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In the Doldrums
A strategic, manmade global pandemic.
A nuclear response.
A new, dark age for humanity.
Two weeks before, washed-up writer, Donal O’Brien, boards the container ship Thalassa. In a last-ditch attempt to gain literary immortality, he has left his life behind to immerse himself in a new world – a world he hopes will inspire him to create his masterpiece. He is to tell the story of those who live at sea, those whose work invisibly greases the cogs of modern consumerism. It is a world of ingrained inequality, a melting pot of nations, a soup of stories.
Then, as the ship reaches the quiet of the Mid-Atlantic Doldrums, humanity implodes.
Unsure of what remains of the world they left behind, the crew of twenty-two must find a way to survive – not only from the catastrophe that surrounds them, but from each other.
In the Doldrums is a speculative psychological thriller, murder mystery and examination of the human condition all rolled up into one.
For lovers of literary dystopian, post-apocalyptic fiction who enjoyed novels such as Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven and Hannah Jameson’s The Last.
★★★★★“A beautifully written post-apocalyptic tale. The juxtaposing themes of hope, despair, loneliness, fear, paranoia and friendship are all explored and navigated expertly. The geographically, scientifically and historically accurate facts grounds the story in realism and allows you to truly picture the settings and places from the story.” John Athan
★★★★★"Clever writing in a future that is entirely believable." S.Bowsher
★★★★★"Really good, chillingly appropriate for the times." N.J. Blake
A nuclear response.
A new, dark age for humanity.
Two weeks before, washed-up writer, Donal O’Brien, boards the container ship Thalassa. In a last-ditch attempt to gain literary immortality, he has left his life behind to immerse himself in a new world – a world he hopes will inspire him to create his masterpiece. He is to tell the story of those who live at sea, those whose work invisibly greases the cogs of modern consumerism. It is a world of ingrained inequality, a melting pot of nations, a soup of stories.
Then, as the ship reaches the quiet of the Mid-Atlantic Doldrums, humanity implodes.
Unsure of what remains of the world they left behind, the crew of twenty-two must find a way to survive – not only from the catastrophe that surrounds them, but from each other.
In the Doldrums is a speculative psychological thriller, murder mystery and examination of the human condition all rolled up into one.
For lovers of literary dystopian, post-apocalyptic fiction who enjoyed novels such as Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven and Hannah Jameson’s The Last.
★★★★★“A beautifully written post-apocalyptic tale. The juxtaposing themes of hope, despair, loneliness, fear, paranoia and friendship are all explored and navigated expertly. The geographically, scientifically and historically accurate facts grounds the story in realism and allows you to truly picture the settings and places from the story.” John Athan
★★★★★"Clever writing in a future that is entirely believable." S.Bowsher
★★★★★"Really good, chillingly appropriate for the times." N.J. Blake
- GenresFiction
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2024
3 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Simon Dieppe
2 books4 followersSimon Dieppe lives near Worcester in the UK. He has been a lawyer, worked in the international conference industry and was a Director in a UK PLC, but has now settled down as an English and History teacher - a career that he loves. Simon started writing in the first lockdown, and hasn't stopped. In the Doldrums is his third novel, but the first that he has published. He is currently re-working the first two books with the aim of publishing them later this year. He has an eclectic taste in literature, but has always been drawn towards dystopian fiction. He lives with his wife, two children and dog, Bernie.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 20, 2024
I have gotten on a huge apocalyptic/dystopian reading binge and when I saw In The Doldrums by Simon Dieppe’s cover I got even more curious. Without looking, what do you think is on the cover?
BOOM
Someone pushed the button and hell and chaos was released. Will humanity be able to survive? If you don’t die from the bomb, what about the fallout? Would you want to be one of the survivors? It’s not just the power grid being obliterated, food, water, and medical supplies becoming scarce, but you know it will be survivor against survivor.
Donal O’Brien is one of the 27 survivors on the Thalassa, a container ship with a vast ocean separating them from land. They had parked themselves In The Doldrums, a belt around the Earth that allowed them to tread water, saving their fuel. But, how long can they survive, before they have to find somewhere to replenish heir supplies?
