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mjsharif's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? No
5.0
This is an absolutely fantastic book. A must-read for anyone experiencing eco-anxiety or climate dread, or has ever thought meaningfully about the climate crisis. Chillingly realistic and often times it felt like journalism (by intention, I'm sure). But also, resolutely hopeful in the way that the best people of humanity are. It has galvanized me to get back to any semblance of activism I can while existing in this exploitative economy that's not built for me. Join CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY today and help advocate for carbon pricing: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, War, Cancer, and Death
schnapsidee's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
If you don't have climate anxiety yet, the first part of this book will give it to you.
It's a tough read, but it needs to be to make clear what what's at stake. This is fiction but it is not unrealistic and the author is doing important work by making the consequences of inaction both clear and personal.
The next part are spoilers for the ending without being too detailed. I don't think they will lessen your enjoyment of the story, but skip them, if you want to go on blind.
Instead of just filling his readers with dread, Robinson takes the second half of the book to show us how to do better. He shows us a possible way into a solarpunky, post capitalist utopia without being naive about it or making it seem easy. The way to this possible utopia is filled with murder and revenge on the people that have most of the blame for the climate crisis but also with smart policy decisions, beautiful interactions between people and hopeful messaging.
Ultimately the author builds a beautiful utopia where we don't just save humanity and the biosphere, but also a world where community and individuals are more important than profit. A post capitalist world without a phobia of technology and economic growth.
I removed a couple of stars because a lot of the character interactions feels somewhat forced and just not that deep. I think it might have been a better book as an anthology of short stories instead of trying to shoe horn in a continuous character development subplot.
It's a tough read, but it needs to be to make clear what what's at stake. This is fiction but it is not unrealistic and the author is doing important work by making the consequences of inaction both clear and personal.
The next part are spoilers for the ending without being too detailed. I don't think they will lessen your enjoyment of the story, but skip them, if you want to go on blind.
Ultimately the author builds a beautiful utopia where we don't just save humanity and the biosphere, but also a world where community and individuals are more important than profit. A post capitalist world without a phobia of technology and economic growth.
I removed a couple of stars because a lot of the character interactions feels somewhat forced and just not that deep. I think it might have been a better book as an anthology of short stories instead of trying to shoe horn in a continuous character development subplot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
gunnarvon's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is a great, albeit challenging, read. Getting through the first chapter can be challenging given your anxiety around climate disaster, but it is ultimately hopeful regarding our species ability to solve this problem. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in cli-fi, climate science, or our future on this planet. I especially recommend the audiobook, which has a variety of voice actors lending themselves to the multitude of voices present in this books unconventional structure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Violence, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Terminal illness
ani_raven's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, and Kidnapping
Minor: Murder
anotherwizkid's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Everyone needs to read this book. I can't recommend it enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
j315's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
First the good:
1. Ministry for the future paints a pathway from the world we live in today to an ecologically sound socialist utopia. It does a beautiful job of breaking down capitalist realism.
2. There are many individuals&groups present in this story that do a good job of illustrating the critical nature of extralegal approaches to sustainability, and how important dual power is to building a sustainable world for all of humanity.
All that being said, I found several pieces of this book incredibly frustrating.
Robinson repeatedly insists that there are approaches to geoengineering, blockchain currency, and utilizing oppressive institutions for climate justice that are legitimate, and that present failings on these fronts is a failure of execution rather than a conceptual flaw in these ideas. The glacier thing was interesting, but the rest of the pieces were dubious at best and dismissive of reality at worst.
I believe that extractive, industrial, and capitalist tools will not be able to help us resolve problems created by extractive industrial capitalist practices.
1. Ministry for the future paints a pathway from the world we live in today to an ecologically sound socialist utopia. It does a beautiful job of breaking down capitalist realism.
2. There are many individuals&groups present in this story that do a good job of illustrating the critical nature of extralegal approaches to sustainability, and how important dual power is to building a sustainable world for all of humanity.
All that being said, I found several pieces of this book incredibly frustrating.
Robinson repeatedly insists that there are approaches to geoengineering, blockchain currency, and utilizing oppressive institutions for climate justice that are legitimate, and that present failings on these fronts is a failure of execution rather than a conceptual flaw in these ideas. The glacier thing was interesting, but the rest of the pieces were dubious at best and dismissive of reality at worst.
I believe that extractive, industrial, and capitalist tools will not be able to help us resolve problems created by extractive industrial capitalist practices.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Mental illness
Graphic depictions of mass death from climate catastrophekathleendayle's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I debated how to rate this book. It opens with a truly horrifying scene — and this part was gripping, but large portions of the book are also dense, dry, droning, almost too realistic in the political and economic sense, outlining the cascading sociopolitical effects of climate disaster. But for that, it does give a very good picture of what we’re up against with the climate crisis, and how much collaboration is needed across the globe to preserve our planet for the next generations. I found it pretty depressing, an all-too-realistic dystopian nightmare for the first three quarters of the book. And then, a redeeming turn. The last quarter of the book is actually really hopeful. In the end, we win. It makes the suffering bearable. Highly recommend if you’re curious about how climate change might impact us all if we don’t get out sh** together and act to stop it now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Grief
Moderate: Terminal illness and Violence
Minor: Cancer
unfoundation's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Incredibly interesting but also terrifying take on the future and realities of climate change. A mix between entertaining and informative. The characters are complex, especially Frank. You come away scared but also a bit hopeful. One of the most unique books I’ve ever read and it was a really nice change of pace.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Death
Moderate: Terminal illness
dakotahreads's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Mental illness, and Death
nicycle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence