Extremophile is a sci-fi novel by Ian Green. It also falls into the subgenre of Cyberpunk. It is due to be published on the 1st of August 2024 by Head of Zeus as a hardback, as an ebook and as an audiobook. A paperback edition is scheduled to follow in March 2025. This review is intended to be free of spoilers, but none of us are perfect. A review copy of the ebook was provided. There are affiliate links at the end of this review.
Blurb:
Charlie and Parker are punks by night, biohackers by day, living in the stuttering decay of near-future climate-collapse London.
They pay for the beer they don’t steal with money from their sketchy astronomy site Zodiac Code, while Charlie’s bio-bespoke augments equip criminals, punks, and eco-warriors across London. They have to deal with disgruntled clients, scene kids who don’t dig their band, and a city that’s run by corporates and criminals. Their world is split into three factions: Green – who are still trying to save the world; Blue – who try to profit while they can, and Black – who see no hope left.
When a group of extremist Green activists hire them for a series of jobs ranging from robbery to murder, Charlie – who struggles to feel anything except Black – wants to walk away. But Parker, who still believes they can make a difference, urges her to accept.
As they enter an escalating biological arms race against faceless corporations, amoral biohackers, and criminal cyberpunks, Charlie will have to choose what she believes in. Is there still hope, and does she have a right to grab it?
Review:
Extremophile immerses readers in a near-future London grappling with climate collapse. The world is divided into three broad groups: the idealistic Greens, profit-driven Blues, and the despairing Blacks. The novel’s premise is a potent blend of technology, biology, punk culture, and activism. The biohacking elements add a layer of intrigue, making it stand out in the speculative fiction landscape. Certainly, the concept of biohacking is one for which I have already expressed an interest, having published a Bio Hacker character class for the RPG, CY_BORG.
While Green’s unconventional narrative style can be intriguing, it also poses challenges. The absence of speech marks around dialogue creates ambiguity, occasionally making it hard to follow conversations. Readers may need to retrace passages to discern who is speaking. Clearer formatting would enhance readability. It’s something that starts off as a notable stylistic choice but ultimately becomes a little annoying.
The protagonists, Charlie and Parker, straddle the line between hope and cynicism. Their internal struggles mirror the fractured world they inhabit. However, deeper exploration of their emotions and motivations would elevate the character arcs.
Extremophile tackles urgent themes: environmental collapse, corporate greed, and grassroots resistance. It invites readers to question their own roles in shaping the future. The novel’s rage and wild hope resonate, urging us to consider our impact on the planet.
As a concept, Extremophile is a bold experiment that pushes boundaries. As a novel, it’s definitely imperfect, but it does spark conversations about our world’s trajectory. If you’re willing to navigate its unconventional structure, you’ll find glimpses of brilliance within its pages. For me, though, it became a little bit of a chore to finish. This is a pity, because I am the target audience for this book. I love the concept, and elements of this novel tick so many boxes for me. It just fell flat in its execution, though.
Rating: 2/5
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