The Apocalypse Ocean is the fourth novel in Tobias Buckell’s highly entertaining Xenowealth series, following on from Crystal Rain (my review, Rob’s review), Ragamuffin (my review, Rob’s review), and Sly Mongoose (my review, Rob’s review). However, the path to the release of this novel wasn’t a smooth one: after three novels that allowed the story to grow and expand, Buckell and his publisher, Tor, decided not to go with a fourth novel and instead a change of direction was called for (which led to Arctic Rising and its sequel, Hurricane Fever). When I first heard of this it was met with sadness that I wouldn’t – at least in the foreseeable future – see further tales of the Xenowealth and its inhabitants. Fortunately I wasn’t the only one amongst Buckell’s fans to feel this way, and he went ahead and successfully Kickstarted the writing and publication of The Apocalypse Ocean. Released in 2012 as both a limited edition hardback and a widely available ebook, The Apocalypse Ocean shows that just because a novel isn’t traditionally published it’s not the end of the road. However, the question of whether it was worth all the effort can’t be ignored, though I suspect that’s more a question for Buckell than his fans – I for one think it certainly was.
(For some further reading on the story behind the road to, and release of, The Apocalypse Ocean, this article on Buckell’s website is very much worth a read.)
Taking place on the island of Placa del Fuego on the planet of Octavia, we follow two of its native inhabitants: Kay, a young crime-lord who is something more than simply human; and Tiago, a pickpocket and thief in the (somewhat forced) employ of Kay’s organisation. With the island in a technological dead zone, the residents make do with what they can, though the recent terrorising by a creature known as the Doaq has them locking their doors each night to stay safe. When Nashara arrives looking for Pepper, a chain of events is set into motion, and the realisation that there is much more at stake here than anyone could possibly guess.
As well as the rather imposing figure of Kay, and the timid-yet-determined Tiago, we have returning favourites Nashara and Pepper. Anyone who has read the other books will know just what to expect when these two show up on the page. Not one to disappoint, Pepper shows up early, falling into a lure by Kay which pits him against the Doaq, a situation that itself is all kinds of entertaining, but one that leads to his disappearance for much of the novel. Nashara shows up to track Pepper down, and her dealings with Kay and Tiago are both filled with tension and strangely intimate, giving the reader some genuine emotion that begs further exploration. Buckell’s characters are enjoyable for their diversity and difference, and all make for interesting reading.
The story itself is somewhat of a stranger one, with the focus being on the small island and the intrusion of the Doaq and its reign of terror on the community. It’s this that leads to deeper and further reaching questions and answers as the plot progresses, with the wider picture from earlier novels coming into play towards the end. The Apocalypse Ocean doesn’t end there though, and Buckell manages to raise more questions that beg for answers, and gives a hint of where the story will progress in the as yet unwritten final novel, Desolation’s Gap.
Ultimately, Tobias Buckell’s writing is entertaining, engrossing, interesting, and intriguing. The pages turn at a rapid pace, and the novel is over way too soon, which, for me at least, is a shame – I could easily lose myself in the Xenowealth if given more material. Much like the previous novels in this setting, it is quite easy to pick up The Apocalypse Ocean and read it without having read the other books. Of course, I wouldn’t advise that in the slightest, and highly recommend you start at the beginning with Crystal Rain.
Having just finished a read-through of all four Xenowealth novels I can recommend them in a heartbeat. This is science fiction at its most enjoyable, offering plenty to marvel at, while still giving food for thought. Personally I hope Buckell returns to this universe in the near future to complete the tale, and whether it be by Kickstarter or some other route, I’ll support him every step of the way.
Publisher: Self Published
Author: Tobias Buckell
July 2012, 250 Pages
Hardcover, ISBN: 9780988463004
Review from purchased copy
© 2015 Mark Chitty
