Synopsis
Why did they come? When they appeared across the sky, speculation wheeled around the world—the aliens were from heaven, the invaders were from hell… or they were proof that neither existed. But when they landed, curiosity gave way to suspicion and the nations reacted with nuclear force, setting off a chain reaction that left the world in ruins.
Twenty years later, instead of nearing her retirement, Dr. Elspeth Darrow struggles to forget the loss of her child and husband by plunging herself into the work of operating the last remaining hospital in San Francisco. With medical supplies running out and working herself to exhaustion, Elspeth must embark on a risky salvage mission into the heart of the Neo California danger zone.
Here, she discovers the disturbing truth: the aliens have returned. As the mystery of the aliens’ purpose on Earth unravels before her, Elspeth must hide what she discovers from reactionary despots, all vying to bring Neo California under their control. Aided by a band of pre-war scientists and new-world medical students, Elspeth races against astronomical odds to reveal the terrifying truth that might save the world—or finally destroy it for good.
Review
ER meets The Last Of Us in this post-apocalyptic masterpiece from Wick Welker. I absolutely, unreservedly adored this book from beginning to end. Here’s why…
Let’s start with Elspeth. She’s the title of the book, after all. I’m a sucker for stories where doctors are the main characters. Always have been. But Elspeth is no ordinary doctor. She might just be the most soulful, complex, beautifully rendered doctor I’ve ever encountered in fiction, and I fell in love with her. You will, too. She’s amazing.
Wick Welker’s medical background really shines through. The jargon and language of medicine is expertly employed to ground the book in things we’re familiar with. It doesn’t read like a medical textbook — it’s always entertaining and refreshing to read — but what’s especially brilliant is that it gives the book a layer of authenticity that pulls us into the world, keeping the story focussed on humanity and humans amidst the mysterious presence of alien beings.
In terms of the world itself — wow! There are so many flavours to this post-apocalyptic hellscape. At times, the descriptions of settings and characters reminded me of the movies Annihilation, Mad Max 2, and I Am Legend. We begin with a compound where Elspeth treats people in her makeshift hospital, but a trip to replenish supplies from the ruins of the closest cities opens up a sense of wonder about the world, and Elspeth’s place in it. The more you read, the more the setting and atmosphere expands. And it’s all just so cool.
I’m not going to spoil the plot, or reveal any of the secrets of the book, but let’s just say that all the questions that are posed at the start of the story have layers of meaning, and by the final page, you’ll not so much have neat answers, but you’ll look at the questions in a different way — and that, in itself, makes this an absolute tour de force of speculative fiction. It feels satisfying and worthwhile and important without ever getting preachy. I loved it.
Of course, the hook of the story surrounds the mystery of why the aliens arrived and then did nothing. If you love aliens, and that’s your reason for reading the book, then stick with it. You might have to wait a while, but Saint Elspeth tackles the alien aspects of its story with the kind of imagination and invention that will reward you for your patience, and then some.
Every aspect of this book blew me away. Wick Welker has written some great stories in his career, but this one is his magnum opus. If you’ve got a soft spot for medical drama and a thirst for sci-fi, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more perfect book than this. Michael Crichton, eat your heart out. Saint Elspeth has landed, and it’s here to stay.
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