The Last Albatross [Paperback]

Ian Irvine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 9, 2002

Ian Irvine's brilliant new novel creates an all too familiar society that is surrounded by escalating environmental terrorism, extreme global climate change and violent technological upheaval. In the 1950s the British carried out atomic bomb testing at Maralinga. Afterwards they blew up 23 kilograms of plutonium with explosives, then left the fragments lying around in the desert. Thirty years later, two students, Ryn and Hercus, decide to steal a huge piece of plutonium, one of the deadliest substances on the planet, and bury it in the backyard. It is 2010, twenty years after the prank. Hercus is a middle-aged failure obsessed with the continuing destruction of the environment. In a desperate attempt to redeem himself he digs up the plutonium and blackmails his friend, Ryn, into helping him achieve the ultimate act of terrorism. Jemma, Ryn's wife, narrates the story as the couple try to stop Hercus without incriminating Ryn. Set against the backdrop of technological wizardry, political intrigue and environmental lobby groups battling for control of society, Jemma and Ryn race against time to stop Hercus from fulfilling his deadly dream.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Ryn and Jemma Hardey's lives change forever when Hercus Barges, once Ryn's best friend, recovers a piece of plutonium he stole as a university student and attempts to coerce the Hardeys into helping him save the world from humanity. The author of The View from the Mirror crafts a chilling sf suspense story set against a backdrop of 21st-century environmental depletion and cultural degeneration. First published in Australia, Irvine's latest novel, the first in a trilogy of eco-thrillers, portrays a frighteningly plausible near future and belongs in most sf collections.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Australia-consciousness in sf and fantasy takes another step forward with this well-crafted near-future ecothriller. Hercus Barges, a classic mad engineer, develops the idea of saving Earth from ecological disaster by destroying or at least decimating the human race with stolen plutonium. When he blackmails an old friend, Ryn Hardey, into helping him, knowledge of the stolen poison leaks out. When Hardey refuses to play Barges' deadly game, he and his girlfriend, Jemma, end up on the run from Barges, national and international law enforcement, organized and disorganized crime, and environmental activists of every shade and variety. The chase takes place against the well-developed backdrop of an unpleasantly plausible dystopia, and the story line is only slightly disturbed by excessive numbers of characters and shifts of point of view. The tension remains high right to an end that suggests a possible sequel. Sf and technothriller fans should dive into this one. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia (April 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743228871
• ISBN-13: 978-0743228879
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,522,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Prophetic, March 7, 2008

By 

Bindi - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Albatross - Ian Irvine (Kindle Edition)

A great thriller marred by a few minor flaws. It could have happened - the British did blow up 50 pounds of plutonium with explosives in the early sixties, then leave the fragments lying around the Australian desert for any terrorist or lunatic to find. And the science is plausible. Jemma is a great character, though her husband is a berk and the story would have been better off without the scenes told from his viewpoint, so take off a star for that flaw.

And parts of the story are already coming true. Let's hope the rest doesn't.

3.0 out of 5 stars Australian SF Reader, December 18, 2007

By 

Blue Tyson "- Research Finished" (Legion clubhouse) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Last Albatross (Paperback)

Future Australia is nasty.


A couple are struggling to get along in a savage look at nearish future Australia where reality tv is actually worse - betting on medical options and other things like that to raise funds, in real time. Nasty.

Apart from that, as the title might indicate a bit of ecology to be found - and it definitely is.

An ecothriller if you prefer that to sf this one, I suppose.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK!!!, January 5, 2003

By 

Will (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Albatross (Paperback)

this book is a great science fiction book about degredation and destruction of the earth a must read for anyone interested sci-fi books