Science friction A dystopian vision set in an alternate universe, but the ghost of Ishiguro is too strong

In 2016 Catherine Chidgey published her fourth novel, The Wish Child, a child’s-eye view of Nazi Germany.

- By Clare Clark

Since then the much-garlanded New Zealander has contrived to be not only conspicuously prolific but also intriguingly unpredictable. Her work has ranged from the coming-of-age psychological thriller Pet to The Beat of the Pendulum, a “found” novel that drew on everything from conversations and social media posts to news bulletins and satnav instructions. The Axeman’s Carnival, published in the UK last year, was partly narrated by a magpie.