The Forcing

In a near future, where civilisation has collapsed, a government of youth has taken power in North America. All older people deemed responsible for the cataclysmic climate emergency are relocated, but a breakaway group escapes exile to seek freedom ? at devastating cost?

‘ The dystopian future landscape of  The Forcing  comes with a heightened realism that grips and shakes you ? provocative and insightful, visceral and terrifying’ SciFi Now Book of the Month

‘ A compelling, moving story of survival in a dying world ? a novel that might have actually predicted our future’ Ewan Morrison

‘ Smart, gripping, and all too plausible ? asks the big questions that we’re running out of time to answer, and announces Paul E. Hardisty as the true heir to John Christopher’ Tim Glister

The jaw-dropping, passionate and provocative climate-emergency thriller from one of the world’ s leading environmental scientists.

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Civilisation is collapsing?

Frustrated and angry after years of denial and inaction, in  a  last-ditch attempt to stave off disaster,  a  government of youth has taken power in North America, and a  policy of institutionalised ageism has been introduced. All those older than  the  prescribed age are deemed responsible for  the  current state of  the  world, and are to be ‘ relocated’ , their property and assets confiscated. 

David Ashworth, known by his friends and students as Teacher, and his wife May, find themselves among  the  thousands being moved to ‘ new accommodation’ in  the  abandoned southern deserts – thrown together with a  wealthy industrialist and his wife,  a  high court lawyer, two recent immigrants to America, and a  hospital worker. Together, they must come to terms with their new lives in  a  land rendered unrecognisable.

As  the  terrible truth of their situation is revealed, lured by rumours of  a  tropical sanctuary where they can live in peace, they plan  a  perilous escape. But  the  world outside is more dangerous than they could ever have imagined. And for those who survive, nothing will ever be  the  same again?

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‘A bold, beautifully written and imagined novel about an all-too plausible future – Paul Hardisty is a visionary’ Luke McCallin

‘ An excellent blend of deep suspense, thriller and – to be honest – horror. The message within it is all too plausible, the solution to the problem distinctly chilling. Wonderfully pitched and easily believable’ James Oswald

‘ Fierce, thoughtful, deeply humane and always compelling. Tightly plotted, the tension builds from page one and never relents’ David Whish-Wilson

‘ Outstanding! Thrilling and thought-provoking.If there’s any justice, this book will be HUGE!!!’ Michael J Malone

‘ The book I’ ve been waiting and hoping for? ‘ Paul Waters

‘ Hardisty is a fine writer’ Lee Child

‘ With the biting intensity of a thriller and the majestic world-building of a classic dystopian tale ? a cataclysmic call-to-arms and a powerful warning’ B S Casey

Praise for Paul E. Hardisty

***Shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger***
***The Times and Sunday Telegraph Book of the Year***

‘ A stormer of a thriller – vividly written, utterly tropical, totally gripping’   Peter James

‘ A fast-paced action thriller, beautifully written’   Tim Marshall, author of  Prisoners of Geography

‘ A remarkably well-written, sophisticated novel in which the people and places all come alive on the page? ‘   Literary Review

‘ Searing ? at times achieves the level of genuine poetry’   Publishers Weekly