This was a very solid 3 star read until the very end, which brought it up half a notch because of one plot twist that caught me off guard. The pacing of the first half of this book felt incredibly slow, establishing characters, worldviews, and relationships. The through line of this novel took a bit of time to piece together and I'm not sure if they payoff was worth the elaborately laid clues. In general, I really dig Alderman's dystopias with their incisive social commentary. I do think I liked The Power better than this novel, though.

This was certainly an interesting premise for a book--there are a lot of apocalypse novels out there, but few center around how the über-rich would prep. It was a lot more philosophical than I was expecting, with the narration taking time for asides discussing human nature and technology. I did rather enjoy some of the points and comparisons made, some were very astute and make for good food for thought, while others were just darn good explanations of how things can go wrong.

On the other hand, the heavy focus on philosophy was a bit too on-the-nose for my liking, and ended up just being clunky most of the time. The obvious big tech company parodies were a particular weak point that made me cringe a bit--it's obvious what they're supposed to represent. Let's play a game, can you tell which companies are being thinly veiled?

1. A social media company whose CEO promised a public transit project but ended up pocketing public money; he also accused a rescue team of being "dog-fuckers"
2. A company that makes sleek devices that are hard to repair outside of their ecosystem
3. A package delivery service with a focus on autonomous drones

I know it's supposed to be tongue-in-cheek, but it felt a little derivative instead. It also makes a lot of the commentary about these companies and tech CEOs feel uncomfortably preachy, even when good points are being made. I like it when an author trusts my intelligence as a reader to pick up on what they're trying to say, so it's a bit disappointing when things are as explicit as they are in this book.

One other small complaint: the timeline was messy. Every few chapters we jump to a different point in the story with a different POV, which made it difficult to keep track of what was happening, when, and in what order until the end when everything started to come together. It doesn't ultimately matter much, but I'm a control freak and this made me a little disgruntled.

Not too much to say about the plot, it's mostly there as framing. I did enjoy the Name the Day forum extracts and learned a bit about the Bible along the way. Not a fan of the kind-of deus ex machina-esque ending: woo, public apathy solved! Environment healing! Tech companies broken up! Autonomous car infrastructure built worldwide within two years! Endangered species saved! Accompanied by "No one could say how it had happened, precisely" makes it comical.

I know I complain a lot, but I did overall enjoy the discussions and ideas in this book, and the characters that they're expressed through.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alderman is a master at the intellectual postmodern thriller, so I was so excited to read this one. I actually ended up choosing it as a Book of the Month selection because I wanted it in book form to lend out.

A really interesting (and terrifyingly correct-seeming) story of the 3 billionaires who own the 3 enormous conglomerates in the world (a thinly veiled Apple, Amazon and Facebook) and what could very well happen once the world hurtles into crisis and reaches its final demise. Even though they are main characters, it’s really about their various loved ones and what they’re willing to do to help save the planet.

This woman is incredible writer because she takes different ideas and ties them all together. The woman named martha was very impressive because she came from a completely different type of background. Her father ran a Colt and Oregon called ENOC. H. I. T. E!S. She grew up this way with her father was very interesting because he would talk about the foxes and the hounds. It's a fable story about farming and city life. Her father made her stay in the woods one night by herself. And she knew she could survive anything after killing the bear. So there was a fire and everybody perished. But she was longer on by then and she was off to san francisco. She started to work for these tech companies, which was really interesting how they were trying to control everything. She also bought the Bible in as well. Which was kind of interesting because it was parallel. And what was going on with the book. Also like how she would do like emails. And that was interesting too because that was telling you. You're in have a different perspective coming app in the next chapter. There's a woman she fell in love with name is, ion, but she was on the run as well. Because her family did a lot of stuff and Singapore.. These two women were very interesting and one was a very person who really didn't trust people Martha had a lot of trouble too with this because she was always afraid of what was gonna happen. The book gets really interesting. When these Tech people, men disappear and they ended up on this island and it reminded me of the Lord of the flies in a modern version. There's so many different stories and concepts in this book. And I could see it really happening now because of all this technology. And how we are spying on everybody. Air tags, and this is pretty amazing how she pulled it all together.. These rich people were also planning Places where they could stay if there was a nuclear war or climate changes. I thought that was pretty fascinating too

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I am a big fan of post-apocalyptic / speculative fiction, and this was a doozy. It took a lot of twists and turns I wasn't expecting, and did a fantastic job eviscerating our current social media / tech landscape while also telling a good story. I also appreciated the space for queer characters. Alderman is a great writer, and I really enjoyed this as much as The Power.

