The Hurricane Code

by James Aura

A Vivid Glimpse of our Possible Future: Powerful hurricanes dominate Earth’s weather in 2099 as global temperatures soar. The Hurricane Code follows North American climate refugees seeking escape from storms unimaginable by today’s standards. The old saying, “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it,’ is turned on its head in an age of Quantum computers where Artificial Intelligence runs governments. Will Homo sapiens go extinct, or will our technology eventually save us? This story, a blend of Science and Climate fiction, explores the destiny of humans and all creatures on the planet through the lives of ordinary people and wealthy oligarchs.

Genres: Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fiction

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2020

About the author

James Aura writes historical and environmental mysteries and climate fiction.
He grew up in farming country north of Clifton Hill, Missouri; a town with a barbershop and a population of 212. Later, after college and the army, he covered public servants and Pharisees, civil rights marchers, and the Klan, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, corporate bigwigs, Amish house-movers, snake handlers and strip-miners from the Midwest to the Atlantic Coast. In other words, he was in the local news business. James Aura lives in the woods near Raleigh, NC with his wife and a very opinionated cat.
He is the author of 'When Saigon Surrendered, a Kentucky Mystery' is a story about ordinary Americans in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1717881262?
'The Cumberland Killers' is set in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky with the onset of mountaintop removal mining in the 1980's. Some of the same characters inhabit both novels.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
'The Hurricane Code' is a story of North American climate refugees in the year 2099.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08J1SK814/
All books are available in print, Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.
Follow the author on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/james_aura
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/whensaigonsu...?
https://www.facebook.com/thecumberlan...?
https://www.facebook.com/The-Hurrican...
Medium:
https://medium.com/@james_aura

Reviews

[Jim Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was climate fiction, but I found the most compelling part of the story was its realism. The author describes a future climate based on the scientific specifics... a projection of what might happen in North America and the rest of the world if we wait too long to deal with rising CO2. Throw in a technological setback, which is also a realistic possibility, and we'd be looking at a very different world. The biggest factor is hurricanes... as in Category 7.
"Hurricane Iota struck Houston carrying winds more powerful than any storm since Triceratops and T-Rex ruled. It flattened nearly everything in its path. It peeled the bark from trees, and then took down the trees. It lifted houses off foundations, sending them flying through the air. Subdivisions and forests, schools and cemeteries fell beneath irresistible force."
Needless to say the people in the path of that hurricane didn't fare well. And you care about this because these are people whose story starts a few weeks earlier and you follow along with them. Climate refugees in North America.
I liked the characters (including a 'sentient' computer program, a code-crunching woman, and a Sioux from 'Dakota'.
The writing and outlook reminded me a bit of Vonnegut, and the ending was a bit of a surprise, but overall satisfying. To me it was a reminder: Get off our asses and support renewable energy.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a glimpse of what the world could be like in 2099 if nations continue current scientific, political and economic trends.
Gabe Cameron migrates from southern Missouri to Minnesota to escape extreme heat, monster hurricanes and worse. He ends up as a servant at an enclave for the super-rich and makes friends with a fellow refugee, a Native American.
The woman Gabe is assigned to is an heiress, a computer scientist and more. She makes a discovery that leads them on a trip through a northern wilderness where the travelers are climate refugees. Other characters in the story travel through Kansas in an effort to reach the cooler climate of the Rocky Mountains, but a Category 7 hurricane turns the trip into a disaster. Highly advanced computers also play a role in the novel.
For a slow-rolling apocalypse, I found the story compelling and a page-turner.
The approach reminded me of Kurt Vonnegut. If you are interested in climate fiction, I would recommend this highly

[Luci · Rating 5 out of 5]

The year is 2099 and hordes of people are migrating north to escape intense heat and drought that has turned some areas into deserts. This story follows three different groups of people in the American Midwest and Canada as they deal with the extreme weather and more. The situation for humans is worsened by a technological attack that leaves much of the civilized world without electricity or internet.
The portrayal of the individual characters as they deal with the unravelling of society was fascinating. The book also describes in vivid detail, powerful hurricanes that seem to come in waves across the continent, not just in the south, but as far north as Minnesota.
But the technological meltdown is not complete. For the ultra-rich, life goes on in relative comfort thanks to quantum computers and highly advanced robots. One of my favorite characters was a highly intelligent computer program called an 'entity' which is assigned to protect a wealthy heiress who is trying to come up with a computer code to reduce the threat from hurricanes.
I enjoyed the story. There were a few complicated passages describing weather and meteorology but overall this was a quick, easy read. Although there was some violence, and horrific incidents, I found the descriptions appropriate. I would recommend the book for Sci-Fi fans and those interested in climate. Dystopian but not totally without hope.

