topics of tech media and their manipulation of social media users. Absolutely fantastic read.

This book is a first by Naomi Alderman for me. I enjoyed this dystopian world and everything that followed. One of the main characters was a bit whiny, but I was able to look past it. At certain points in the book the pacing became a little off. There was too happening at once and then it slowed, felt a little like I was on a rollercoaster. Definitely a book I’ll still be thinking about. Thank you Naomi Alderman, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC.

A perfectly-timed novel about what happens when tech dudes (mostly dudes, anyway) are evil and smart people get together to stop them. This is a smart novel about non-male power, about relationships, about different ways of creating the future. I hope it inspires hackers and tech workers everywhere to find ways of making things better for everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to preview The Future by Naomi Alderman in return for an honest review. I requested this book on a whim based on the description and the success of Alderman's previous book, The Power.
This review may contain light spoilers, so proceed with caution! For a book about the end of the world, I found it to be very optimistic. On the flip side, I feel that it gave tech billionaires a little too much credit for future tech innovations. I don't believe that billionaires should exist or that they provide any value to the world, but I found most of the depictions in The Future to be beyond my ability to suspend disbelief. I would have liked this book a lot more if I could have gotten past that issue.

This is one of those books that i had a really hard time starting--and then once i started it, i had a really, really hard time putting it down. It's a near-future dystopia (~10 years from now) with loosely disguised players. So much happens, and it's hopeful in a way that i needed to read right now.

I was so excited to read this after loving the Power. It's as impressive, as compelling, and as unputdownable. I loved it.

Grateful for the ARC and chance to read this gem by Alderman. The premise and overviews grabbed me right off and was excited to acquire the ARC and chance to dive in.
It did not disappoint.
A really good read that parallels current realities and potential pending disasters. Nicely crafted characters who chase very tangible paths. Alderman's careful release of the story and plotlines keep readers turning pages to see what happens next.
More than just a novel idea and timely parallels, she posits realistic pulls on our humanity, motivations, and reactions to things racing at us all. Great balance of thriller, thinker, and societal reflection. Hopeful and tragic. Glad to have been along for the ride.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC. This book will be published on November 7, 2023.

This book was magnificent!! It’s a long book but so engaging and fast paced you don’t even notice. I love the post-apocalypse, sci-fi, future tech genre and this book did not disappoint. It is one of the most original in these genres I’ve read in the past several years.

The characters are all interesting and you develop a relationship with each of them for different reasons. The world-building is phenomenal and is very realistic to potential future, post-capitalist society. This story makes you feel all the emotions. It was funny, thought provoking, intense, and beautiful.

I highly recommend this book. This book is definitely in the top three of books read this year. I will definitely be going back to read The Power. Thanks again #SimonBooks, #NetGalley, #NaomiAlderman for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC of Naomi Alderman's follow up to The Power. In The Future, Alderman tackles the issues of greed, technology, AI and climate change. The first half of the book moves slowly, as we are introduced to a slew of both major and minor characters. But once past that, it becomes a page turner. The plot - three wealthy technology giants long for the end of the world so they can each hole up in their palatial bunkers while the rest of the world dies. Meanwhile each of them has someone close who wants to thwart their plans and instead use the technology to solve earth's problems. What actually happens is a highly interesting, if totally implausible outcome. The story has more holes than Blackburn Lancashire, but just go with it. The ride is well worth it. This one won't make you say, "what if?" like The Power did, but it will most definitely keep your attention. Highly recommend. #TheFuture #NetGalley #NaomiAlderman

This book was an incredible amount of fun. The characters are unique and well drawn. The plot has twists and unexpected turns. And the wish fulfillment of saving the planet through dismantling the tech oligarchy is pretty satisfying, if sadly unrealistic. The best part is that this book doesn’t take itself too seriously. Enjoyed my read from cover to cover.

Really enjoyed this read. I tend to love speculative near-future fiction and how it predicts and reckons with the logical trajectory of our current path of unfettered techno-capitalism, ecological collapse, and billionaire special interests. Here, we follow three tech moguls who are building bunkers and preparing for the end of the world, more willing to throw up their hands at the consequences of their inventions – it's very obvious to see parallels to Zuckerberg, Bezos, Musk, et al – than to examine and change the ways they contribute to the degradation of society and the planet before it's too late. But for something that appears dystopian – the literal collapse of human civilization – THE FUTURE ends on such a utopian note, with a delightful if slightly preposterous (given human nature) solution to our societal issues. It's a lot to think about, in a good way.

Dipping your toes into Alderman's world feels like a sneak peek at a tech-driven tomorrow. It's eerily close to home, making you wonder—given all our tech advancements—where exactly are we headed? The story pulls you in two directions, sometimes feeling unsettling, and at other times, giving you a glimmer of hope.

The core narrative is the heartbeat of the book, exposing the desires and fallout of our tech titans. However, it can feel a bit like completing a puzzle, only to discover a heap of extra pieces leftover. You can see the image it's supposed to form, but you're left wondering about those odd pieces.

If you're expecting super deep, memorable characters, well, this might not be the book for that. The story's the star here. But that's okay because it's got enough juice to make you ponder, debate, and question. All in all, "The Future" takes you on a whirlwind journey. It might not be smooth sailing throughout, but it gets the gears in your head turning, and isn't that the point of a good read?

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC.

I love a dystopian, apocalyptic, technological story and this hit all the high spots. There’s a swath of character, but all are easily distinguishable. The story flashes back and forth but you never lose track of where you are. I opened the book with the idea I’d read a few chapters and ended up reading it all throughout the day. Excellent writing, excellent story. Highly recommended.

My Thoughts:
In this dystopian story we follow three big corporate billionaires who have control over the Technology and what’s happening and the plans they have to save themselves and the ones who save us. This story was a bit scary because it so close in some sense to Reality today. You will find yourself wondering about the ending and thinking about this story for an awhile after reading it.