El Fuego

Set in an indeterminate future where a colossal asteroid is on its way to smash into the earth we follow the story of Alexander Yorba, a renowned architect tasked with developing and completing Plan B.

Plan B is a habitat on the moon that was meant to save humanity if the Icarus rocket fails to destroy the asteroid as planned, both of these plans have a bit more complexity to them than initially stated.

At the start of the novel Alex finds out he has terminal brain cancer and we follow the trail of self-destruction that happens in the last of his few months alive whilst watching this mirror in the deterioration of society as the asteroid gets closer in the last few months of the planet.

A searing indictment on fame and self deceiving behaviour, we watch as all the layers are stripped bare and a person gets submerged in a madness based on their own narcissism.

Richly illustrated with an almost dream-like quality alongside the burst of visceral anger as Alex and society spiral into destruction, with a lot of colour juxtaposition to reveal parallels. The depiction of a decaying and fiery world at the end is so strong, especially in its contrast to Alex’s mental state.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.