Last Light

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 416 pages
• ISBN 10 Number: 0752893939
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0752893938
• Book Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.4 inches
• Weighs: 9.1 ounces

Reader Reviews
This review is from: Last Light (Hardcover) Peak Oil is a certainty. The only debate is as to when it will occur (has occurred?). Did it happen in 2005, as a growing body of evidence seems to suggest, or will it happen in the near future? The most optimistic scenario points to 2030, a little over twenty years away, and yet there is a sore lack of extrapolative exploration, both fictional and non-fictional, of the world that awaits us in this coming post-growth era of dwindling resources. I have been looking for fiction books on peak oil the past couple years; and the best I had found previously was S.M. Stirling's "Dies the Fire" - though not a peak oil book per say, it deals with a scenario where the properties of the universe are slightly altered decreasing the energetic properties of oil, gasoline & gunpowder (among others) to where internal combustion engines & guns stop working. It's a return to Norman era technology in which most become farmers and some "run the farmers" - not very realistic perhaps, but a good read nonetheless. Into this void then steps Alex Scarrow, and the first real peak oil book. Reading the reviews at amazon.co.uk I was a bit skeptical at first about the decision to have the oil shortage forced by having external players orchestrate it, instead of say naturally letting the well depletion just happen. But this allows the whole book to take place during the brief period of a week, and this worked well to keep the pace. In fact, I finished the book in 2 days - I had to keep going as the story unfolded minute by minute in realtime. As someone who's thought a little about peak oil and its consequences on society, I would highly recommend the book to other "peak oilers". I could immediately relate to the central character, his family and the discussions and decisions they go through - the 96 slaves-equivalent per person due to cheap oil energy, the thought of getting overrun by the starving hordes even if you prepare a safe-haven in the countryside etc... All the peak oil points are there in this book. I could go on, but if you are concerned about the impact of peak oil on our cheap energy driven societies, Alex Scarrow has thought through the initial stages in a compelling story. If peak oil is a new concept to you, read the book, it has just the right amount of facts and statistics to educate you while being entertained.