Afterland
Published Jul 2020
Blade Runner meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this shocking story of how far a mother will go to protect her son from a hostile world transformed by the absence of men.
In a world where 99% of the male’s population have died, Cole is on the run with her twelve year old son Miles from the worst person in the world – her sister. Racing across America – from a military base to a luxury bunker in California to an anarchist commune – the two must negotiate living on the fringes of the new America, all while concealing Miles’ identity because a boy just became the most valuable commodity in the world.
With hopes of escaping to South Africa to a better life, mother and child see their chance, at long last, in the secret world of a cult, but only if they can keep their own secrets and outmanoeuvre Cole’s sister who is hard on their heels with some very bad people.
A brilliant blend of psychological suspense, American noir, and trenchant science fiction, Afterland is the high-stakes, high-concept story that Lauren Beukes’ fans have been waiting for.
Praise for Lauren Beukes:
Scary as hell and hypnotic. I couldn’t put it down… I’d grab it, if I were you.
Stephen King
A tremendous novel, full of original characters, stunning dialogue and a challenging use of cyber-language.
The Times
Well-executed… exquisitely paced and impeccably controlled…
New York Times
