The Book of Koli

The Book of Koli takes place in a post-apocalyptic Britain where nature has turned hostile, with murderous trees and dangerous wildlife threatening human survival. In the isolated village of Mythen Rood, the teenager Koli works as a wood gatherer while a select group called the Ramparts maintain control through their exclusive ability to use ancient technology. The story follows Koli as he navigates life in a community bound by strict traditions and power structures, where a coming-of-age ceremony determines who can join the ruling class. Through Koli's first-person narrative, readers experience his world through the lens of his distinctive voice and limited understanding of the past civilization's remnants. The novel is the first entry in M.R. Carey's Rampart Trilogy, combining elements of science fiction, survival narrative, and coming-of-age story in a transformed British landscape. The book examines themes of power, technology, and human adaptation while questioning the structures that maintain social order in desperate times.

Readers note strong world-building and a distinct narrative voice, with the post-apocalyptic setting told through Koli's unique dialect and perspective. Many highlight the creative take on dangerous evolved plants and trees in this future Britain. Readers appreciated: - Rich character development, especially Koli's growth - Original spin on technology as rare, sacred objects - Immersive folklore and village culture - Audio narration by Theo Solomon Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in first third of book - Dialect/grammar takes time to adjust to - Story feels incomplete without sequels - Some found Koli's voice repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.84/5 (19,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (2,900+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.9/5 (900+ ratings) Several readers compared it favorably to "Riddley Walker" while noting it's more accessible. Multiple reviews mentioned struggling initially with the prose style but finding it worthwhile to persist.

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• M. R. Carey (Mike Carey) is also known for writing "The Girl with All the Gifts," another post-apocalyptic novel that was adapted into a critically acclaimed film starring Glenn Close • The unique dialect in "The Book of Koli" was carefully crafted to reflect how language might evolve over centuries of isolation, with the author drawing inspiration from various English dialects and linguistic evolution patterns • The hostile plants in the novel were inspired by real scientific research about plant communication and defense mechanisms, particularly studies about trees that can emit chemical warnings to other trees • Before writing novels, M. R. Carey had a successful career writing comic books for both DC and Marvel, including notable runs on "Lucifer" and "X-Men" • The Rampart Trilogy's setting in Britain draws from actual forecasts about how climate change could drastically alter the British landscape and ecosystem over centuries, making it scientifically plausible fiction rather than pure fantasy