Doggerland

Doggerland by Ben Smith is a book that straddles the line between subtle philosophical depth and just being a series of events that unravel before you. On the final page, I shrugged my shoulders, yet find myself reflecting on the story surprisingly often.

Doggerland follows the boy and the old man as they work for “The Company” repairing and maintaining a decaying wind farm on the sea in a post climate collapse world. There is no land in sight, only rows and rows of white turbines with the rust showing through. They’re estranged by their secrets, yet only have each other and the never ending wind for company.

Smith is a thoughtful writer who paints an extremely bleak picture and manages to make the boring absence of variety in the characters lives mildly entertaining. The climate fiction setting is truly unique, and taps into the sublime isolation of the open sea and sky. However, this amazing premise does much of the book’s heavy lifting, which would quickly grow tedious on backs of the characters and plot alone.

Overall, Doggerland is for those interested in climate fiction and the nature of meaning, not anyone who wants to feel happy or excited.