[Grace Tenkay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since we are decades late in seriously addressing climate change I wondered whether this book would reflect the urgency of our global warming status. And it did, very well The author graphically shows what might happen to North America if we continue to go slow on conserving the environment. In 2099 huge powerful hurricanes dominate much of the world and the story involves climate refugees struggling to get north, away from the worst effects of Category 7 storms. For me, it was a page turner and a good story, told well and a cautionary tale, illustrated with a strong sense of place in the American Midwest.

[Neal Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. It reminded me of old school hard Sci-Fi with a few modern touches.
The stars of the show were definitely the hurricanes. Probably my favorite character was the sentient A.I.
A bit of whimsy at the end put an enjoyable cap on the plot.
Highly recommend to those interested in a new spin on climate fiction.

[Harry Heitman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cautionary tale, well told.
It is the year 2099 and atmospheric CO2 has risen to 700 parts per million, compared to 415 now. The global climate feedback loop is well underway and the resulting heat has given rise to hurricanes as powerful at Category 7.
I liked the author's use of science, a bit more than his characters, who mostly served to move the story forward. He covers many of the important climate bases, heating of the ocean and the death of tiny marine creatures in the food chain, the last blue whale, wars over water, and mass migrations of people to escape the heat and the hurricanes. The pythons were especially interesting to me, as we know they have already moved as far north as Georgia. Would they make it to Kansas by 2099? Would the melting of the polar icecaps and glaciers result in more earthquakes and volcanoes? Interesting speculation and undoubtedly controversial.
So Aura pushes the climate envelope fairly hard. Let's hope these things don't come to pass. The 'stand your ground' gun laws for population reduction were cultural jujitsu with the A.I.'s in the story using the darker aspects of human nature to possibly save humanity.
I noticed the book came out in September last year and Hurricane Iota, a Category 5 arrived
in the Caribbean in November, a record year for hurricanes. Iota in the book, is a Category 7. Spooky. There had never been a Hurricane Iota until last year.

[Harry Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this a lot. Hard Sci-Fi with a realistic look at what current climate trends could do to North America by 2099. Interesting characters, especially a sentient A.I. named 'Searcher.' Would recommend to anyone interested in some fresh climate fiction that covers some new ground.

[Rachel Hackney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aura has a fantastic imagination. This is a cautionary tale if there ever were one. I found it utterly fascinating. He has a great talent for character development, too. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book he has written. Given the effects of climate change with which we already are contending, I would highly recommend this to everyone who wonders what we may have to face in the future — if the leaders of this world are unwilling to take the very serious steps necessary to save mankind.

[William Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Aura captures some very important themes in this novel, but the characters are also entertaining with some well timed comic relief throughout. Hurricane Code was one of my favorite books of the year.

[Esther Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a powerful message in this book, wrapped in a compelling story: If we don't take climate change seriously and work to reduce CO2 emissions, we face the end of life as we know it on the planet. Particularly well illustrated was the climate feedback loop, where one thing boosts another, like the melting of frozen methane hydrates in the Arctic Tundra, and under the sea.
The gigantic hurricanes spawned from rising heat and humidity cause mass migrations of people all over the earth. Most are headed north in search of milder temperatures. The story follows several of these people, mostly in the Midwest as they struggle to survive and get to a safer place. I found the story about the middle aged farm wife, stranded in Kansas to be particularly gripping.

[Thomas G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of dystopian fiction and this book was among the best. It was well-researched and entirely plausible... quite frightening in fact. Most "end of the world as we know it" fiction focuses on EMP, untreatable disease, zombies, etc. Set in the year 2099, this very readable novel includes a prominent role for climate change-induced catastrophe with a smaller role for AI and a miniscule (almost unnecessary) mention of EMP. Whether you believe in climate change or not, this book offers a different view of a dismal future where weather events have become magnified and coastal regions are inundated with seawater. As a result of these changes, the population is on the move and shrinking steadily. Artificial intelligence plays a significant role and is generally viewed as positive and helpful but with embedded cautions. There was a hint of "1984" where invasive surveillance is possible in everyday lives. The characters were interesting and the storyline was engaging. It was difficult to put this book down once I started reading it, particularly toward the climax, which had an interesting and somewhat unexpected twist (say no more). I highly recommend this book.

[Glennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This taut, fast moving novel is set in 2099 with fierce heat gripping the earth. It follows characters who are fleeing north to escape powerful and frequent hurricanes floods and extreme drought. Canada has adopted some draconian measures to block their passage, and trial and tribulations confront those who dare to attempt a border crossing.
Another group seeks refuge in high elevations of the Rockies where it is a bit cooler and less prone to hurricanes. But they must cross a gauntlet in the Great Plains. The story describes some major technological advancements, robots, genetic engineering, largely for the rich, along with an intelligent and personable Artificial Intelligence 'entity' who acts as a guardian and helper. The entity reminds me a little of Data from Star Trek Next Generation, except it is not an android.
I liked the story and the characters, and the scenario was dark but not without flashes of optimism and kindness. Overall, a good story enhanced by the science in this climate fiction tale.

