The Children of Men

Synopsis

ONE OF THE BBC'S '100 NOVELS THAT SHAPED OUR WORLD'

The year is 2021. No child has been born for twenty-five years. The human race faces extinction.

Under the despotic rule of Xan Lyppiat, the Warden of England, the old are despairing and the young cruel. Theo Faren, a cousin of the Warden, lives a solitary life in this ominous atmosphere. That is, until a chance encounter with a young woman leads him into contact with a group of dissenters. Suddenly his life is changed irrevocably as he faces agonising choices which could affect the future of mankind.

Summary

Chapter 1:

Theo Faron, a historian, witnesses the death of Baby Diego, the youngest person on Earth. In a world ravaged by infertility, Diego's death symbolizes the imminent end of humanity.

Chapter 2:

Theo is approached by Julian, a member of the Quietus, a radical group that promotes assisted suicide. Julian warns Theo of the government's plans to round up and euthanize infertile people.

Chapter 3:

Theo meets Kee, a young refugee from the lawless "Green Zones" who claims to be pregnant. Intrigued and hopeful, Theo agrees to help her.

Chapter 4:

A group of refugees, including Kee, is arrested. Theo intervenes and secures their release. He realizes that Kee's pregnancy could be the key to saving humanity.

Chapter 5:

Theo and Kee flee from London with the help of the Quietus. They are pursued by the government and must avoid the dangers of the Green Zones.

Chapter 6:

The group encounters Jaxon, a former soldier who has seen the horrors of the government's actions. Jaxon joins their journey, providing protection and guidance.

Chapter 7:

Theo and his companions infiltrate the Omega Project, a research facility that is rumored to be working on a cure for infertility. They discover that the government is using infertile women as guinea pigs for its experiments.

Chapter 8:

The group confronts the head of the Omega Project and demands the release of its prisoners. In the ensuing chaos, Theo is captured.

Chapter 9:

Theo is tortured by the government and interrogated about Kee's pregnancy. He refuses to reveal her whereabouts, knowing that it could mean her death.

Chapter 10:

Julian and Jaxon rescue Theo. They return to the Green Zones, where they witness the horrors of a government-led pogrom against infertile people.

Chapter 11:

Theo, Kee, and the others confront the inevitable end. They gather at a beach and await their fate. As they do, Kee gives birth to a healthy baby girl.

Chapter 12:

The birth of Kee's child offers a glimmer of hope for the future. Theo and his companions disperse, carrying the message of hope and the legacy of the Children of Men.