Review: The Girl With All The Gifts, by M.R. Carey

Having recently read a dystopian novel ruined by a poor ending (The Power), this book works all the way through, from the unforgettable opening scene to an ending that seems, in retrospect, inevitable.

The story is set in a world destroyed by a fungus which takes over brains and turns humans into flesh-eating zombies.

The main character is Melanie, a young girl who is — well, that issue is the subject of the whole story.

The characters in the book are three dimensional for the most part, and one’s attitude to one or the other character changes as the story progresses.

The only consistent feeling is one of sympathy for Melanie, the young girl at the centre of the story.

The question of why dystopian fiction is so appealing to our cultures today is an interesting one, but it was not addressed in the author interview that features at the end.

I was glad to have discovered M.R. Carey and look forward to reading more of his work.