The Book of Koli by M R Carey
| The Book of Koli by M R Carey | |
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| Category: Science Fiction | |
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Reviewer: Alex Merrick
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| Summary: The Book of Koli by M.R. Carey is a book for our times. Nature has finally turned on humanity forcing humans into isolated enclaves with small amounts of modern technology. The hero Koli is born in one of these enclaves, however, once he discovers a dark secret about the family who controls his village he is placed on a path that will chage him completely. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 416 | Date: April 2020 |
| Publisher: Orbit | |
| ISBN: 978-0316477536 | |
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The Book of Koli is the first in a post-apocalyptic trilogy, titled The Rampart Trilogy, by M.R. Carey. The novel is set in a world where nature has turned against humans. Trees move as fast as animals to crush their prey and then soak up their blood. Humans have eked out a small existence in isolated villages. They are primitive except for their reverence of old tech. This is technology from the old world that seems to only work for certain chosen people. However, Koli, a young woodsmith, uncovers a secret about this technology that will upend his life and take him on a perilous journey.
Before I talk about the work itself, I thought I should first mention the nature of a book series. As an author, writing a trilogy or series is difficult; especially the first. It needs to be able to work, in some respect, on its own whilst also teeing up the main narrative. It cannot be 300 pages of exposition with no narrative arc in sight. Carey does this groundwork well. He introduces the main characters through scenes of jeopardy and the narrative constantly moves forward. By the end of the novel, the reader is left wanting more and ready for the next in the series.
Now, here is one such problem with book series. The Wait. Once a reader finishes a book in a series, usually they must wait over a year sometimes two or three. Carey upends this. The complete trilogy will be published over one year. These are the words all fantasy and science fiction readers hope to hear. G.R.R. Martin and Patrick Rothfuss should take a leaf out of Carey's book. To read a series is unlike reading a standalone novel; the reader gives the author more than just their time and attention. They are also giving the author their patience, their hope and part of their future self. A reader enters a series with the knowledge that there will be pay off later and Carey gives the satisfaction that later will not be too far off.
Anyway, let us get back to the actual narrative. The Book of Koli is a satisfying first instalment in the trilogy. Koli, the eponymous hero, is the narrator. He tells his story to us, I got a story to tell you. I've been meaning to make a start for a long while now. The poor grammar and mis-spelt names draw the reader in and adds a sense of realism to the story. No one in a post-apocalyptic world is going to care to learn correct grammar. However, a narrator usually has their own agenda and will aim to manipulate the story to sway the reader. Koli states: But if you think you're ready for this truth, I got to tell you that you're most likely wrong. Fiction is filled with unreliable narrators trying to persuade the reader or trick them about aspects of their story. Knowing instantly that Koli is the narrator plants a seed in the reader's mind. They are on the lookout for anything that may not make sense. The second two in the series are titled The Trials of Koli and The Fall of Koli. This highlights that perhaps Koli is glossing over some details to portray himself better than he eventually turns out.
Carey has provided an engrossing post-apocalyptic world. It is an alien world to modern readers with its use of pidgin English, such as Birmingham being Birmagen and sent last being Senlas and with its flora and fauna. The dangers of nature in 'The Book of Koli' is unsettling to us. We walk past trees every day and we welcome summer. However, to Koli and his kin, summer brings warmth and sun which further emboldens the dangerous trees.
Stories of this genre illustrate society as it is at the time of writing. It points to aspects of our lives that could potentially destroy us. This is prevalent throughout modern science fiction; from the nuclear apocalypse of The Postman and A Canticle for Leibowitz to bioengineering with Margaret Atwood's Maddaddam trilogy. They illustrate the existential fears of the times. It therefore makes sense that Carey would create a trilogy about nature fighting back against humanity. One of his previous novel's The Girl With All the Gifts illustrates a post-apocalyptic world where a fungal infestation turns humans into hungries. Environmental catastrophe is in the forefront of Carey's mind. It is the great existential threat of our time. It will cause wars, famines and extinctions. However, if it spurs novelists on to write more novels of this ilk, at least the eventual destruction of our world comes with one silver lining.
If you like this book, then I would also recommend The Girl With All the Gifts by M R Carey, the author's previous work, and When the Floods Came by Clare Morrall.
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