Naomi Alderman writes a great dystopian/science fiction book. I liked The Future more than The Power. I can’t wait to see how Alderman continues to from as a write and turn out more excellent books.

Published by Simon & Schuster on November 7, 2023

In the infancy of their companies, tech entrepreneurs improved our lives with devices and apps that we now regard as indispensable. After the entrepreneurs became billionaires, they arguably did more harm than good. They stole our data, used AI to deceive us, and invented ways to control our behavior. Nobody likes tech billionaires.

The Future takes place in the near future, maybe a couple of decades from now. Its focus is on tech billionaires and their need for control. The über-wealthy characters believe they are in the best position to survive whatever catastrophe will be the tipping point that ends most life on Earth. They find survival assistance in software called AUGR that predicts catastrophes and plots the best strategy to stay alive.

Martha Eikhorn has access to AUGR. When she gives it to her lover, Lai Zhen, AUGR saves Lai from an assassin’s attack in the novel’s best action scene. Martha grew up as a fundamentalist who learned survival skills to prepare for the end of days. Martha’s story of using her skills during an encounter with a starving bear is mesmerizing.

Martha works for Lenk Sketlish, founder of a social media empire. Albert Dabrowski founded Medlar, a tech giant that manufactures phones and laptops. Ellen Bywater, a genius at corporate takeovers rather than tech, forced Dabrowkski out of his company. Zimri Nommik founded Anvil, which seems a lot like Amazon, before he built AnvilChat and AnvilParty to “snap up everything in his all-consuming maw.” He became the richest person on Earth by using data harvesting methods to manipulate advertising clicks.

The tech billionaires don’t care if the world ends as long as they inherit the post-apocalyptic landscape. To that end, they have created large animal habitats that are kept free of humans. They claim they are protecting plant and animal species, but they have established hidden bunkers inside the habitats where they plan to ride out the apocalypse. They are counting on AUGR to give them time to fly to their bunkers before the rest of the world knows that the shit has hit the fan.

The billionaires are counterbalanced by characters who would like to save the world rather than saving their own skins. Martha and Lai are among the good guys. Ellen’s child Badger Bywater is fed up with their (Badger’s preferred pronoun) mother’s contribution to the planet’s destruction. Zimri’s wife Selah has a similar view about her husband. A couple of additional characters who believe that tech, like nature, should benefit the common good round out the cast..

A clever plot has the bad guys and at least one good guy scurrying for hidden shelters when AUGR announces that the world is ending. One of the good guys compromises one of the hidden shelters in another strong action scene. The plot misleads in a good way, taking the reader on a journey to an unexpected destination

The novel ends on a surprisingly positive note. It turns out that responsible people, when given a bit of power, can improve the world for everyone. You just need to get the three worst ones out of the way. The unfortunate reality is that there are way more than three people leading the planet toward its destruction and most of them work in industries (like oil and munitions) other than tech. And the reality has always been that power corrupts responsible people soon after they acquire it. Still, it’s nice to imagine a better reality. In any event, the last few pages acknowledge the reality that political and religious extremists will always stand as barriers to progress.

The novel incorporates discussions of philosophy, including a series of blog posts about Lot and Sodom that interpret Genesis as a blueprint for survivalists. Those posts are a springboard for thoughts about hunters versus agriculturalists, urban versus country living, civilization versus individualism, symbolic expression versus the world unfiltered. The story might go a bit overboard with its discussion of Fox and Rabbit stories told by the founder of the fundamentalist religion from which Martha escaped, but I give Naomi Alderman credit for exploring broad ideas that most creators of apocalyptic survivalist fiction (and truly ghastly prepper fiction) avoid. But then, this isn’t really a post-apocalyptic or prepper novel. The market is saturated with those. Alderman was wise to tinker around the edges of the concept without writing another one.

I’ve read a few novels in recent years that imagine fictional versions of tech giants who create companies like Facebook, Microsoft, and Amazon. This is a smarter story than most. Whether the reader agrees with any of the philosophical discussion is less important than the fact that the novel tells an engaging story while trying to say something worthwhile about the relationship between the present and the future.

