An 'after the event' apocalypse - how humanity copes... do we?

Everyone has seen disaster movies or read the books - volcanoes, too-close-for comfort pandemics, zombies. We usually see the here-and-now action of how several protagonists cope with the drama and horror of living through these times.

Smith barely touches on the days of his own created world-ending invasion - the day aliens come to Earth and pretty much hand down an eviction order. Yes, we watch as humanity scrambles for the only allowable home - Antarctica. Yes, we see supplies, masterpieces and monuments flown in.

But this story looks at the aftermath of how and why humanity moves onward from here, two decades on. How the species would cope, develop, and look forward to life on a frozen continent for a population physically and emotionally unadapted for such an extreme.

Through the lens of the couple brought together on the day of the ultimatum - Liza and Atto, now doctor and fisherman, and through their daughter, the engineered ice-adapted Echo who must find her place between her parents' lives and her own capabilities. Through the life and passion of Yotam, now caretaker to the small population of genetic experiments birthed to help humankind cope with the cold through their adapted skins, organs and brains. Through these stories is the frightening dystopic situation that will have you reaching for more layers as well as checking the skies.

This was so easy to envision, and so well conveyed through multiple viewpoints. We never get to see the aliens who take over the planet for reasons of their own, we only know that humankind cannot but comply.

Seeing Man start again, using as much ingenuity as is left along with what resources they have saved for themselves is both inspiring and saddening, but the social experiment their new society becomes is also very interesting. I loved reading the descriptions of how people coped, organised themselves, worked in multiple disciplines and self-police, how food is distributed and even how former Presidents acquit themselves following the breakdown of their hierarchies.

The main story itself is chilling (ironically termed). But almost predictable from our experiences as humans - I won't spoil anything here. I found this intelligently constructed and hard to put down. The book leaves a sliver of light at the end for a follow-up and I do hope we meet the characters again to find out what might happen after these events. There is more story to tell.

Terrifying, fascinating and cinematic. So many questions.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

I have really enjoyed the previous novels I have read by Tom Rob Smith, so was keen to try his stand-alone, ‘Cold People.’ It was more than a little out of my comfort zone, but, having finished it, I feel that there were some things I really liked and some things I struggled with.

The premise is that aliens suddenly arrive in the sky and humans receive messages, though televisions, phones and other tech devices, that they need to go to Antarctica within thirty days or else…. Well, you never really know what will happen at the time, but we follow our main characters, Liza and Atto, as they join the rest of humanity fleeing to the coldest and most inhospitable part of the world. Liza is an American, on holiday in Portugal, when she meets Atto, and their relationship is interesting, and we watch it develop through this crisis.

Smith concentrates on humanity, how they respond to this unforeseen challenge. However, it is humanity through the eyes of individuals, rather than the response from governments and countries, which seems lacking. If it happens, if there even is a response, it happens away from our characters. We then follow what happens to the humanity who makes it to Antarctica and how they adapt to this new world.

My problem with this was that really, I felt confused about why humanity just accepted this sudden order to leave for a desolate part of the country. There seemed there no real response and then, when we arrived there, you lost sight of some characters, as the story jumped ahead. Some of the writing and the unravelling of the plot was wonderfully done, but I struggled with the storyline at times. Still, overall, a very interesting read. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Reading the blurb on this book did not prepare me for the scope of the book and where it would go. ntrust me, you need to see where it goes.

This book starts with two young people who fell in love at first sight. And then Aliens arrive, and all humanity are told to get to the Antarctic continent within a set time, anyone who does not go will be killed. No one knows why they have to flee their homes, but humanity tries to get to the coldest and remotest place on the planet. Here we see some of the best traits of humans, and sme of the worst.

The story then jumps forward by twenty years, and we see how those humans that made it have survived, and some genetic modifications they have begun to do to their children to make it easier in the long run and help humans survive.

This scifi book is packed full of other genres; romance, love, and horror. It is a must read, especially if you are tucked up warm, as more than once I did start to shiver.

I really wanted to like this book - the premise sounded great and I'd read other books by the author. But I didn't - the opening sequence when the aliens arrive read like an adventure movie but once in Antartica I found it hard going.. I think there are some clever ideas here but this one just wasn't for me.

Failed to ever really deliver on the plot, characters or plausibility of the situation. Even dystopian futures need proper world building to make them feel credible, and this one just felt like it was reaching

Cold People was not at all what I expected (I know, I could have read the blurb), but this isn’t a bad thing. I expected a variation on a spy thriller, possibly a Cold War vibe… not a future dystopian Antarctic with the earth’s survivors.
The science is… dubious… however the storyline is exciting enough to handwave any concerns away. Nicely structured, drawing on a neatly defined group of main characters’ perspectives to drive the story forward and handle the exposition as required.

Don’t think about it too hard, just enjoy it

I enjoyed how the book began, a normal family on holiday with a touch of romance, and then an alien invasion ruins their first date. The human race is thrown into utter panic, showing off all its worse traits. But then some people turn out to be nice, usually of the lower classes, and somehow some people make to the antarctic.

This was where I nearly gave up, but I am so glad I didn't. A young girl, OK she is a trainee doctor but I have met doctors and dont get me wrong they are good at what they do but they are certainly not the saviours of our species, convinces a group of people that she has a gut feeling they have to get off the boats and actually get onto land otherwise the aliens will kill them. She is proved right of course. Note to author please rethink this part, its not needed just let the aliens tell them they have to get onto the land

And then we hear no more of the aliens, just humans doing what they do best and causing further issues for themselves to cope with. I loved it, you think it will be about the aliens but you never even learn what they are there for and why they didn't just wipe all the humans out at the start. Instead it's a story about humanity, its flaws and its strengths and what might help with its survival in this harsh environment. Will it be the caring and helpingy our neighbour or will it be tough love and what ever it takes.

I hope there is a follow up as I really need to know what the aliens have planned.

Alien spaceships hover over the whole of the earth and claim the planet as their own and announce that humans have thirty days to reach the Antarctic. This will be the only place that they will be allowed to live.
Some people, desperate to survive, try to get to the most inhospitable place on earth by any means they can, while others accept their fate and enjoy what time they have left. The journeys are difficult enough but once there, can the ones that made it actually survive? Humans aren’t designed to withstand the conditions for any length of time. Somehow, if the are to survive, they must adapt.
Starting from scratch with very limited resources a new civilisation is formed. Over the following twenty years they develop three small “survivor towns” and a larger area known as McMurdo City. In the city, doctors and scientists work at coming up with a way for humanity to survive the extreme cold.
The concept of the story is something that I have no knowledge of so I have no way of knowing if what was happening actually could and hopefully I will never find out. “Cold People” is undoubtedly grim in places as it explores the human nature of wanting to survive against the odds. Just how far are we prepared to go to stay alive? What boundaries are we prepared to cross? The story focuses on several characters and their struggle but for me, I never felt that I really got to know them which was a disappointment.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC is exchange for an honest review.

When Aliens give the Earth’s population 30 days to reach Antarctica or be destroyed our adventure begins. Can people get there, can they survive the cold and can they adapt for the future?

Great characters with love and hope for the human race. Life must change but into what form. Read and enjoy.

This is an extraordinary book, with a concept that just pulls you in from page one. The author is already established as a splendid writer and this book meets that existing standard and excels it. First class.

An impossible task to review this compelling book; the storyline outlining the potential destruction of the world we live in forwarding into a bleak dystopian future. Given 30 days banishment from all countries of the world with the frozen Antarctic the only alternative to death, there commences a frenetic mass exodus of those selected from the world’s population in a race against time to avoid annihilation. From the decimation of everything from their past life emerges leaders , skill sets and talents that might preserve mankind. Genetic engineering alongside recombinant DNA technology offers a possibility of a future of cold people equipped to withstand the new world. A terrifying vision of where a careless world ignores the damage to their environment catapulting them into their worst possible nightmare, where survival of human beings is in question. A conclusion of epic inhumanity, with just maybe the possibility of a very different future screams for a sequel. Many thanks to author for yet another 5* spell binding book, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of this ARC.

This story starts off advancing through different timezones, to guide the reader towards a day, slightly in the future , where civilisation as we know changes.

Not sure what was happening, to try to sort out my confusion I read some of the reviews already posted, something I rarely do. Sadly that didn’t help as there seemed to be an even split of lovers and haters, definitely a marmite book!

Not to be defeated I plodded on, and eventually saw the light of day! An intriguing if somewhat bizarre plot, with the events all over the place. The fact that the arc I received was so disjointed didn’t help, with unfinished sentences and poorly constructed chapters.

I did like some of the characters, but they lacked substance as they were mentioned, then disappeared, or reappeared twenty years later with no infill of story. Some parts of the book I admit to skimming (sorry Song Fu, but you were boring), and for a large part of the storyline complete disbelief took over, but as it was sci-fi that’s to be expected.

I think the plot had an exciting premise, and some of the writing was good, though some sections were very naive. What was lacking was a really good edit and proof read, hopefully that will all be completed before publication, along with a cull of all the extraneous filler.

The ambiguous ending set the scene nicely for book two, but I will leave that to the fans of this book!

Thank you NetGalley.

Whilst I normally really enjoy Tom Rob Smith's writing, I really did not like this particular book. I found it quite confusing, as it's constantly being interrupted so that the developments in the future can be explained. I loved the idea of survival but ultimately found the characters shallow and under developed. I did finish the book, but it was a real plod. Sorry! My sincere thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest unbiased review.

I was in two minds about my rating for this. On the one hand, the concept is intriguing, and original, the writing is engaging and the storyline moves at a pace. On the other hand, sometimes the pace of the story was a little too fast to be believable. The last remnants of humanity , trapped in the Antarctic, must learn to survive.. in order to do so, scientists begin genetic tinkering, and this is where the story broke down for me. The science became too far fetched to be believable. I accept that in sci-fi suspension of disbelief is necessary, but in this story I couldn’t do it.
Still overall a decent read, though.

It is 2023, and an omnipotent force has given humans thirty days to leave their homes and get to Antarctica, the most inhospitable and uninhabitable place on earth. Everyone, is scared, no-one knows what is going on...it is 2044, and millions of people, including, the greatest geneticists, scientists, engineers, and soldiers, have made Antarctica their home. How have they done this?, and how can they ensure that they survive in the future?...Excellent, imaginative, and thought provoking read for thcold winter nights

I struggled a little with this story, there was a lot left unanswered and I found the language a little too flowery in places. Nevertheless, I think this story would appeal to many people, especially fans of apocalypse style novels.

Cold People by Tom Rob Smith is an interesting speculative sci-fi novel. The premise is that aliens have descended upon Earth and gave humanity 30 days to get to Antarctica. Anyone who didn't - which as you can imagine, is the majority of the population - was instantly vaporized when the timer ran out. The book then follows two timelines; the immediate aftermath and twenty years in the future, when genetic scientists have thrown all previous moral and ethical codes to the winds and are splicing human DNA with just about anything they can in order to create a new humanity that can survive in Antarctica. There's family drama, action and adventure, and of course a lot of dystopian speculative 'mad scientist' science fiction.

It's a very interesting idea; although I was disappointed we don't find out more about the actual aliens and why they're doing this or what they want with the Earth. Although there is some mention of alien tech, the book is focused on humanity and we never have any more information about the aliens. It seems that humanity has accepted its fate, but surely humanity would have fought back in those initial 30 days? Sent probes and at least tried to communicate as well? Weapons as a last resort? Not just fled quietly into the cold and dark. I would have liked to see some more of that fight. There are some plot holes in that regard and you have to just accept this version of what would have happened - even though I don't think it would happen this way!

The characters, both human and "ice adapted" are relatable, and it's very easy to imagine the horror and both physical and pyschological damage the human race would face in this situation. Not quite the read I was expecting, but one I would recommend for anyone who enjoys speculative dystopia / post apocalyptic science fiction.

From Good Reads:
Not quite what I was expecting.
I understood that this is not really about the alien invasion but more about the individuals affected.
Putting aside the general silliness of the aliens and the general rolling over the human race - I was looking forward to delving into the individual struggles of the main characters - but we never quite got there.
Really interesting subject matter and beautifully written as expected - but didn't quite hit the spot.
Still definitely worth a read

With a cheerful suspension of disbelief and disregard for some scientific travesties, I thoroughly enjoyed this sci-fi, post-apocalyptic thriller! I love huge stories like this, where the scale is breathtaking and audacious, and somehow there is still room for the smaller human stories.

I learned a lot about Antarctica, and I feel like the author has left plenty of room for a sequel. This will certainly make a great entertaining rollercoaster of a movie

An alien force sweeps over the world and declares full ownership. Humanity has thirty days to reach Antarctica, the only place they will be allowed to remain in existence. This results in a mass exodus, and the often harrowing journey of those trying to make it to humanity's last hope. The struggle in making the journey is hard enough. As they get closer and closer peoples thoughts turn to how they will survive the extreme environment. What hope do they have of surviving, rebuilding society, and living life in one of the most hostile environments on Earth?

This was a book that left me conflicted. A mysterious alien force appears from nowhere, and makes no demands, has no other message than to leave for Antarctica or else - and the entire human population rush to comply? No attempts at retaliation, no mass uprising against the alien force. Just a panicked scramble to the supposed safe area. No thought for supplies, preparation, survival once arrived. Just sheer panic to get onto any method of transport available to arrive by the stated deadline.

The opening story built a strong relationship Liza and Atto, our two main protagonists, and their connection in the midst of the terror unfolding. This part was engaging, engrossing, and you were rooting for their budding relationship and survival. As they arrive in Antarctica, you expect to read more about the struggle for survival and how society reforms itself, and more about Liza and Atto’s journey. Instead there is a series of time and character jumps. We still see Liza and Atto, but in less depth. The dystopian nature of the story unfolds more as the time jumps progress, and the lengths that humanity will go to in order to survive becomes clear.

While I really enjoyed parts of this story, others left me with a highly raised eyebrow, sceptical of what I was being asked to believe in. While knowing it is a sci-fi novel, the leaps taken were a bit too questionable at times. Overall however, excellent writing, but the plot and falling off of the characters let it down for me. I got a glimpse of a potential part two at the end, but it would not be one I would be following up on.

*I received this book from NetGalley for review, but all opinions are my own.