This dystopian Sci-Fi series hit me quite hard because it is set in Ireland, where I live, undergoing sea rise and cold, becoming an Iceapelago. The earlier books showed how this came to pass, with the Eriador Event combining eruptions and the loss of Greenland’s ice. The final book is ICEAPELAGO 3, set around 2100.
As once-Ireland recovers from a devastating storm a decade ago, leaders in the Principality of Ria Formosa in Portugal have to give up on their homeland. Scouting expeditions tell them that the sea and ice-bound islands of Iceapelago are once more mild and productive. The handsome sailing ship on the cover demonstrates how Portugal’s population could be moved. Iceapelago is thinly populated and the inhabitants are aging, so they can hardly put up a fight, the Portuguese expect.
The main prospect is Malahide Castle Island, followed by Howth Island, with Dundrum Island where the command has been centred. Former Dublin Bay is sheltered from the chill Atlantic and was more densely populated, so more housing remains. Rory, the leader from Malahide, is now getting older and looking to a new generation, especially siblings Jon and Orla. Far to the southwest, another community has been isolated since the storm destroyed most shipping and radio networks. A hopeful brother and sister, Tony and Kate, decide that they need to leave if they are to find anyone to marry. Older river cruiser pilot Don agrees to aid them.
Captain de Gama is a pirate of his day, visiting under false pretenses, spying out defense and militia, planning to raid and, if needs be, kill anyone opposing him. Unlike the pirates, he’s not chasing loot, but a new settlement area for the Portuguese. In the real world, we are already seeing climate refugees, so this is not unexpected. I also sympathise with the hard-working natives of Iceapelago, who have to work all the hours of daylight to prosper and to keep livestock and crops through long hard winters. There is no time to socialise and not much cheer if anyone is ill.
This installment connects with earlier tales through the Iceapelago Commanders, folk tales and the fading memories of such fripperies as social media, MacBooks and airports. I recommend reading the earlier books first. There is, as always in a disaster novel, a chance of losing someone we’ve come to admire; but there are fewer characters anymore, so fewer heroes die. Peter Brennan has thoroughly researched in more detail about other countries. ICEAPELAGO 3 carries the memorable image of a ship sailing across the top of Ireland’s Eye, a former island in Dublin Bay. The sea could rise so high. Keep warm and learn some survival skills, because you never know when we’ll face environmental collapse, is the message I took from this impressive action-packed series.
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