RECOMMENDED

"The Future" by Naomi Alderman is a fascinating exploration that skillfully weaves together speculative fiction, biblical narratives, and classic literature. Alderman's narrative brilliance shines through as she artfully employs the story of Lot from Genesis to underscore the significance of solidarity in the face of an unpredictable future. The characters, grappling with issues like climate change and rapid technological advancements, resonate with the contemporary world, mirroring the headlines about billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg securing land and constructing bunkers.

The novel serves as a poignant cautionary tale, prompting deep reflection on the individual choices we make and their collective repercussions. The echoes of "Lord of the Flies" in the narrative highlight the fragility of societal structures and the potential for chaos in a post-apocalyptic setting. While the interconnected plotlines may pose a slight challenge (Alderman uses a non-linear timeline which can cause confusion in determining the order things occurred), Alderman's work masterfully delves into the delicate balance between individualism and collective survival, offering a thought-provoking examination of our shared destiny in an ever-evolving world. "The Future" is a compelling read that encourages readers to consider the complexities of navigating a turbulent future while contemplating the implications of our actions on a broader societal scale.

4 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is one of those books that I have found a lot of people do not like, but I personally really enjoy them. It feels very similar to The Face by Joma West or The Circle.

It’s a book that feels very weird, a little confusing and you never quite know when anything is happening. I happen to like this state of confusion while reading though, so I was all for it.

If you like near future societies, world ending scenarios and books about technology I think you should give this one a go.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a free eARC of this book to review.

While "The Future" is not as fast a ride as Alderman's "The Power," its strength is in how grounded in possible reality the story lies. The world in which Lai Zhen films survivalist content for the internet is just a hair's breath from our world - it is just so easy to see how all the pieces are moved, and it could happen just like that! Through her characters, Alderman brings additional compelling elements - actual bombing and refugee camp survivor meets an actual cult survivor - and I just adore her satirization of the major social media/computing/IT that actually exist in our world today.

And that plot twist - it was so clever and honestly did not see it coming until I was supposed to. I can only hope it might inspire someone to imitate it in real life. This novel is thoroughly enjoyable and I can't wait to see what comes next.

A captivating and thought provoking pre-apocalyptic sci-fi work that explores the detrimental global effects of the tech industry. Through a well planed, long game scheme, future global outcomes are widely altered simply by changing the business strategies upheld by the avaricious individuals at the helm of several tech industry giants.

A cast of characters with ties to major players in the tech industry come up with a cunning plan to cut the tech giants off at the knees. When an internet famous survivalist, Lai Zhen, is given a life changing gift from a friend, she becomes unwittingly entangled in their scheme. An action packed ride ensues where fiction and reality become unclear and Zhen will have to decide where here loyalties lie.

This was a fascinating read from start to finish. The characters were intriguing, with rich back stories and relatable flaws. However, the story meanders through time and events in each character’s life, making it somewhat difficult to keep track of when and where you are as a reader. Overall, an engaging work with an interesting premise that may be especially enticing to burgeoning environmentalists.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 (4/5)

With The Future, Alderman paints a bleak picture of a not-so-distant world. Three tech giants control everything, and there's a massive event at the beginning of the book that has the three megalomaniac CEOs scrambling for their end-of-the-world bunkers. We go back a little in time to see how we got there, and flesh out the cast of characters and the rest of the action.

Luckily there are characters to root for, megalomaniacs aside. We learn about them through their partners, assistants, spouses. The character histories are rich, creative. The whole book is creative, with spectacular world building. The scenarios are unexpected and the twists keep coming. I was gobsmacked more than once, and my advice is to NOT read anything about this book - no plot description, definitely not the Goodreads blurb. Go in cold and you'll be rewarded.

My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

A follow up that stands just as strong as its predecessor, exploring what are unfortunately very timely themes, I truly cannot recommend this novel enough. I've lived through three natural disasters and have seen the evil glint in a neighbor's eye and then also seen the open arms of a community to people who lost everything. This novel's characters explore that duality of humankind, propelled by a riveting plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

QUICK TAKE: It takes a minute to get into THE FUTURE, the follow-up book from THE FUTURE author Naomi Alderman, but once you get a handle on characters and the story set-up, you are in for a fantastic, futuristic techno thriller treat. Set 5 minutes in the future, the book follows a group of survivalists who work to pull off a daring heist to save the world from tech giants whose greed threatens life as we know it. The book tends to take itself too seriously at times (I found myself skimming the biblical interstitials), but really ends up taking off when it leans into the world-building and survivalist backstories, and I found myself completely captivated by the time the characters find themselves in a Hunger Games-esque showdown on a remote island. Throw in a really well-executed twist ending, and I would say this is well worth adding to your #tbr.

