Notes from the Burning Age

by Claire North

Overview

AN NPR BEST BOOK OF 2021
A WASHINGTON POST BEST BOOK OF 2021

“A riveting tale of subterfuge and deadly self-indulgence” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) from award-winning author Claire North, Notes from the Burning Age presents an extraordinary vision of the future that puts dystopian fiction in a whole new light.

Ven was once a holy man, a keeper of ancient archives. It was his duty to interpret archaic texts, sorting useful knowledge from the heretical ideas of the Burning Age—a time of excess and climate disaster. For in Ven's world, such material must be closely guarded so that the ills that led to that cataclysmic era can never be repeated.

But when the revolutionary Brotherhood approaches Ven, pressuring him to translate stolen writings that threaten everything he once held dear, his life will be turned upside down. Torn between friendship and faith, Ven must decide how far he's willing to go to save this new world—and how much he is willing to lose.

“ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I'VE READ IN RECENT YEARS. THOUGHT PROVOKING, IMAGINATIVE AND PACKS A HELL OF AN EMOTIONAL PUNCH.” —Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of Time

Also by Claire North:
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August
Touch
The Sudden Appearance of Hope
The End of the Day
84K
The Gameshouse
The Pursuit of William Abbey

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316498838
Publisher:	Orbit
Publication date:	07/20/2021
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	626,165
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.25(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Claire North is a pseudonym for Catherine Webb, who wrote several novels in various genres before publishing her first major work as Claire North, The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. It was a critically acclaimed success, receiving rave reviews and an Audie nomination, and was included in the Washington Post's Best Books of the Year list. Her novel, The Sudden Appearance of Hope, won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel. Catherine currently works as a theatre lighting designer and is a fan of big cities, urban magic, Thai food and graffiti-spotting. She lives in London.

Editorial Reviews

★ 04/12/2021

World Fantasy Award winner North (The Sudden Appearance of Hope) spins a riveting tale of subterfuge and deadly self-indulgence in this postapocalyptic thrill ride. Ven Marzouki was once a priest whose duties included translating archaic English texts to sieve useful information from the heretical knowledge of the Burning Age, a time of human excess and climate devastation. Ven's working as a bartender when the Brotherhood, a brash, humanist political group, comes for him. Unable to refuse, Ven must translate and verify stolen texts detailing the most dangerous of heresies, among them mortar schematics and military papers on radioactive substances. North's eloquent prose paints a vivid contrast between the overconsumption that led to the Burning Age and the near-utopian present even as Ven becomes ever more deeply involved with Georg, the brains behind the Brotherhood's steady crawl to power. Ven's internal ideological conflict between the Temple's teachings on honoring nature and the Brotherhood's rhetoric of human might leads to a satisfying revelation. Meanwhile, the shifting enmity and companionship between Georg and Ven creates a tense, fascinating dynamic as the Brotherhood gears up for war. North's convincing view of postapocalyptic society captivates, and the political intrigues will keep readers hooked right up until the explosive close. Agent: Meg Davis, Ki Agency. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"One of the best books I've read in recent years. Thought provoking, imaginative, and packs a hell of an emotional punch."—Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of Children of Time, on Notes from the Burning Age

"A fantastical nightmare so skillfully sketched that it felt like truth. And when it was done, I simply didn't want to leave... Compelling [and] beautiful."—NPR Books on Notes from the Burning Age

"A riveting tale of subterfuge and deadly self-indulgence in this postapocalyptic thrill ride... North's convincing view of postapocalyptic society captivates, and the political intrigues will keep readers hooked right up until the explosive close."—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Notes from the Burning Age

"Claire North depicts a startling, richly developed postapocalyptic world in this beautiful and riveting novel."—BuzzFeed on Notes from the Burning Age

"A fascinating and tense novel, recommended especially for fans of Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy."—Booklist on Notes from the Burning Age

"A passionate and committed vision of what we do to nature, and what it can do to us."—Locus on Notes from the Burning Age

"There is no doubt that Claire North is an exceptional writer with a brilliant imagination and eloquent storytelling. If you are looking for a unique fantasy with an espionage driven plot and descriptive writing, pick up this one!"—Nerd Daily on Notes from the Burning Age

"North is an original and even dazzling writer."—Kirkus on 84K

"Claire North's writing is terrific, smart, and entertaining."—Patrick Ness on The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August

"North has established a reputation for tense, dense, science fiction/fantasy-inflected thrillers that defy facile explanations... Well-paced, brilliant and balanced."—New York Times on The Sudden Appearance of Hope

From the Publisher

Narrator Peter Kenney brings another complex sci-fi/fantasy novel to life. Kenney skillfully voices characters with theatrical flair, convincingly depicting personalities that range from youthful innocence to chilling malevolence. In this multifaceted novel, Kenney portrays Vin, an interpreter of holy texts who must demonstrate the courage to maintain his convictions against seemingly insurmountable trials. Kenney’s performance is impeded by his intonation. He shines in his delivery of dialogue, a welcome respite from the staccato cadence of his rapid-fire delivery of the narrative. Listeners prone to increasing playing speed may appreciate the tempo, but for others the rushed pace may not allow enough time to digest the detailed exposition and immerse themselves in the imaginative story. M.M.W. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2021 - AudioFile

Narrator Peter Kenney brings another complex sci-fi/fantasy novel to life. Kenney skillfully voices characters with theatrical flair, convincingly depicting personalities that range from youthful innocence to chilling malevolence. In this multifaceted novel, Kenney portrays Vin, an interpreter of holy texts who must demonstrate the courage to maintain his convictions against seemingly insurmountable trials. Kenney’s performance is impeded by his intonation. He shines in his delivery of dialogue, a welcome respite from the staccato cadence of his rapid-fire delivery of the narrative. Listeners prone to increasing playing speed may appreciate the tempo, but for others the rushed pace may not allow enough time to digest the detailed exposition and immerse themselves in the imaginative story. M.M.W. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2021 - AudioFile