French author Pierre Bordage, prolific master of the arts and mainly for SF-stories, is one of my favourite authors, even if I've still many of his novels to read. See below for those currently on my TBR-pile. Mr Bordage has a knack for humanistic stories, focusing on characters. His books are usually 400-500 pages thick, allowing him to develop a story, not be contrived to the limits that a short story imposes. However, over the years, he has improved in that department as well, even if not every story is a success, just like a novel isn't always perfect.

2023 has been a Bordage year, in a way, as I've read 4 of his books: two short-story collections and two novels, a boost activated after the man's visit at La Foire du Livre de Bruxelles in April.

'Les Derniers Hommes' (The Last Men or The Last Humans) was originally published in a six-parts series, later reissued in omnibus version, leading up to 600-700 pages. Bordage's novels are usually around a good 400 pages thick, though a few other omnibuses are over 1000 pages thick.

What is 'Les Derniers Hommes' about? Earth, mainly Europe though, has been ravaged by World War III. The story's set in the future, though it looks quite near. Soldier robots (solbots) have replaced or joined military and police forces. Animals (insects, fish, ...) have been genetically modified, even turned into a danger for mankind.

Resources are scarce and only a large group (Aquariotes) have the monopoly of water. They travel around Europe and mainly France to seek sources to fill their tanks to provide people with water for everyday use. Finding clean, potable water is a skill not everyone possesses, hence it being something taught from generation to generation.

Of course, being deprived of the comfort and luxury of before, can cause chaos, riots, fights, etc. Even the "water group" (Aquariotes) has its internal struggles, between members of the same "class", and between the group's leaders (because, yes, such a large group has leaders) and its members. Mainly the leaders aren't that fond of the weaker members, especially not someone who's cripple and can't really contribute to the well-being of the group. Or can he?

Solman, the ugly duckling you might call him, hasn't had a proper youth or upbringing by his parents, hence sees the world and people from a different perspective. More on his past will be clarified as the story progresses, particularly in the second half, everything is cleared out (or as good as). Various characters will also influence his development and leadership.

Solman has the power of (fore)sight, a bit like the Wit in Robin Hobb's series. He can feel/see if something will happen and warn the group to act otherwise to prevent demise or similar. That makes him a Giver (Donneur). Solman will eventually, also thanks to medicine woman Raïma, develop his "humanistic" side. She will also teach him a bit about the Apocalypse and the various angels involved in the process. Yes, you've guessed it, in this story too, religion plays a role, also in the form of a traveling group of religious people who stick to their strict form of life, distrust Solman and his fellow Aquariotes.

Ravaged Europe shows the contrast between the warm south and the cold north. As the south is no longer a safe haven, because of the solbots, other people attacking the Aquariotes, ... Solman advises the group to head north, even if that long journey will not be easy. Mechanical breakdowns, rearranging the groups and possessions in a decreasing fleet of trucks and caravans, ... causing frustrations among the group's members. Solman's skill will also divide the group between those grateful for his saving them and those following the leaders' vision. A heavy price will be paid for that. Luckily for him, he will find a true friend in Moram, one of the truck-drivers. Forever grateful for Solman's vision, for having saved the people from many perils, vowed to protect the "master", so that everyone comes out unharmed. You could see him as the Samwise Gamgee (most faithful friend of Frodo in 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien) of the story, though he too has his desires (he's a bit of a womanizer, but later on especially fond of the youngest water searcher of the group) and plans, has a more basic outlook on life, hanging on to life.

The religious impact and events do unfold much later, but I had trouble "seeing" and understanding what was going on (perhaps the seduction/luring/abuse of organised religion or a guru - as Solman could be considered, in a way - and how to break free from this?). Pierre Bordage did add some (historical) information (political, religious) to create context, to add more stuffing to the story. However, like someone else wrote here, the story goes downhill in the second half (especially the last few hundred pages, if you ask me), with an ending that might make sense (not to me, unfortunately), but could have been much more positive. I would have opted for an ending/conclusion similar to that of the Cycle de la Tour de Garde, by Guillaume Chamanadjian and Claire Duvivier.

