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davehershey's review
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I got this book because my daughter wanted to read stories about climate change and the guy at the used bookstore suggested this one (and Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot series).
The most striking thing about this book is that thought it was written over 30 years ago, the ideas in it do not seem too far-fetched. Brinn’s picture of the world of 2038 does not seem too far off, though of course it is not exact. The best part of the book is the world-building. This includes not just the story, but the little vignettes throughout in the form of news clippings or studies that paint a picture of the world.
The weakest part of the book is the story. There are a lot of characters and few of them are given enough depth to be memorable. It was sometimes difficult to remember who was who, especially when a character showed up in a new setting (who was she with before? What were they doing?). The weakness of the story is partly because of the reliance on the aforementioned vignettes as they break up the story. A lot of authors will include such breaks in the story, perhaps at the beginning of each chapter. Brinn sprinkles them at the beginning, middle and end of each chapter.
Overall though, it is a good book. And I am happy to discover Environmental Fiction as a subgenre!
The most striking thing about this book is that thought it was written over 30 years ago, the ideas in it do not seem too far-fetched. Brinn’s picture of the world of 2038 does not seem too far off, though of course it is not exact. The best part of the book is the world-building. This includes not just the story, but the little vignettes throughout in the form of news clippings or studies that paint a picture of the world.
The weakest part of the book is the story. There are a lot of characters and few of them are given enough depth to be memorable. It was sometimes difficult to remember who was who, especially when a character showed up in a new setting (who was she with before? What were they doing?). The weakness of the story is partly because of the reliance on the aforementioned vignettes as they break up the story. A lot of authors will include such breaks in the story, perhaps at the beginning of each chapter. Brinn sprinkles them at the beginning, middle and end of each chapter.
Overall though, it is a good book. And I am happy to discover Environmental Fiction as a subgenre!
caitiesorbs's review
5.0
Amazing possible view of our not so distant future. One of my favorite science fiction books ever. Yes it is super super long but oh so worth it.
manzabar's review
2.0
It started off with an incredible premise and contains some truly excellent writing. Unfortunately it suffers from the author trying to do too much. There is considerable extraneous material that was likely intended to give additional points of view, but in the end only annoys the reader with the break in the flow of the primary story.
andreashappe's review
4.0
The book was written in the late 80s/early 90s and tries to predict the world around 2050. We're halfway there, and that not only in a good way. It's uncanny how brilliant Brin's estimates partially are. Sometimes the future seems a bit off (but then, we still have 9 years to totally fuck up stuff), sometimes the future has already happened.
The book contains a lot. From ecology, society, physics to dark forest theory. So why did I "only" give three stars? First, i think the content might have better fitted two different books, having it in one feels a bit overcrowded. Secondly, while Brin's pure brilliancy shines through, subsequent books might have done the different story lines better (I have just updated the ranking to four stares, because I would have compared this book with some of the greats and only three stars feel wrong for that).
I did not like Daisy, her character seemed a bit too one-sided.
Enjoy the Afterword. I really love Brin's non-fiction comments, they always touch something within me. I can remember reading about "The Commonwealth of Knowledge" in Otherness. In Earth, the afterword gave me solace in today's hectic world.
The book contains a lot. From ecology, society, physics to dark forest theory. So why did I "only" give three stars? First, i think the content might have better fitted two different books, having it in one feels a bit overcrowded. Secondly, while Brin's pure brilliancy shines through, subsequent books might have done the different story lines better (I have just updated the ranking to four stares, because I would have compared this book with some of the greats and only three stars feel wrong for that).
I did not like Daisy, her character seemed a bit too one-sided.
Enjoy the Afterword. I really love Brin's non-fiction comments, they always touch something within me. I can remember reading about "The Commonwealth of Knowledge" in Otherness. In Earth, the afterword gave me solace in today's hectic world.
mordiscasrios's review
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
roach's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Other generations perceived a plethora of swords hanging over their heads. But generally what they feared were shadows, for neither they nor their gods could actually end the world. Fate might reap an individual, or a family, or even a whole nation, but not the entire world. Not then.
We, in the mid-twenty-first century, are the first to look up at a sword we ourselves have forged, and know, with absolute certainty, it is real...
I didn't exactly have any specific expectations when I decided to pick up this lengthy hard-scifi novel simply called Earth but I ended up being drawn in by the fantastic near-future world-building with a focus on the environmental impact based on real-life facts.
The original premise about an artificial tiny black hole accidentally falling into the planet's core, threatening to eat our collective home from the inside out, is only a piece of this massive story that ultimately is about humanity's treatment of Earth as a whole. Brin clearly did a lot of thorough research and made for a lot of interesting speculations to create this version of the year 2038 where our footprint on nature is showing its effects, which in turn influences the general zeitgeist and the way we live.
From a prediction of the internet that aged quite well, over the effects of geological transformations due to climate change, to the development of naturalist religions and edgy sun-worshippers that celebrate the declining ozone layer... Also the acknowledged concept of a debt a generation leaves to the next.
There are so many captivating ideas, some of which probably hit a bit differently reading it now, at a time that's closer to the book's future year of 2038 than the early 90s, when this was first published. It certainly manages to fill the 700 pages of this global story pretty well.
It's an accomplishment in itself to be able to string along a coherent story that spans locations all across the planet, including the inner core and outside orbit, with changing focus on a whole bunch of different characters, without losing itself in tedium or confusion.
There are a couple of elements in the later part of the story that I didn't really see coming, which were interesting in their own regard but I was secretly hoping for a bit of a different path myself. And, of course, this book could probably have been shortened a bit here and there without losing too much. This is why my real rating of this would be more like 4.5 out of 5.
Nevertheless, this was a great read and I recommend this to anyone who is looking for eco-scifi.
What our grandchildren inherit is entirely up to us. And frankly, I'd rather they remember us as having left them a bit of hope.
- David Brin, August 1989
draeprice's review
5.0
This book was published in 1990 and makes some amazing predictions about the internet and climate change.
hawkeyegough's review
3.0
Wonderful concept, interesting vision of the future but suffered from wandering plot and too many unnecessary characters. I would've probably given it another star if it was about 25% shorter. Also really wanted the bad guy to have a more satisfying comeuppance.