The Wall is set in the near future, where rising sea levels have wiped out huge swathes of the world and to protect itself from both water and ‘the others’ who try to gain entry via the sea, Britain has erected a 30ft concrete wall around itself which is guarded by conscripted young members of the populace. You do your 2 years on The Wall, pray that no ‘others’ come and then you go about your life as normal. If The Others come and manage to get over on your watch, you’re put out to sea in their place. The novel follows Kavanagh, a young man who is just starting his time on The Wall.