To copy-paste what I wrote earlier: This must be the first Bordage novel that causes me so much trouble, even if I like the story itself. It's a thick book (671 pages), but that's not the issue. It's a sloooooow story, agonisingly slow. And pretty dark/depressing. Yet, it shows the viciousness (and kindness) of human nature. However, it's not the man's best, to be honest, despite various positive reviews I checked before deciding to read the book. Again, a strong first half, but the cake doesn't remain upright in the second half, alas. With 100 à 200 pages less and some tweakings here and there, 'Les Derniers Hommes' could (should?) have been a much more interesting novel.

Some side-remarks:
* Not everything's worked out, or not enough for me, at least. Particularly in the second half, the religious events. Or is it because I didn't understand or interpret correctly what was meant?

* Women are either vicious (those in power of the Aquariotes) or beautiful (unless or even if they're touched by a disease), even many times beautiful, attractive, or any other word to describe the female body. Male bodies are usually the opposite, man is the animal in this case.

* People living in poor conditions, deprived of comfort and luxury, revert to a state of survival, where their most primitive needs have to be met: food, drink, ... and intercourse, be it forced or by common desire. This is not the only book by Bordage in which this occurs, but it happens a bit too often. Almost like in Kim Stanley Robinson's Shaman: A Novel of the Ice Age, which I didn't finish, as the story never kept my interest, despite having liked other of his books.

* The title contains 'hommes', which can be 'men' or 'humans'. Both translations are valid, especially as 'men' take the lead and dominate the story, with women playing secondary roles.

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Previously read, in chronological order: (not counting his stories published in various anthologies since his last collection)
* Chroniques des ombres (my review)
* Hier je vous donnerai de mes nouvelles (my review)
* Le Jour où la guerre s'arrêta (my review)
* Entretiens avec Pierre Bordage (my review)
* Contes des sages d'autres mondes et d'autres temps (my review)
* Contes des sages pas sages (my review)
* Dernières nouvelles de la Terre... (my review)
* Les Dames blanches (my review)
* Nouvelle Vie™ (my review)

Still on my TBR-pile:
* [book:La Trilogie des Guerriers du silence|28488048]
* [book:Les Portes d'Occident|43898640] + [book:Les Aigles d'Orient|43898675] (Wang duology)
* [book:Le Livre des prophéties|30489150]
* [book:La Fraternité du Panca - Intégrale|39345257]
* [book:Les Fables de l'Humpur|2058514]
* [book:Abzalon|44167523] + [book:Orchéron|13637451]
* [book:Qui vient du bruit|13641749] + [book:Le Dragon aux plumes de sang|13636600] (Griots Celestes duology) ( )

"Les derniers hommes", c'est déjà la satisfaction de lire un ouvrage qui change des classiques du genre à deux niveaux : l'action se passe en Europe et il est moderne. En effet le genre post-apocalyptique ayant eu un regain durant la guerre froide, les chefs d'œuvre du genre sont surtout américains et l'apocalypse a été nucléaire. Le fait que l'action se passe en Europe, et en majorité en France, rapproche l'ouvrage de ses lecteurs francophones, c'est indéniable. Et là, l'apocalypse a surtout été "scientifique" : manipulations génétiques, robots soldats et pollution. C'est tout de suite plus parlant, pour le meilleur et pour le pire : ça nous parle plus, mais ça paraît plus réaliste, on est plus tenté par "mais ça pourrait se passer de nos jours".

"Les derniers hommes", c'est un mélange assez réussi de science-fiction et de fable, comme une espèce de conte avec des personnages aux noms étranges et à la limite du fantasy. Mais le tout prend bien pour créer une œuvre qui se laisse bien lire, malgré quelques longueurs, qui ne gâchent néanmoins pas le plaisir. Indéniablement un jalon du genre. ( )