By Helen Marshall

Titan, out now

As storms worsen around the world, young people are falling ill and dying of a mysterious ailment. Are these harbingers of the end of the world?

I’ve read and enjoyed Canadian author Helen Marshall’s short stories in the past, and was intrigued by the description of her first novel – and the short version of this review is go and buy a copy straightaway. You won’t regret it.

Marshall has achieved something that I’ve encountered very few times: a lyrical apocalypse. Yes, this is a story about the end of the world, both on a micro and macro level, but it’s one told in a way that makes you almost (and it is an almost – there’s a hell of a lot of unpleasantness involved as well) wish that this is the way that events will play out.

It’s set primarily in the UK, but one seen through the eyes of a Canadian visitor, so things that British readers take for granted are questioned almost at a fundamental level. Elements of the plot are similarly looked at laterally – you may well think for a time that the story is going in one well-worn direction but then it takes off in a very different way. There’s a clever use of historical precedent, and although I knew a certain amount about a particular medieval plague, Marshall’s presentation has inspired me to investigate further.

For once, the blurb on the back of the book doesn’t give away everything up to the last 10 pages – at least on the Titan edition – and gives enough indication of the the sense of wonder that imbues the whole book to envelop the reader. It’s a tough read at times – parents will empathize with the choices faced by some of the characters – but at the same time, it’s never less than hopeful.

Verdict: An intelligently written, carefully plotted novel that’s not to be missed. Recommended. 9/10

Paul Simpson

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