The Future by Naomi Alderman is a difficult book to pin down, and I am finding it hard to consolidate my thoughts on it.
I have seen it described as pre apocalyptic, not a term that I had seen before, and yet it is perfectly fitting for a book about a group of some of the wealthiest people in the world and their plans for survival as the world disintegrates around them. In this techno thriller style story we see how a group of people including the daughter of a cult leader, a famous survivalist, an ousted Silicon Valley visionary and a non binary hacker see their plans form and disintegrate in a desperate attempt to change the fate of the world before it is too late.
This is not a book for readers who like their stories fast paced or action packed, though there is a significant ramping up of both pace and drama in the final third of the book. Unfortunately getting there was something of a struggle. I really did not care enough about any of the characters to feel invested in their fates and found the sections of the book that were formatted as excerpts from an online forum just disrupted what little flow there was , without adding enough to compensate for it. The storyline also jumped around a lot both in terms of the point of view characters and the time the chapters were set in, maybe this is delineated more clearly in the finished book but it certainly was not always clear in the arc copy.
All that being said I do think that the book raises some interesting questions and gives the reader a lot to think about, and I am sure it will provoke a lot of interesting discussions in many book clubs and groups.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed The Power so was eager to get stuck into this one.

Sadly I just couldn't get into it. The format was very disjointed and although the underlying story was enjoyable, the difficulty in reading it kept taking me out of the story.

A look at the future as a result of what we have and are currently doing to our
World . A book designed to make you think parts you will enjoy and others you will hate.
Unfortunately it was not a book for me

I absolutely loved Naomi's previous book The Power so I was so excited to read this. It's similar in the way that there are multiple points of view that converge nearer to the end and I also never knew what was going to happen next. I'm not as big into dystopian books anymore, but I will already read whatever Naomi Alderman writes!

I just could not get on with the style of writing of this book, made it about a third of the way through and gave up. It felt a bit all over the place and I didn't really like the switching between a narrative and forum threads from the internet. I wasn't keen on the constant biblical references either.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book, sorry but it just wasn't for me.

I don't usually go in for novels in the future or the past but this was perfect.

I loved the plot, dystopian thrills abound but my favourite thing by far was how fluid and well this was written. Planned perfectly and with a pace that never missed.

I rec0mmend this to anyone who has been shy of picking up a novel like this.

I received an advanced reading copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Fourth Estate, and the author Naomi Alderman.
I quite enjoyed this dystopian thriller but you do have to suspend disbelief quite significantly in order to get truly involved. An insightful commentary on big tech and the billionaires that are gradually creating a technological monopoly and what drastic measures could be needed to save the future. Enjoyable, would recommend as a holiday read. 3 stars.

I was very excited to read The Future by Naomi Alderman, after having enjoyed her previous novel The Power. Set in - the clue is in the title - the near future this is a dystopian tale that feels all too real. Three billionaire CEOs of global tech, social media and distribution companies prepare for the apocalypse. Their companies control the minutiae of people's lives across the globe, whether they know it or not. Then we have the survivalists, such as Lai Zhen who makes her living as a survival expert, who are also preparing for the apocalypse in a very different way, without the high tech bunkers and immediate notification of the destruction of the world.

The story jumps around with interwoven timelines and narratives and is interspersed with interactions from an online forum exploring a cult leader’s philosophies. It all draws together in the end.

I did find it slow going at the start, but it hit a point where I was thoroughly invested in the story and couldn't stop reading. There are parts that various readers may enjoy less - the tech side or the forum side with its biblical allusion, both of which for me were pitched right and essential to the heart of the story.

The ending I thought was brilliant, and I didn’t see it coming.

Overall this is an intriguing read of a dystopian near future, with echoes of the utterly brilliant Margaret Atwood in the writing. I definitely enjoyed the book. It's clever, it's frighteningly possible, it's hopeful, it's fascinating and thought provoking. Who are we as a society, what do we prioritise, can we get ourselves out of this mess, can we bring the planet back from the brink?

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of the book.

Naomi Aldernan has a great storyteller knack and this is propulsive fun with a great twist, though, I always feel she goes on about an hour too long!
I much preferred this to The Power though- I think the characters here are more three-dimensional than in The Power- the villains are more layered though still deliciously repugnant!

It takes awhile for you to get the measure of the ‘good guys’, but again I like the more multifaceted idea of flawed heroes. I’m sure people who are very attuned to technology will find massive plot holes and causes for eye rolling in this novel, but as somebody who is quite willing to assume anything is possible technologically, I found myself pretty much spellbound. A futuristic ride that leaves the reader with a lot to think about.

2.5 stars.

I think my enjoyment of this book was significantly hindered by an atrocious ARC kindle copy. Tip to publishers, if the ARC is so bad it ruins the book, maybe it's best not to offer them at all. I don't know if this was just me.

The ARC included the usual spelling mistakes etc, but also, blank black boxes in the middle of the text, random formatting for 'internet forum' posts, line breaks in the middle of sentences, and just a general mess. I'm interested to see what the physical copy looks like, because potentially the format could be quite fun, but it absolutely doesn't work on kindle.

