Review of Saturation Point by Adrian Tchaikovsky
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself lost in Adrian Tchaikovsky’s imaginative worlds. His recent release, Saturation Point, caught my eye as much for its intriguing mash-up of beloved classics as for its exploration of our climate-crisis reality. What happens when you blend H.G. Wells’s The Island of Doctor Moreau with Jeff Vandermeer’s Annihilation? Well, you get a gripping fusion that dives deep into the very human fears surrounding global warming, corporate greed, and the unknown horrors of nature.
The novella follows Dr. Jasmina Marks, a resilient protagonist who, years after surviving a disastrous expedition in “The Zone,” is pulled back for a corporate-led mission with dubious intentions. I immediately found myself invested in Marks, whose inner struggle—a constant tug-of-war between her past experiences and her corporate obligations—makes her relatable. Tchaikovsky deftly utilizes her point of view, turning the narrative into a type of pseudo-epistolary format with Marks’ voice recordings. Though I felt this technique lacked full impact at times, it did create a sense of intimacy as we navigated the eerie and treacherous landscape of The Zone together.
What struck me most about Tchaikovsky’s writing was his skillful pacing. In just 176 pages (or roughly five hours of the audio version narrated skillfully by Emma Newman), he lays out a chilling and vivid exploration of a future ravaged by climate change, dominated by MegaCorps whose only drive is profit at any cost. The sociopolitical satire runs deep, and while the horror elements are not as visceral as they could be, the tension and psychological surrealism created moments of genuine dread, nailing the “Cly-Fi” vibe that thrums beneath the plot.
Though familiar tropes abound, Tchaikovsky’s inventive riffs make them feel revitalized—even as I recognized echoes of tales I’ve encountered before, such as Darwinistic dread and the exploration of evolution’s darker turns through the haunting inhabitants of The Zone. The characters, such as the corporate villain Glasshower and the ghostly figure of Marks’ mentor, Dr. Fell, felt organic, providing tension that propelled the plot forward, making me question the nature of good and evil more profoundly.
I appreciated how Tchaikovsky kept the violence minimal—bodily harm is there but not gratuitous—allowing the psychological horror of isolation and betrayal to take center stage, a departure I found refreshing. Marks’ emotional journey felt rich and engaging, and Newman’s narration certainly enhanced this experience, giving voice to Marks’ inner turmoil in ways I found both immersive and poignant.
In the grand scheme of things, I’d say Saturation Point is not the definitive work of art, given its reliance on established themes and tropes. Yet, it shines as a compact, thrilling read (or listen!), perfect for those who enjoy environmental narratives wrapped in sci-fi horror. The blend of the familiar and the bizarre kept me enthralled all the way to the conclusion—a thrilling experience that reflects our current reality while leaving intriguing hints of possibility.
If you’re a fan of eco-horror with a touch of corporate satire or love exploring how humanity grapples with its choices against the background of nature’s fierce reclamation, this novella will resonate with you. Dive into its pages, and let the unsettling atmosphere of Saturation Point linger with you long after the last word is read.