[Carolyn Wilhelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive view of a plausible future

In 2099 Earth and the people are experiencing the effects of today’s climate crisis. Technology helps the characters, and also the knowledge on Native people. So many aspects of life, weather, business, and travel are considered. This book kept me interested all the way through. Excellent read.

I live in Minnesota and it seemed like the author did, too, with all he knows about our towns, rivers, and lakes.

[Harold Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very real scenario based on climate forecasts- and some interesting speculation about technology- the good and the bad. I found it hard to put down.
The author created a fascinating world-- one I wouldn't want to live in. Let's hope grandchildren
don't have to live in that world, either-- and we do something about CO2.

[Steven Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a great deal. The information on Artificial Intelligence Robots opened my eyes to the scope of their uses in the not so distant future. The destruction in this book caused by massive hurricanes (global warming) is very realistic considering what just happen in Florida. This was an interesting view into the future.



believe

[Blackthorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The year is 2099. Decades of climate change have resulted in unprecedented storms, flooding, Category 7 hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and rule by artificial intelligence. Huge portions of the world's land is now underwater. Global warming drives everyone toward the poles.

Through intensifying climate disasters and technological cataclysm, population been greatly reduced. The wealthy, mostly descendants of today's billionaires, live in protected enclaves, throw themselves parties, feast on rare foodstuffs, and enjoy the "real news," while the menials who serve them get only scraps of FreeNews while munching on algae cakes. Out in the wilderness, gangs roam the countryside, but there are also families of farmers and ordinary folk living as people have for centuries, growing their own food and caring for livestock.

The sentient AIs have philosophical discussions. The wealthy scions have their genes altered to resemble famous movie stars and conduct formal dates to consider whether to procreate and with whom. The menials gripe about their boring jobs, and speculate about their masters and mistresses.

Shocking circumstances lead two of the menials to escape with their mistress and trek northward to reunite with their families. Their adventures cover most of the continent and include encounters with all levels of North America's future society. Riveting tale of adventure and courage, hope and survival.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story unfolds in 2099 when everyone, the wealthy as well as ordinary people, are forced into drastic lifestyle changes because of extreme weather. If you want a better understanding of how changing climate could affect the future of life on earth, I would recommend this book.
A dramatic plot and a page-turner. Even the computer programs have personalities

[Pam Shelton-Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This presents a sobering, though fictional (hopefully), world in our future where climate change has remained unchecked. The writing and editing was good and the story flowed well for the most part. I did not really care much for Roxanne, despite her bravery in leaving the safety of the Uppsala. While I prefer computers as tools and not overlords, I did like Searcher (and I kind of want one). The book reached a point where it seemed to not know what to do next and jumps a bit to the future and ends rather abruptly.

[NC Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dystopian but also hopeful. A crystalline vision of a world where tropical predators inhabit the American Midwest; AI runs transportation and much of the government, and intelligent computer programs can travel the globe to do a user's bidding by voice command.
Native American culture and values play a role and remind us to listen to the Earth, even when we feel most disconnected from it. Plenty of darkness but also moments of comic relief. Good characters and nice writing in this climate fiction tale. My teenage nephew recommended it, and glad he did.

[C.J. Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work of speculative fiction is an insightful and gripping look at life in the United States about 80 years in the future. The climate crisis has overwhelmed the planet, large areas of the U.S. are uninhabitable due to massive, incredibly destructive hurricanes, and millions of Americans have become environmental refugees. Rather than retell the plot, I find it more useful to look at significant themes in the book. Humanity’s response to the suffering caused by the hurricanes and what comes out of these storms is regretfully too often violent with little attempt to work together to solve problems. The Native Americans in the book are an exception to this sad reality. Also, and not surprisingly, we learn about the abandonment of any ethics by a wealthy, elevated class which gets all the perks of protection, reproduction, and regular meals while literally millions suffer and starve. We learn about the potential role of AI, and in particular, one sentient being named Searcher, in assisting the small group of humans we follow. The characters are compelling, but even better is the fascinating look at conditions in a fully-developed climate crisis. This book is highly suspenseful, mesmerizing and often scary as hell – mainly because the conditions described are entirely plausible. As I was reading this book, I had to conclude that fiction maybe the best way to get across to people what we are facing if we don’t do something immediately to address and mitigate the climate crisis which is already underway. The Hurricane Code is a good place to start.

[Barry Flanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book description says 'A Vivid Glimpse of a Possible Future: Powerful hurricanes dominate Earth’s weather in 2099 as global temperatures soar.'
And I thought the novel did exactly that. I liked it a lot, especially the visual imagery
and I think it would make a good movie.

