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Ghost Species (James Bradley, Hamish Hamilton)

James Bradley’s latest novel tells the story of Eve, a genetically engineered Neanderthal brought into life as part of a scheme for mitigating the environmental degradation of climate change. In this easily imagined near-future, the world has begun to pass the tipping point from climate crisis into climate catastrophe. The first half of Ghost Species is written from the perspective of Eve’s foster mother Kate, while the second is written from Eve’s point of view. Unfortunately, Kate’s story lacks verisimilitude, emotional or otherwise. While this is in keeping with her emotionally guarded personality, beginning a story from the perspective of a closed-off character makes it difficult for the reader to engage. Ghost Species becomes a more moving tale when told from Eve’s perspective. Her struggle to negotiate adolescence as someone markedly different is compelling, as is her struggle to belong in a dying world as the product of an experiment intended to save it. The literary approach that Ghost Species brings to a subject both speculative and contemporary will appeal to genre and literary fiction readers of all ages. It should also appeal to those interested in the current climate crisis thanks to its convincing portrayal of the consequences of responding neither quickly nor effectively enough.

Adam Ford is an editor and a published poet

 

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