Even readers who have not read the previous books in Thompson’s Missing Link trilogy (begun in Fourth World
) will relish this last volume, a post-apocalyptic stunner. Blending weighty science fiction themes like genetic engineering and the future of human evolution with equally thought-provoking allegorical fable, the novel intertwines two storylines. The first consists of diary entries made by series hero Christie, living in northern Scotland, who, in 2009, chronicles the bizarre events that lead to the abrupt end of human civilization. The second narrative takes place centuries in the future, when two factions of Neolithic humanoids who call their clans Cats and Dogs begin a genocidal war. As the world falls deeper into chaos, two refugees—a Cat named Nessa and a Dog named Farral—join forces to try and bring peace by setting off on a quest to uncover the origins of their tribes. Accompanied by a talking blackbird named Yorick, the misfit duo travels to the end of the world where a shocking revelation awaits them. Few conclusions wield the impact of this one; when the storylines finally connect, SF fans will be blown away. Ages 12-up. (Nov.)