[Jack Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating science/climate fiction set in the not too distant future with nations of the world failing to head off rapid climate change. Extreme storms, much worse than we have today, especially the hurricanes. Great, fast moving story with plenty of human interest along with the science.

[Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, one standard for a post-apocalyptic or dystopian book is for it to be believable. The Hurricane Code is hit or miss on this. The premise is that the US and much of the world is being ravaged by hurricanes. Believable, however I found some of the situations not plausible. We follow several characters as they migrate to what they perceive is a safer place.

One aspect I very much enjoyed was the portrayal of AI. The 'Entity' is tasked with protecting a wealthy scientist who is making her way from a compound of wealth, to Canada, to continue the work trying to come up with a solution to the climate of extreme hurricanes.

Not a great book, but a quick reading good book.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story introduces a wide cast of characters, a central theme (about destruction caused by strong storms), and good editing. However, the writing is terribly simplistic, the plot full of holes, and most events are recounted with generalities and vague references.
We follow the wealthy scientist Roxanne, two menials Gabe and Zeb, a woman named Marie, and an AI named Searcher. Other characters play a role as well but most characters are flat. The characters wander around in a future, post-apocalyptic world, beset by strong storms and little civilization. And yet, oddly, some have cell phones, computers, aerial cameras, robots, and science labs. How does one have to constantly search for food and shelter, be buffeted by violent storms, and lack communication when there is technology all around them?
Just a few plot holes:
Why don't they use technology to protect themselves from the storms?
How are all the technologies built, maintained, and supported?
What government entities exist? It refers a couple times to people following the law but there are no signs of police forces, lawmakers, and courts.
How do some characters have no contact while others can use cameras to locate each other?
What is life like on other continents, since this seems to be a global event?
How does Searcher do what it does with limited technology around?
In addition, the writing is mostly subject, verb, object. Pages and pages of that make the reading seem tedious.
I read this for a book club but felt wary going in. It was mildly interesting.

[Hectaizani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard sci-fi climate fiction. Read along with one of my groups. Interesting take on how humans would handle the intense heat, drought, and category 7 hurricanes that will come about if the world doesn't take climate change seriously. Spoiler alert: The rich will live in protected enclaves, the poor will die. Not really much of a change or that much of a spoiler.

Some issues: I forgot her name - the female protagonist is sent by her father to live in one of the enclaves but the entry price is that she must mate and produce a child. Um, eww. Why do we have to reduce female characters to their reproductive organs. She escapes from the enclave along with two servants. While traveling they discover that the manager of the enclave has been killing and butchering the servants for food. She pretty much shrugs that off as though it was not a big deal. It's a pretty big deal.
Technology has advanced to the point where there are AIs that control everything. But science is back in the dark ages. They follow the news to get data points to do their research. Uh, the news isn't a reliable data point especially since there's two sets of news - one for the rich and one for the poor.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Aura lives in North Carolina, so he is no stranger to inland hurricanes. In The Hurricane Code (2020), he prophetically doubles down on events like Hurricane Helene (2024) by predicting a climate dystopia in which hurricanes drive surviving American populations to the Rockies and inland Alaska. His heroine, the daughter of a billionaire, is better equipped than most such refugees. She is a quantum computing expert working on sophisticated climate models. Along the way, she gets help from a quantum AI. Conveniently, the computer stays up through most of the bad weather.

The story makes a chilling case against corporate villains who exploit and exacerbate the disaster.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take

A look at the world when climate change hits disastrous levels. AI runs the world with the goal of reducing the number of humans significantly in an effort to ensure continuity. The billionaire's daughter, whom I thought would be a hero turns out to be just another billionaire, disappointing. I would read another novel by Aura because the world building is interesting, but this story just ends with an epilogue, as if the author just didn't know what to do with the plot.

[Jazz Fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. A fascinating blend of science and human drama, set in the year 2099. Much of the Earth is in the grip of extreme weather, intense heat, gigantic hurricanes, tech meltdown.. and mass migrations to locations in the north with less violent weather. The story follows climate refugees in several states and also features an intelligent computer program with an entertaining personality. Overall, a very absorbing read.

[Frances Applequist · Rating 5 out of 5]

The amount of research that went into this novel is astonishing. Mr. Aura details logical and terrifying chain reactions triggered by our abuse of our natural world. Land, Sea, and Sky fight back against our neglect and misuse. Flora and fauna suffer before and with humanity. The characters and interwoven story lines are well-drawn and engaging. I forced myself to put the novel down often, so it would last longer.

For a science and detail-junkie like me, THE HURRICANE CODE is a feast.

[Linda Bowers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this speculative fiction, dystopian fiction, climate change fiction; however you call it. Moves right along in plot. Character development is somewhat there.