P D James is most widely recognised as a
writer of fine and subtle detective stories set in England. This book is imaginative fiction, also set
in England, but in a world in which no children have been born for twenty-five
years. You might call it science
fiction, but that it disregards ground rules of SF. It is powerful, wonderfully written, summoning up a morally bleak
country full of aging and old people with no sign of hope. The last generation to be born, the Omegas,
are an ever-present threat, rejecting the conventions of the old in casual
violence. Of course the efforts to work
out why mankind has become infertile continue, but it is after so long without
advances, everyone involved is more obsessed with personal matters. How will the world crumble? How can they maintain some sort of life and
personal growth in these circumstances?  
The climax of the story is as well created as one would anticipate from
P D James.

Would I recommend it? To anyone. 
It poses important moral questions, about power and responsibility in
society and the maintenance of hope. 
Does it play fair with the reader?  
I found myself curiously irritated by the climax because it left so many
key questions of the “Why were we here in the first place? And what has changed? And what happens afterwards?” type. Science fiction by specialists usually
provides explanations, not necessarily based in known science but consistent
with stated assumptions. That’s a
niggle. But a writer of James’ stature
can get away with it.

© 2002 Fred
Ashmore

Fred Ashmore is a member of the
public with a strong interest in drugs, drink and addiction and how people recover
from them. He is active as a meeting host for the SMART Recovery® program, which offers
help for people who seek to modify harmful and addictive behavior.

Categories: Fiction