I had also remembered that Kirk, Spock and Bones were always accompanied by at least two junior members of the crew, who were invariably cannon-fodder for humanoid lizards and aggressive robots.
In The Doldrums was a bit different from my usual apocalyptic/dystopian reading, considering it takes place on a ship at sea. We all know that sooner or later they are going to have to seek out other survivors. Will they be hostile?
Simon Dieppe didn’t waste any time getting into the crisis. He supplied food for thought, seeing we are living with so much instability all across the globe. Are you of the ilk that no one would be cruel enough to push the button? Myself, I go back and forth on the subject. We have so many volatile leaders, it’s hard to not think about it.
The pacing kept me involved and I loved the ending. After all, we need hope to keep us putting one foot in front of the other. So….if you are looking an intriguing read that is sure to keep you guessing, it would be hard to go wrong with In The Doldrums.
Thanks Simon, for the opportunity to read and review a free copy of In The Doldrums.
sherry @ fundinmental
BOOM
Someone pushed the button and hell and chaos was released. Will humanity be able to survive? If you don’t die from the bomb, what about the fallout? Would you want to be one of the survivors? It’s not just the power grid being obliterated, food, water, and medical supplies becoming scarce, but you know it will be survivor against survivor.
Donal O’Brien is one of the 27 survivors on the Thalassa, a container ship with a vast ocean separating them from land. They had parked themselves In The Doldrums, a belt around the Earth that allowed them to tread water, saving their fuel. But, how long can they survive, before they have to find somewhere to replenish heir supplies?
I had also remembered that Kirk, Spock and Bones were always accompanied by at least two junior members of the crew, who were invariably cannon-fodder for humanoid lizards and aggressive robots.
In The Doldrums was a bit different from my usual apocalyptic/dystopian reading, considering it takes place on a ship at sea. We all know that sooner or later they are going to have to seek out other survivors. Will they be hostile?
Simon Dieppe didn’t waste any time getting into the crisis. He supplied food for thought, seeing we are living with so much instability all across the globe. Are you of the ilk that no one would be cruel enough to push the button? Myself, I go back and forth on the subject. We have so many volatile leaders, it’s hard to not think about it.
The pacing kept me involved and I loved the ending. After all, we need hope to keep us putting one foot in front of the other. So….if you are looking an intriguing read that is sure to keep you guessing, it would be hard to go wrong with In The Doldrums.
Thanks Simon, for the opportunity to read and review a free copy of In The Doldrums.
sherry @ fundinmental
February 29, 2024
This was a great premise for a post-apocalyptic book. 22 men on a container vessel who just happened to be mid-Atlantic, and therefore survived a nuclear war.
The story moves at a good pace, though none of the characters are fleshed out much beyond stereotypes from each country. The mystery is good, and the ending was satisfying.
What this book needed... and needed badly, was an editor. If Dieppe did have one, then they let him down badly. Dieppe writes a good story, but he doesn't write it very well (if that makes sense). There are grammar errors, there are spelling errors (on very basic words), and he sometimes uses words in such a strange context, I'm not sure he knows what they mean.
I'm assuming because the book is printed by Amazon that it is self-published. I could be wrong. The book itself is on cheap, heavy paper and random pages just fall out. Not great, Amazon.
It's sad, because this could have been great with a little care and a little polish.
The story moves at a good pace, though none of the characters are fleshed out much beyond stereotypes from each country. The mystery is good, and the ending was satisfying.
What this book needed... and needed badly, was an editor. If Dieppe did have one, then they let him down badly. Dieppe writes a good story, but he doesn't write it very well (if that makes sense). There are grammar errors, there are spelling errors (on very basic words), and he sometimes uses words in such a strange context, I'm not sure he knows what they mean.
I'm assuming because the book is printed by Amazon that it is self-published. I could be wrong. The book itself is on cheap, heavy paper and random pages just fall out. Not great, Amazon.
It's sad, because this could have been great with a little care and a little polish.