Otherwise, the book started very slowly, and was slightly too long. A lot of the repetition could be cut. I liked the premise, it was a bit preachy and heavy handed in places, but entertaining enough. I disliked the lack of timeline, because it was hard to place different events in context. I'd say give this book a chance if you liked The Power, but it was ruined for me.

Having enjoyed Naomi Alderman's The Power, I was keen to read The Future especially given the topic of climate change and a possible worldwide pandemic that could cause essentially the apocalypse. It was an interesting study of what the ultra rich may do or plan for in the event of a world ending catastrophe, however ultimately I found it quite slow and a lot of the book was focused on techy expositions or bible parallels. Although I did enjoy the doomsday preppers online community (however as this was an advanced copy of the book, for me reason what I assume should be images only displayed as blank boxes on my kindle.- I feel perhaps I've therefore missed some of the nuance in those chapters). There is a bit of a twist in the last quarter of the book and for me this is when the story became quite a lot more interesting. Very believable and thought provoking but the writing style and pace wasn't quite for me.

Having really enjoyed Naomi Alderman's precious books I was keen to read The Future. I found it slow to get into at the start but I stuck with it and, as the various storylines began to weave together, it became a much more engaging read. The ideas around money, power, our impact on the world and each other threw up some interesting ideas. Some of the characters needed more time to breathe but it is already quite a long read so I can see how that would be difficult. (Copy received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

I have so many thoughts on this book! .The style is quite similar to The Power which I like. This is a dystopian tale telling the story of the end of a humanity blighted and manipulated by tech millionaires, whilst at the same time religious fervour (via the Enochites) grows.

For a while I found the timeline confusing, and as someone who hasn’t used chat boards I was a bit lost by some of the interactions (plus a kindle version probably didn’t help).

I LOVED the Biblical references AND the content was really thought provoking - it certainly lingers long after putting the book down.

On balance, I think this is a book to read, digest, and reflect…and then watch some of the scary Netflix programmes about the control and influence the social media companies have and the dangers of AI.

Despite never being quite sure about The Power, I decided to give The Future a try anyway. I can absolutely see why this is a fascinating read for people. It's timely in tapping into climate anxiety and Aldermna has a great sense of worldbuilding. It's complex, unnerving and has much to say about the mega wealthy's response to a global catastrophe. While I think it's doing something thought-provoking, I think Alderman's style just isn't for me. Not really a critique on her writing, it simply doesn't make me want to keep coming back. I'll be interesting to see how personal taste factors into opinion on this one, but it's sure to find a deeply engaged audience.

Naomi Alderman is the queen of the readable high-concept novel, straddling thriller and speculative fiction. The Future is a dystopian look at something which I think we're all currently worried about: climate change. This is a scary pageturner with a terrific cast of characters that's really a lot of fun. No doubt The Future will follow The Power to the small screen

I'll own up, I have The Power by Alderman, its been on my TBR a long old time waiting to be read. In that time its been adapted to screen by Amazon so of course I cut corners and watched it instead and it is AMAZING. So I WILL read The Power... eventually, but in the meantime I snagged The Future on Netgalley hoping for some more cutting social commentary.

There's a great balance in character diversity that feels naturally included, we're introduced to several characters (who may as well be Bezos, Musk, Zuckerberg and their counterparts) but The Future mostly revolves around Lai Zhen, a famous youtube survivalist who falls hard and fast for Martha, the powerful woman behind the worlds leading CEO.

Lai Zhen was frustrating. My mother often says I'm intelligent but lack any common sense, this is how I felt about Lai Zhen. Alderman made her paranoid and intelligent, a perfect mix for a survivalist, so then why was she so easily suckered by one woman? Honestly, it was written as if Martha was the only other lesbian available on earth and the power dynamic between her and Lai Zhen just made it a little icky for me. I'd have appreciated some more time with the other MCs.
I did very much enjoy the friendship between Lai Zhen and Marius, his no nonsense attitude was refreshing and I appreciated the AI explanation in his class teachings, perfect for a less tech minded girl like myself.

A large portion of the novel is mixed media format involving an online forum of doomsday preppers responding to a religious discussion of 'Fox and Rabbit' aka farmers vs hunter-gatherers and interpretations of Old Testament Sodom. I found these threads sometimes difficult to follow and although they were thought provoking they tended to slow the pace a little.

Alderman is great at looking closer at what we accept of the world around us. The Future digs deep into data gathering and privacy policies in our technology in a way that truly made me shudder. The power and influence that can be wielded worldwide by a handful of billionaires through investments, suggestive algorithms and minute adjustments to our online activities is something we should all be more attuned to.

The Future looks at what could be achieved for the many by the few who control the biggest tech companies, and that in itself is terrifying.
The technological advancements are fictional but not entirely unbelievable, Alderman nudges us to reflect on what the priorities of the rich and powerful could be vs what they are (*cough cough* space race).

Naomi Alderman writes such great tales, unnerving but believable (and that makes them much more unsettling). Having read her previous book, I knew that I would be in for a treat and this little beauty did not disappoint.

