Susannah Wise
In a near future world in which everything – utilities, transport, agriculture, communications, medicine, even pollination – is run by a single centralised computer system, what happens when that computer shuts down? This Fragile Earth is the tale of one family trying to survive in their new world.
I found the novel to be a bit of a mixed bag. The background was well developed, but was imparted quite preachily on occasion, usually via Jed, the six-year-old son of the main character, Signy. The scenario is plausible, but I thought the events stemming from the power cuts happened way too quickly. The protagonists irritated me, often acting in implausible ways, especially Signy. The plot itself was decent enough, but the journey through it was frustrating.
This Fragile Earth is Wise’s debut novel, which I’ve taken into consideration in my rating, but this is not a book I’ll be recommending to friends.
I received an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 24th June 2021
The Book Dragon 