“Camp Zero” by Michelle Min Sterling

“Camp Zero” by Michelle Min Sterling, is a dystopian, apocalyptic story following three perspectives. Rose, a high-end escort, is tasked with spying on Meyer, an influential architect, who’s working on a project in the far North called “Camp Zero.” 

Meyer’s intention is to lure wealthy Americans north so they can live in a  kinder, more stable Northern climate. However, Meyer’s backer, Damien, the inventor of ‘The Flick’ implant device, is keen on a different target. This is where Professor Grant Grimley, the son and heir of a prolific line of wealthy businessmen, enters the story. A previous relationship with a lower-class girl opened his eyes to how horrible his family was, and took a position in the North to get away. 

Then came along the group, ‘White Alice.’ White Alice is a group of women scientists and soldiers sent North by the American government to study the changing climate. However, things go awry when trust in their leadership falters. 

The wordcount is about 128,000 words long, and would take an average reader about 8 hours to finish the book.

Content warnings: On page (but not detailed) murders, sexual content, prostitution, sex-based discrimination, racial discrimination and fetishization

Trigger warnings: attempted on page rape.

If these topics are triggering to you then proceed with care. The rape is halted by the main character, but be warned that it is there. It takes place closer to the end of the novel. 

Proceed with care.

This book is primarily about the results of global warming. The crisis impacted every single character in different ways. Grant described Jane, his then girlfriend, as having combed ash out of her hair on a regular basis, and routinely laying on frozen chicken wings to stay cool during the raging summers. Rose’s mother was left homeless and destitute after a Hurricane tore through their hometown. I found the chapters including White Alice to be the most interesting. The homogenization of the group, and de-personalization of the individual members was a slow creep, but it showed. At the end, White Alice is almost unrecognizable to where they started, becoming a cult-like entity more than anything. Worshiping the necessity of survival and hardship.

I like a good mystery, and the questions I had about the characters kept drawing me back. But it felt a little drawn out, and then rushed at the end with all the answers being revealed. 

It felt like all the main characters, save for those of White Alice, were stuck in the past. Grant was stuck on Jane, and Rose stuck on her mom. The flashbacks were rather long, which had left me confused about what they were doing in the present. There were comparatively few characters focused on the future – White Alice, Damien, and Meyer. All of them are horrible.  Meyer as a rich architect has a dislike of those poorer than him. Damien is a scumbag. Towards the end Rose and Grant start looking ahead, and thinking about their futures rather than mulling over the past. It’s a nice way to wrap up their storylines thematically. 

The tone felt very bleak, and a little flat. It’s loaded with details on how the world has gone to hell, and how the upper-classes were able to insulate themselves from the worst of it. While I get the appeal, I’ve read that it’s a part of this rather niche genre called “environmental thrillers,” which according to Joel Burcat, a writer in this strain of genre, is a story that discusses real world environmental issues. It often portrays corporations as the villains, sucking up resources thoughtlessly, and doing whatever to churn a profit. If this genre appeals to you, then by all means pick up “Camp Zero”. Its atmosphere and worldbuilding is built on the end of the world as we know it due to the climate crisis. 

While I enjoyed the sci-fi aspects, and found The Flick to be a really interesting piece of technology, I felt rather melancholic as the story continued. I understand the intentions, and I get the themes. But, I prefer my books not to hit as close to home. 

The descriptions of the south from Grant’s POV’s reminded me of the 2021 heat dome in Washington. My family had one small, portable air conditioner for a 1000 sq ft house. My room in particular has, for some reason, better insulation than the rest of the house. Great during winter, horrible during a heat wave. I couldn’t sleep in my room for several days, and I vividly remember having to leave my room and just sit in my moms’ room with the air conditioner. 

I respect Sterling’s work, and I respect her intentions but, overall, it hit way too close to home for me. Which I think was the intention.

Come May don’t forget to pick up the next book, “Where Oceans Rise” by Robin Alvarez. A Filipino retelling of The Little Mermaid, this follows a teen named Malaya, who’s caught in an abusive relationship. After turning to the sea for help, she’s tossed to a sea witch. She barters her voice for a better life in which she’d never met her abusive boyfriend, but instead buys herself more trouble than she’d wanted. Want to find out more? Head upstairs of the Student Union Building (Building 27), and pick the book up on May 1!