Beyond the Burn Line

By: Paul McAuley

Narrated by: Neville Watchurst

WHAT WILL BECOME OF US?

In the deep future beyond the burn line of the Anthropocene and the extinction of humanity, the city states of an intelligent species of bear have fallen to a mind-wrecking plague. The bears' former slaves, a peaceable, industrious and endlessly curious people, believe that they have inherited the bounty and beauty of their beloved Mother Earth. But are they alone?

After the death of his master, a famous scholar, Pilgrim Saltmire vows to complete their research into sightings of so-called visitors and their sky craft. To discover if they are a mass delusion created by the stresses of an industrial revolution, or if they are real - a remnant population of bears which survived the plague, or another, unknown intelligent species.

Risking his reputation and his life, Pilgrim's search for the truth takes him from his comfortable home in the shadow of a great library to his tribe's former home on the chilly coast of the far south, and the gathering of a dangerous cult in the high desert. Whether or not the visitors are real, one thing is certain. Pilgrim's world and everything he thought he knew about his people's history will be utterly changed.

McAuley's fabulous far future, impacted by the consequences of global warming, colonisation and historical injustices, explores and reflects our own challenges while telling a fast paced story of discovery and adventure.

This is great!

Very good narration really added to this. I really enjoyed the nods to the scientific revolution, certain philosophers and key texts in an alternate history setting sensitive to animal/human relations. The story builds in the first half then makes a big shift in the second half to interesting take on colonising/decolonisation, extinction/de-extinction, and even AI. reminds me of the best of Banks' Culture novels. loved it.

Too much plot, not enough drama

Some interesting ideas. But storytelling is baggy. Too many important scenes are told rather than enacted. The ending to this book is completely unsatisfying and occurs randomly, just a waystation to the next volume.

this is weird

I tried to like it. Premise sounded interesting. But I couldn't figure out what was really going on? Are bears still there? Are humans? Other sentient animals are introduced, but not sure what the significance is. I was hoping it would be a good page turner, always on the hunt for the next Cloud Atlas. Didn't finish it. I got tired of waiting for something to happen.