Flood

Author	Stephen Baxter
Genre	Scifi
Media	Book
Publisher	Gollancz
ISBN	9780575080560
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Reviewer	Debbie

Synopsis

Next year. Sea levels begin to rise. The change is far more rapid than any climate change predictions; metres a year. Within two years London, only 15 metres above the sea, is drowned. New York follows, the Pope gives his last address from the Vatican, Mecca disappears beneath the waves. Where is all the water coming from? Scientists estimate that the earth was formed with seas 30 times in volume their current levels. Most of that water was burnt off by the sun but some was locked in the earth's mantle. For the tip of Everest to disappear beneath the waters would require the seas to triple their volume. That amount of water is still much less than 1% of the earth's volume. And somehow it is being released. The world is drowning. The biblical flood has returned. And the rate of increase is building all the time. Mankind is on the run, heading for high ground. Nuclear submarines prowl through clouds of corpses rising from drowned cities, populations are decimated and finally the dreadful truth is known. Before 50 years have passed there will be nowhere left to run. FLOOD tells the story of mankind's final years on earth.The stories of a small group of people caught up in the struggle to survive are woven into a tale of unimaginable global disaster. And the hope offered for a unlucky few by a second great ark ...

Review

I read this book with a little bit of trepidation as I just don't like Science Fiction, but it made me think very deeply about the way our earth is changing because of Global warming.

The story as you can see from the synopsis shows how the water surface of the world rises by a tremendous height over the years between 2016 and 2050. Many of us will not be around by the later date, unless the elder generation go on living till they're well into they're 100+ years.

I personally can not bare the thought that the Thames may rise like it did in the late 50's when much of the East End of London was flooded. We built the Thames barrier to stop the rising tides from damaging that part of the country again, but with the coming of the Olympic Games to London in 2012, and the building that is now happening on the flood plains of the River Thames perhaps this Sci Fi novel could be come true.

I found the book a list of very fascinating facts, but struggled with the perception that this is the way the world could end, with flooding becoming more and more persistant all over the world.

Stephen Baxter is a brilliant writer that enlightens us all as to what could happen in just a few short years if we do not look after our planet in the way we should. Yet again I say I'm not a Sci Fi fan but if this book was read by our leaders and others in such positions around the world then perhaps people would take care of the planet and give it the respect that it deservers.