The Future
Ratings49
Average rating4
I liked this! I wouldn’t say it’s the absolute best I’ve ever read, and I struggled keeping up with some of the characters and the timeline switching (but I struggle with that generally, not because this one was particularly hard), but otherwise it was really great. Lots of great quotes and really makes you think about the world we are moving toward.
I chose this novel because I saw it on multiple 2033 "Best of" lists. I wasn't disappointed. It is a rare novel which puts forth big ideas, a compelling setting and a plot which border on being a true "page turner." The novel is set in a world like ours in which 3 mega-tech companies dominate the on-line world. While the names of the companies and their quirky leaders are different than the brands and corporations of our world, it's easy (and fun) to guess who is who. The plot, about which I'll give little away here, is a vehicle for commentary on the damage these- and our tech megaliths are wreaking. The solution presented in the plot is a clever, if fantastical one. Still, it made me think about the state of our word, the damage being done and how to make repairs and even reparations for this. An engaging, thought-provoking read-with even a bit of some key Old Testament stories thrown in!
Surprised this has under 4 stars on Goodreads but this is some good shit!
The story follows some billionaires who own companies that have a lot of influence on the world (think Amazon on steroids) and how they're able to use their tech to predict and avoid an impending apocalypse. Obviously they're not likeable people so the story also follows some hackers that try and undermine their plans to get them to use their influence for good.
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 was really eager to read this after previously reading Alderman's other book, The Power, and I'm happy to say I was not disappointed. In fact, I think I liked this book even more. The characters were great, the story was delightfully twisty in a way that you can almost but not quite predict, and the themes felt especially relevant now with the rise of AI tech. This is one of my favorite books read so far this year.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!