X Isle

Steve Augarde (author)

David Fickling Books, UK: 2009; 477pp

ISBN: 9780385610612

Genres: adventure, science fiction

Issues: abuse, climate change, environment, ethics, friendship

Baz lives in a world that has been permanently altered by climate change. Coastal cities have been swamped by rising oceans; food is in very short supply; communication has broken down as have many of the things that are considered the essence of civilization. Everything now is about survival. One small group of men with diving equipment live on a tiny island; they offer the possibility of a ‘better life' to boys who serve their purpose - provided they can buy their way in with something valuable. But as Baz is about to find out, X Isle is not the haven of safety everyone thinks. How long can he survive? A bleak, chilling novel, X Isle explores the unpleasant possibilities of a dramatically altered Earth.

Augarde is an experienced author who creates strong, believable characters. Baz and his new mate, Ray, are innocents abroad, rapidly educated into the reality of their situation by the brutish Steiner and his sidekick. In a similar way to Lord of the Flies, Augarde has created an extreme situation which magnifies the elemental nature of his characters, causing some to abandon ethics, others to cling to them. The island becomes a microcosm in which Augarde explores the various ways in which humans may react to post-disaster deprivation and sudden changes to their lifestyle. Frightening, occasionally depressing and at times horrific, X Isle is a challenging novel designed to encourage readers to think beyond themselves and to take seriously their responsibility for what is happening in and to our world. Augarde writes with a certain sad cynicism but ultimately a hope, the hope many of us have, that humans can make better choices, can work together, can move beyond the somewhat self-absorbed nature of today's society, to achieve better things. And that, as always, the future lies in the hands of our children.

Warning: sensitive readers will find this a distressing novel; several characters are deliberately and badly injured; one child character dies; there is physical abuse of children by controlling men; and there is one scene where the leading adult manipulates the boys into physically abusing one of their own group. Despite this, it's an interesting read - but definitely dark and distressing.