This book was such a thrilling ride into a not-so-distant future that feels scarily real. From the get-go, I was hooked on the gripping exploration of how tech, income gaps, and corporate power could shape our world. Pacing is a bit slow at first, but after sticking with it for a while I was hooked! Characters like Lai Zhen and Martha pack a punch, adding heart to the story. Alderman's mix of timelines and interactive bits keeps you on your toes, making it a ride worth taking. So, if you're into gripping dystopian tales that make you think, "The Future" is your jam.

"The Future" is a gripping, fast-paced read with concise chapters and a unique take on a Reddit-like platform filled with surprising twists!

In this narrative, three billionaire tech CEOs prepare for the impending apocalypse, raising the question of whether an alternative solution exists instead of letting the wealthy destroy the Earth. The author skillfully constructs a captivating world and well-developed characters, immersing readers in a realistic yet fantastical setting. The narrative unfolds within a rich backdrop of technological advancements, maintaining a focused narrative while hinting at the potential for numerous other novels involving a diverse cast of characters. This intelligent and essential read delves into universal issues that impact us all, confronting the unsettling realities of the contemporary world. The story's twists, debates, and discussions add depth and make it a highly recommended experience.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

This was my introduction to the author, so no, I have not yet read The Power. Will I read it now that I've read this? Very likely, although I think I need to be in the mood for a dystopian read. If it's at least as good as this novel, I know I will enjoy the experience.

The description of this book pretty much describes the book, but the details are what make it interesting. The story does take a long time to build, and I was a little confused about the philosophical online discussions that took place throughout the book. But mostly because I didn't understand who the characters were. But stick to it, because the discussions do become relevant.

I did like how the author took the relevant tidbit that our world seems to be run by a small handful of ridiculously wealthy and powerful individuals, and the impact they COULD have on the state of our planet if they weren't so selfish. This story was an interesting amalgam of science fiction, dystopia, heist story, philosophy and religion. For the most part, character development focused on a couple of characters, but the rest of the characters were more superficial. Still, despite taking my time over this book, I did find it interesting, and there were many ideas explored that would be interesting to discuss. This is partly why I think I might like her other book, The Power.

If you're looking for something a little different and you enjoy a mix of genres, give this one a try!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As I was reading this book I had really conflicting feelings. I definitely had a hard time with the first third of the book. I kept feeling like I didn’t know exactly where we were going and also I wasn’t sure I wanted to be on the ride. But then there were some strong poles within my brain that I wanted to keep going to see what was going to happen. And I’m really glad that I listened to that because I ended up liking the book a lot.

I think the overwhelming feeling that I have is that this book is not necessarily a friendly book. It’s not setting out to make you feel good about really anything. Human nature, social media, capitalism, climate, disaster. None of it is happy, and the book is very delighted in making sure you know that , there’s not a lot of good under the sun.

But, the character development is great, and I ended up being interested in that and what “the future“ was really going to look like if Alderman could land this plane.

It felt to me like Naomi. Alderman really wants a literary career that is like Anne Rand, and Margaret Atwood, combined. In fact, we learn in the afterward that Naomi Alderman has been mentored by Margaret Atwood, and I think you can really see that in her choice of subjects, and also in the way that she writes.

Because Naomi Alderman is not interested in whether or not you have a good time reading her books. She’s not even necessarily interested if you completely understand what’s happening in her book. she sort of has an idea where she wants to go and if you are on the train when it leaves the station, great. But if you’re not, then maybe you just weren’t ready for it.

I don’t read enough books like that and I felt kind of fizzy and interested as I got through especially the back half of this book which is really well done. I should also say that in the back half of this book the plot line really really both comes together beautifully and moves quickly. And, provides some semblance of hope for humanities future.

Overall, I’m going to give this book a solid 4.25 stars. I’m really glad I read it, and Naomi Alderman remains an auto-buy author for me.

I liked the author's previous book so stuck with this one. The first 3/4 was tough. I am not a huge fan of sci-fi or dystopian fiction so I'm not the best judge. The end pulled things together.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I thought it was imaginative, suspenseful, and slightly terrifying at how close to the truth if feels. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dystopian books The Future feels like the prequel to any of those stories.