The Wall ★★★★ John Lanchester, Faber & Faber, R290

“It’s cold on the Wall.” That’s the first thing you know about the massive concrete barrier built around the entire coastline of Britain. In a world “broken” by the ravages of climate change, environmental collapse and mass migration, the Wall is the barrier against rising seas and “the Others” — desperate migrants seeking a new life. Conscripted youngsters must spend two years as “Defenders”. guarding the wall against attack and counting the days until their service comes to an end. As a new Defender, Joseph Kavanagh endures the cold and wind on the Wall but also the fear and boredom. Sometimes he wonders: would it be exciting if an attack actually came? Although it projects a vision of the future, The Wall is contemporary and relevant as the dystopian themes it embodies are here already.