A fascinating and eerie plausible account of what Britain might look like in the future. I found Perfidious Albion difficult to put down and certainly did not see the end coming. While the novel ostensibly focuses on a post-Brexit world with petty nationalism and nostalgia for a bygone era on the rise, the larger topic addressed well by Byers is about the encroaching power and pervasiveness of modern technology. We already exist in a world where information (both true and false) can quickly go viral, with consequences that can be as unintended as intended. Byers explores this dynamic superbly. His ability to satirise techno-fetishists in particular is strong. The plausible scenario highlighted by Byers is where information (on people) can be used for “efficiency” purposes — to make society “better”. speculative fiction here at its most powerful. Time will tell how accurate — I fear quite — Byers' predictions are. A good recommendation from Raficq. 10/10.
By Sam Byers