The Ancients

Distant future climate fiction. The writing is clear and straightforward in a way that makes the whole novel feel like a fable, which is fitting. The author's intentions are effective: what is it like to imagine a distant future for humanity, long after our current climate crisis (and in some ways into the next one). I wished that the author had explored the differences between that future world and our own more deeply. The world-building elements were interesting in their incongruity (some a return to the past, others clearly futuristic) and I would have liked to see more exploration of them. Some of the interesting world-building elements: mined plastic as a precious gem, bronze-age technology (i.e.: bronze), religious worship of natural elements like sand, the sun, the sea. A deeply entrenched caste/class system in the one city-state we see. A lack of knowledge of ancient history (of our current world, past civilizations). There was some exploration of ecosystems and animals but not a lot. I would have loved more of all of this world building.

Overall this was a very enjoyable read, which I would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin/Viking for the advanced epub in exchange for a review.