Climbers by Alexander Julian III (Book Review #2095)

In Climbers, Alexander Julian III delivers a gripping, atmospheric plunge into a dystopian world where survival hangs—literally and figuratively—by a thread. Set generations after the collapse of civilization, the novel opens atop a crumbling Eiffel Tower, now home to a rigid tribe whose survival depends on brutal tradition and fearful suspicion of mutation. From this breathtakingly imaginative premise, Julian spins a narrative that is as visually cinematic as it is emotionally rich.

At the heart of the story is Nanky, a wild, tailed girl on the verge of exile. Her forced journey into the ruins of Paris serves as a powerful lens through which we view the clash of fear and compassion, savagery and civilization. Nanky’s evolution—both as a character and as a symbol—drives the novel’s central question: who are the real monsters?

Julian, a screenwriter with a background in law and forensic psychology, channels both disciplines beautifully. His world is tightly constructed, brimming with eerie, symbolic landscapes and haunting encounters. The ruins of Notre Dame are particularly memorable, not just for their vivid setting, but for the introduction of the “Saved”—mutant-like beings whose peaceful nature and forgotten history challenge everything the Tower-dwellers believe. The novel artfully reframes mutation not as degradation, but as adaptation, echoing real-world anxieties about the other, the unknown, and the cost of blind tradition.

The prose is sharp and cinematic, filled with a visceral urgency that keeps the pages turning. Yet, beneath the action lies a deeper reflection on what makes us human. Julian’s mutants are never just monsters; they are mirrors, revealing the flaws in a society that defines purity by exclusion.

Climbers is part post-apocalyptic survival tale, part philosophical allegory, and part coming-of-age journey. It’s a rare blend of thrilling storytelling and moral complexity, ideal for fans of The Road, Annihilation, or The Maze Runner, but with a distinct literary voice of its own.

This is a debut that announces Julian not only as a skilled storyteller, but as a thought-provoking voice in speculative fiction. Highly recommended.

Written by Jeyran Main

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