The Future – as the richest people on the planet have discovered – is where the money is.
The Future is a few billionaires leading the world to destruction while safeguarding their own survival with secret lavish bunkers.
The Future is private weather, technological prophecy and highly deniable weapons.
The Future is a handful of friends—the daughter of a cult leader, a non-binary hacker, an ousted Silicon Valley visionary, the concerned wife of a dangerous CEO, and an internet-famous survivalist—hatching a daring plan. It could be the greatest heist ever. Or the cataclysmic end of civilization.


This book is quite scary. It’s a book with a strong message, one we should probably take notice of. It’s well written and paced but it took me a few pages before I got what was happening. In places it’s very disjointed and difficult to follow but the message is clear. It’s certainly thought provoking and there are strong similarities to the world we live in now. Huge corporations having great power over our lives. Social media influencers having a huge following for no real good apart from their own gain. Lots of other similarities but certainly something to think about.

Set in the near future, Naomi Alderman's remarkable bleak dystopian novel is profoundly thought provoking and philosophical, although to be quite frank, it seems to be more contemporary, with its razor sharp picture of the issues afflicting our world today, widespread pollution, the growing and worrying disparity between the haves and have nots and the shocking impact of climate change. It begins with an environmental conference attended by 3 tech billionaires, CEOs Lenk Sketlish of Fantail social network, Zemri Nommik of Anvil, and Ellen Bywater of Medlar Technologies, each of whom you could probably identify with ease whom they represent from our real world.

Each of them get notification of a coming apocalypse, pushing them to put into action their secret plan to fly out, heading to the security of their secret bunkers. All of which sounds all too frighteningly believable. When it comes to the world edging towards the brink, none of the hands of the powerful tech billionaires are clean as they prioritise enriching themselves at the expense of the world and people. The internet and social media is manipulated, AI algorithms ensure tense emotive divisions in society, and globally, corporate interests trump those of locals, leading to disintegrating communities and society. Posting on a survivalist forum, Lai Zhen has experience of technological survival, we learn of a cult, the Echonites, ancient and biblical texts, The Fox and The Rabbit, and opposition coming from Martha Einkorn, Selah, and Badger, all unhappy at the path the world is heading in.

Whilst this is a brilliant read, it is a flawed novel, there are pacing issues, insufficient depth in many of the characterisations, the plotting is chaotic as the narrative meanders all over the place, it could have benefited from better organisation and tightened overall thinking for a more coherent whole. Having said all this, this is still a smart must read, it hones in on fundamental issues that affect all of us, there is no escaping them, which face the world today, and I particularly appreciated some of the twists, the debates and the discussions. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the pubisher for an ARC.

“The Future” by Naomi Alderman is a riveting dystopian, futuristic spy-thriller novel that strikingly mirrors the world we're living in, and then pushes it to new, unexpected frontiers.

The themes of power, corruption, and the evolving conception of ownership, underpin the gripping narrative. Alderman’s latest work is engrossingly gripping from start to finish, with an aptly woven plot that keeps readers engaged with an enticing blend of suspense and revelation.

The narrative revolves around three Silicon Valley millionaires whose manipulative grip on social media platforms leads to catastrophic results, fostering a world of division, war, and unstable governments. I found it a thrilling and somewhat, terrifyingly reminder of how realistic the depiction of how these pillars of power affect the world at large.

Lai Zhen is a fascinating anti-hero (I liked her character very much), her story unmistakably weaving through the multiple points of views presented. Her narrative poses intriguing philosophical questions, drawing links to Ayn Rand's works and the reality of Silicon Valley.

The storytelling comes alive in the haunting world Alderman creates (she is so good!! It took me back to The Power, Alderman didn't disappoint me), with desolate islands, a plague popularly known as the Pigeon Flu, and wildlife preserves which doubles as the playgrounds for the elite. The interplay of these elements illuminates grim insights about our current socio-political landscape.

I much enjoyed the references to classics like Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, they were expertly embedded into Zhen’s character arc, reflecting her inner strength and resilience. It painted a portrait of misery, survival, and changing fortunes within a dystopian setting.

Throughout the book, Alderman brilliantly unpacks the concept of ownership and its transformation, in a world tainted by greed and the hunger for power. Her examination of the ever-present fear governing human affairs builds a chilling, yet profoundly real backdrop to the narrative.

Most significantly (unexpected, in fact) the ending left me on a hopeful note. After enormous turmoil, there's a shift from polarisation towards understanding and acceptance, the narrative echoing the idea that change is inevitable and human survival rests on our ability to adapt and evolve through kindness in our core values.

"The Future" is a thought-provoking novel that I would equate to a joyride. It is as unsettling as it is compelling. I daresay its dystopian landscapes, rich characters, and powerful narrative construct make it a must-read for both fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

It's a story that stays with you, reminding us of the power of resilience in an ever-changing world, and of the fundamental truth that nothing is permanently settled or perfect. Alderman indeed proves to us, once again, why she is a master of her craft.