February 24, 2024
This novel follows Donal O'Brien, a journalist and writer who recently blew up his seemingly stable, happy life by booking a monthslong journey on a cargo ship with the ostensible purpose of writing about the experience. When a pandemic and nuclear annihilation strike in quick succession, Donal and the ship's crew realize they're on their own. This book is a mashup of two of my favorite tropes - postapocalyptic fiction and locked-room mysteries. I started reading it one morning and could not put it down until I was finished, which I did that same afternoon -- even though I was at work! If you've never watched YouTube videos of cargo ships at sea, I recommend watching a couple of those to get even more of a sense of what Donal and the crew are experiencing. Even if you don't watch those videos, though, Dieppe creates such a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere that your heart will begin to race together with Donal's at the dawning realization that someone on board is not who they seem.
I also really liked the depiction of the society that developed on board the ship. Despite the absence of a wider civilization, racial and ethnic tensions rear their ugly heads in a way I found very true to life. Just as the crew are trapped on the ship and trapped in the doldrums, so too are they trapped by pre-existing tensions and hierarchies. We, as humans, don't seem to be able to escape them. Gender is addressed less, but affects the plot in a surprising way. Donal's explorations into the crew's lives and personalities add dimensionality to the characters, but more importantly, they help to illustrate these themes without making the book at all didactic. It's the societal realism and respect for the uniqueness and individuality of the characters that set this book apart from your average mystery or apocalypse story.
I feel like I discovered an unknown gem, and I want everyone to read this one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I also really liked the depiction of the society that developed on board the ship. Despite the absence of a wider civilization, racial and ethnic tensions rear their ugly heads in a way I found very true to life. Just as the crew are trapped on the ship and trapped in the doldrums, so too are they trapped by pre-existing tensions and hierarchies. We, as humans, don't seem to be able to escape them. Gender is addressed less, but affects the plot in a surprising way. Donal's explorations into the crew's lives and personalities add dimensionality to the characters, but more importantly, they help to illustrate these themes without making the book at all didactic. It's the societal realism and respect for the uniqueness and individuality of the characters that set this book apart from your average mystery or apocalypse story.
I feel like I discovered an unknown gem, and I want everyone to read this one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 21, 2024
A beautifully written post apocalyptic tale. The unique setting of being on a cargo ship that provides for the crew while the world around them suffers a cataclysmic event is endlessly fascinating and intriguing. The juxtaposing themes of hope, despair, loneliness, fear, paranoia and friendship are all explored and navigated expertly. The geographically, scientifically and historically accurate facts grounds the story in realism and allows you to truly picture the settings and places from the story. I look forward in anticipation to the next novel from this author. Very well done!
February 23, 2024
"In the Doldrums" by Simon Dieppe takes readers on a thrilling post-apocalyptic journey aboard a cargo ship, where survival becomes a battle against both external threats and inner demons. Dieppe's narrative skillfully blends genres, creating a dynamic and engaging read that offers vivid descriptions, engaging characters, and thought-provoking social commentary. Whether you're a post-apocalyptic fiction fan or enjoy a well-crafted story, "In the Doldrums" promises an unforgettable literary voyage.
June 9, 2024
This was chosen as a book club read. It isn't my usual genre being dystopia.
However, the story flowed well and there was a good plot to follow, I found I couldn't put it down. The characters are all explained really well.amd you get a good feel for them and the living conditions. It created great imagery.
As a self published book, I had my doubts, but Simon Dieppe wrote very well and I only noticed acouple off errors.
Of you like a book with a good plot and easy to read, this is the book for you!
However, the story flowed well and there was a good plot to follow, I found I couldn't put it down. The characters are all explained really well.amd you get a good feel for them and the living conditions. It created great imagery.
As a self published book, I had my doubts, but Simon Dieppe wrote very well and I only noticed acouple off errors.
Of you like a book with a good plot and easy to read, this is the book for you!
June 23, 2024
I raced through this book, such an interesting and unique premise. The characters, particularly Donal, felt real and I found myself really caring about what happened to them. The tensions on the ship, the mystery, the unrest, it was all palpable. One of my favourite books of the year. If you liked Station 11 I would bet you would like this too.
August 10, 2024
Really enjoyable
Good dystopian fiction. Well written, nicely paced with good characters. Very much enjoyed this book. Hope he publishes more. Would recommend
Good dystopian fiction. Well written, nicely paced with good characters. Very much enjoyed this book. Hope he publishes more. Would recommend
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews