I headed into The Brief History Of The Dead (US/UK) completely cold, not knowing anything about it. It is due for publication in February 2006, but I managed to get a proof copy from the publishers website. Free books! That's what I like. The cover is gorgeous (dreamy swirls and embedded silver twirly bits) but decidedly non-genre, reminiscent of Cloud Atlas in fact, so I was unsure as to what to expect.
The first chapter of this book was published in the New Yorker and has since been optioned for a film. And it is indeed an intriguing first chapter, throwing us straight into The City Of The Dead. The book rests on the premise that once we die we live in a city between earth and heaven, for as long as someone alive remembers us.
The novel has two intertwined plots, one follows the inhabitants of the city, telling us some of their stories, the second plot follows Laura Byrd who is stationed at an Antarctic research station. When the radio breaks Laura's two colleagues head off in search of help, and Laura is left alone. Then eventually Laura heads off on a journey of her own across desolate Antarctica.
The writing is beautiful, simple enough to not distract, but elegant enough leave me smiling at the prose. The pace is also perfect, small details of the city and Laura's life unfold enticingly. It's not an action packed novel, it's one of small everyday scenes retold.
What is interesting about this book is that it is Science Fiction, and I suppose Fantasy as well. Whilst the city of the dead is fantasy, the real world is set in the future with fuel cells, extreme guerilla advertising and ever present terrorist threats. One of the central plot elements is also pure Science Fiction, but I won't reveal that.
A few chapters in I was prepared to be disappointed because I had guessed the way that the plot would unfold. However within a few more chapters the book reveals all anyway, and then I settled down to enjoy the journey. And I really did enjoy it. I couldn't put it down in fact.
I have a few negative comments. It struck me was that the city was very western, even USA like, something I'm sure a harder SF novel would have dealt with. The ending felt like a bit of an anti-climax and then after I finished I had nothing more to think about. There's a quote in the blurb that says something like "the book resonates long after you have finished it" but I didn't find that. To me the book is about the journey, about Laura's journey, about the cities inhabitants lives and about the journey of reading it. And it was a journey I enjoyed immensely.
