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Welcome to The Ark

It is the year 2041. In the wake of the post-peak oil crisis, society as we know it is collapsing. A handful of scientists and their families retreat into a bunker inside Mount Kosciusko, alongside a vault full of seeds which hold the key to the future of life on earth. Will they survive?

26
people inside the bunker
730
days without sunlight
327
documents to tell their story
About the Book

The Ark  is a novel for the 21st century, delving into the timely issue of the breakdown of society in the wake of environmental catastrophe. The story is told through a collection of digital documents including blog posts, emails and text messages and is accompanied by a website which invites readers to dive deeper into the world of the novel, and to continue to develop that world by sharing their own content inspired by the novel.

About the Author

Annabel Smith is the author of two other novels: Whiskey & Charlie (published in Australia as Whisky Charlie Foxtrot) and A New Map of the UniverseShe is a member of the editorial board of Margaret River Press, an Australia Council Creative Australia Fellow, and holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Edith Cowan University. She is currently working on an epic quest with a science-fiction twist, in which a trio of unlikely heroes must unite to overthrow a sadistic cult before a tsunami destroys their city.

Reviews

‘I was hooked from the very first document’
Hugh Howey (Author of Wool)
‘The Ark is like an archeological dig, and as we sift through the ashes of modernity, we realize we cannot escape from ourselves.’
Peter Docker (Author of The Waterboys)
‘A character-driven study of human behaviour under the extreme pressures of isolation, manipulation and fear.’
Amanda Curtin (Author of Elemental)
‘A clever and compelling story, and an innovative and exciting example of non-traditional story telling…’ Read more 
Dawn Barker (Author of Fractured)
‘A great concept, delivered ingeniously; I’d like to see more adventurous books like this published in Australia.’ Read more
Jane Rawson (Author of A Wrong Turn at the Office of Unmade Lists)
 “A timeless human story.” Read more 
Ben Lever (Goodreads)
 
‘The intrigues, anxieties and tragedies experienced by the characters are revealed through unique narrative devices that portray a society at once hyper-connected, hopelessly fractured, and desperate to secure something more than just survival.’ 
Glen Hunting (Goodreads)

Fan Fiction

The Ark invites readers to continue to develop the world of The Ark by creating and sharing their own responses to and interpretations of the novel.

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Browse fan fiction

 Fan fiction ideas 

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Explore the Bunker

The Ark: Full Bunker Tour

The Black Lab

The Hub: View from Aidan’s Niche

Sleeping Pockets

Soil Science Laboratories

The GARDEN

Concealed Entrance to the Ark

Entrance to the Ark

Kaos Kronikles

Contact the Author

Annabel welcomes requests for interviews and speaking engagements, queries from agents and publishers, and, questions and feedback from readers.