| Flood | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Richard Doyle |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Thriller novel |
| Publisher | Random House UK |
| Publication date | 1 November 2002 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 9780712614771 ISBN 071261477X |
| OCLC Number | 50654278 |
Flood is a 2002 disaster thriller novel by Richard Doyle. Set in present day London, the novel depicts a disastrous flood and fire of London, caused by a storm, and the consequential accident at an oil refinery, and failure of the Thames Barrier.[1]
Contents |
In 1953 the East coast of England was stuck by one of the worst storms of the century. In response to this, the Thames Flood Barrier was opened in 1984, to protect London from the danger. However global warming has resulted in raising sea levels, higher waves and more frequent extreme weather. Londoners have become complacent, thinking that the flood barrier will protect them. The events will prove them wrong.
The Prime Minister is out of the country, leaving Deputy Prime Minister, and Home Secretary Venita Maitland in charge. As the danger signs mount up, officials at all levels of the government are reluctant to take the necessary precautions, relying on margins of error, earlier missed predictions and fearing the consequences of an unnecessary evacuation.
With the water levels rising, an accident at a refinery releases vast quantities of fuels. The Thames Barrier is raised, but it proves inadequate to prevent all flooding. As the flood levels rise and the fire grows larger, more and more of London is threatened. A burning ship crashes into the Flood Barrier, and wrecks one of the flood gates, unleashing a tidal wave into central London.
Firefighters and other first responders from all around the country, supplanted by German, French and American military bravely fight against the disaster, but they can only save a fraction of those threatened.
Eventually the saviour of London proves to be the same thing that threatened it, with rain from the storm extinguishing the fire.
Due to the vignette style, many characters are unnamed, and only appear in single vignettes. However, many characters are recurring throughout the book.