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Trying to identify a book from 30 years ago.

9 replies

Latenightreader · 19/06/2022 15:31

When I was about 12 I read a book which stuck in my memory, but I haven't been able to identify it. It was set in the future when some sort of environmental disaster had occurred and the birthrate had been affected. Aliens were fully integrated into Earth life. The main characters were girl/boy twins (commented on as being incredibly rare) aged about twelve. They visited a teacher (alien) who had recently had a baby - the whole class (or school?) went as it was such an unusual occurrence. London was frozen and the climactic scenes take place in an ice bound and abandoned St Pauls, but I can't remember why! The book cover had frozen St Pauls in the centre. I bought it from Booksale in the early 1990s.

I don't remember it being that good, it just irritates me that I can't remember it!

OP posts:
MargaretThursday · 23/06/2022 16:54

Have you tried Nicolas Fisk books? I haven't read the one you've said, but it sounds like his sort of plot.

pollyhemlock · 24/06/2022 11:40

I thought of Nicholas Fisk but none of his books seems to match the plot. The other author that comes to mind is John Christopher who wrote post apocalyptic books. But again none of them seems to fit.

veganmenu · 24/06/2022 11:42

Sounds familiar but I can’t recall the title

EllieQ · 05/07/2022 15:56

Could it be a Louise Lawrence book? She did a lot of post-apocalyptic teenage fiction, and was published in the 1980s.

Latenightreader · 05/07/2022 20:47

EllieQ · 05/07/2022 15:56

Could it be a Louise Lawrence book? She did a lot of post-apocalyptic teenage fiction, and was published in the 1980s.

I think you might have it! I was going to say no because I read quite a few Louise Lawrence books (still scared of Children of the Dust), but I searched and the cover of Extinction is Forever gave me a jolt. I don't remember it being short stories, and I can only find incredibly brief descriptions, but I think there is a fair chance this is the one, thank you!

Trying to identify a book from 30 years ago.
OP posts:
Latenightreader · 05/07/2022 20:49

MargaretThursday · 23/06/2022 16:54

Have you tried Nicolas Fisk books? I haven't read the one you've said, but it sounds like his sort of plot.

It does, doesn't it - I hadn't thought to check his works, thank you. I remember them as excellent, if very disturbing...

OP posts:
Latenightreader · 05/07/2022 21:23

pollyhemlock · 24/06/2022 11:40

I thought of Nicholas Fisk but none of his books seems to match the plot. The other author that comes to mind is John Christopher who wrote post apocalyptic books. But again none of them seems to fit.

John Christopher's Empty World started my love of [post]apocalyptic fiction. We started reading it in English, and I kept reading as I walked home from school, finishing it before I started my homework. I read one of his adult books recently, and I remember enjoying the Tripods trilogy. Good (depressing) times!

OP posts:
EllieQ · 07/07/2022 18:44

Latenightreader · 05/07/2022 20:47

I think you might have it! I was going to say no because I read quite a few Louise Lawrence books (still scared of Children of the Dust), but I searched and the cover of Extinction is Forever gave me a jolt. I don't remember it being short stories, and I can only find incredibly brief descriptions, but I think there is a fair chance this is the one, thank you!

Glad I could help!

Bridget46 · 19/08/2022 17:17

For reference:
Louise Lawrence thebookseekers.com/show/author/70568
Nicholas Fisk thebookseekers.com/show/author/65985
John Christopher thebookseekers.com/show/author/70555
or search 'post apocolyptic' and then 'search-in-search' thebookseekers.com/book-search/?q=post+apocolyptic

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