ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Adrian Tchaikovsky was born in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire before heading off to Reading to study psychology and zoology. For reasons unclear even to himself he subsequently ended up in law and has worked as a legal executive in both Reading and Leeds, where he now lives. Married, he is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor, has trained in stage-fighting, and keeps no exotic or dangerous pets of any kind, possibly excepting his son. Catch up with Adrian at www.shadowsoftheapt.com for further information about both himself and the insect-kinden, together with bonus material including short stories and artwork. Author Website: http://shadowsoftheapt.com/

Publisher: Rebellion Publishing Ltd. (July 30, 2024) Length: 137 pages Formats: audiobook, ebook, hardback, paperback 

Adrian Tchaikovsky functions at a level of productivity most of us can only envy. A good thing for us, readers. I always thought he excelled at a novella format and Saturation Point proves my point. Fans of a climate apocalypse and existential dread - here’s your next fix.

In a near-future Earth humans are the architects and victims of environmental collapse. Dr. Jasmine Marks guides readers into the Zone, a no-go territory where nature thrives, but humans can’t exist without their hazmat suits.

Told through her fragmented audio recordings, the story starts with a routine expedition but quickly spirals into a Lovecraftian nightmare. Marks’ former mentor, Dr. Elaine Fell, may have engineered a new, hyper-adaptive branch of humanity that thrives in the Zone. The Zone itself is spreading and no one knows if it will stop. Then we have Glasshower, the corporate bad guy who leads a team of red-shirts disguised as experts to investigate (and neutralize) this ecological insurgency.

Saturation Point is a pulse-pounding survival thriller where death lurks behind every fern. In the Zone is humanity’s hubris meets its deadly match. But it’s also a story that looks at what happens when evolution leaves us behind. The bio-engineered “natives” of the Zone are creepy, yes, but they also force us to confront the uncomfortable question: what if nature really is better off without us?

Dr. Marks is an excellent protagonist. Her internal conflict and ethical dilemmas drive the story forward. She starts out relatable, becomes increasingly unlikable, and somehow remains fascinating throughout-a refreshing inversion of typical character arcs. Glasshower, meanwhile, is a coldly logical villain with just enough nuance to make you wonder if he might have a point.

Sure, Saturation Point leans a little hard on familiar tropes (corporations bad, humanity doomed), but it also twists them just enough to keep things fresh. And while some readers might squirm at the colonial undertones of the Zone’s “natives,” the novella ultimately earns its place as a sharp, thought-provoking piece of speculative fiction.

Verdict? Tchaikovsky delivers a fast, furious, and deeply unsettling eco-thriller that’s worth checking out. It’s short on pages but big on ideas.