A Voice From The Tomb by Ronald A. Williams

A Voice from the Tomb is set in the future in a world threatened by a deteriorating ozone layer and the consequent rise in sea levels. Nations are breaking down under the pressure as flooding drives their citizens away from the cities. With these incursions going on across the globe, the world is heading towards global war.

At the center of the drama is one man, Andreas Prescod, who after six years believing his wife to be killed on an expedition in Antarctica, discovers that she is alive. Invited by Natas Braniff, his brother-in-law, to accompany an new expedition to Antarctica, Andreas quickly finds himself embroiled in the government’s plot to forcefully emigrate a sizable portion of the African American population to Antarctica in order to bring its food supply in balance with its population.

When word leaks that Andreas is responsible for the plan, he finds that Antarctica may be the safest place for him. Antarctica, however, contains a secret that will both provide a window to humanity’s past and also threaten its very existence.

A Voice from the Tomb is not only a terrific read, but also raises disturbing questions about man’s relationship to his environment.  This novel, different from Williams’ first two, gives evidence of a writer at the height of his powers. A Voice from the Tomb certainly delivers.