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3.2 AVERAGE
3.2 AVERAGE
This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.
T.C. Boyle is an incredibly prolific author, one whose name is fairly widely known and respected, but I’ll be honest I have never really considered reading anything by him, nor even heard of this book, until it was sent to me in a book subscription box (Muse Monthly). And even then, it has taken me over a year to get around to it. Not because it doesn’t sound interesting, but just…there are so many books to read, ok. I just didn’t get to it. But I recently decided that the time had come for me to try my first fiction audiobook. If you follow my reviews at all, you’ll notice that most of my nonfiction reads are actually listens…and I have never tried a fiction audiobook before. I always have been so worried that I’ll get confused with the dialogue. However, after a year or so of nonfiction listens, I figured I was accustomed enough to the media to try something new. And when I saw this one on the shelf at the library, I figured here was my chance to try something new and knock out a backlist book at the same time. Perfect.
This is an interesting mix of contemporary lit and sci-fi that I haven’t really read before, like magical realism but with sci-fi instead of fantasy elements. It’s based in our normal world, or more specifically, the pre-“ubiquitous internet and cell phone” world of the mid-1990s. Close enough. But it’s a sci-fi sort of tale in that tells the story of 8 “terranauts,” hand-picked scientists and environmentalists chosen to part of a human and scientific experiment funded by a billionaire visionary in response to global overpopulation and climate change. They will spend two years living under glass in E2, a prototype of a possible off-earth colony (based loosely on the actual Biosphere 2 complex in Arizona?), living in this air-locked environment under the motto “nothing in, nothing out.” But as the two years pass, these 8 people face possible disasters both external and internal that threaten their cooperation and the mission at large, all while under intense media scrutiny. I mean none of that actually happened, but it’s not out of the question to the extent that I feel a full-on sci-fi categorization is unnecessary. Very interesting.
The story is told by three separate narrators: Dawn, the mission’s generalist ecologist (young and pretty), Ramsay, the mission’s communications officer (and a bit sexually irrepressible), and Linda, Dawn’s friend who was passed over as one of the 8 and is supporting the mission from the outside (and is perhaps a bit bitter about it). First, to be clear, this was a great fiction piece to start with on audio, as the three POVs were read by three different narrators who all did a great job and separated the sections wonderfully. In addition, a lot of it was “written” as sort of journal entries, so the dialogue was fairly minimal. (Good choice, me!) And even if I had been reading it like normal, I have to say that the voices of the characters were fantastically distinct and personal. They each truly seemed like separate entities, which is not always a given when the same writer is penning every perspective. I could pick up the book and open to any page and know just from a sentence or two who the narrator is at that point. Very impressive. Relatedly, the general character development was extensive and so real. Like, these characters came alive and I swear I felt like I could have googled them and actually looked up all the events/drama they were talking about happening throughout the novel. Dawn, Ramsay and Linda all read as truly multifaceted and meaningful people, with all the quirks, flaws, unreliability and bias of any real person. And let me tell you, the author pulled no punches on that score. In fact, these were three of the most flawed characters I may have ever read, all in one place. I may even go so far as to say that not a single one of them was fully likable. There were parts in every single narrative that had me cringing, rolling my eyes, getting angry/annoyed, etc. I mean I loved their individuality, but most of the time it was like reading (listening to) a train wreck – it’s horrible but you can’t look away. I appreciated it though; I do enjoy reading about unlikable characters, as they are often the most dynamic.
As far as plot is concerned, it’s definitely secondary to the characters in this novel. I mean, things definitely happen, all based around the team’s 2 years under glass. There is a lot of drama that unfolds related to being in such an enclosed place, with the same people and limited food rations and entertainment options. And of course there is the one large…slip?...if you will, that becomes the centerpoint of the story after it occurs (about a third of the way in). And that event really affects the ways the continued development of the characters and their relationships/interactions with each other unfold. But at the end of the day, this is really a trumped up, academic gossip column story. For all the complicated covers of science experiments, environmental concerns, the future of humanity, the mission, etc. the focus is really the drama of the exploration of small group dynamics. Don’t get me wrong, it was actually fascinating, at times, but it was not an action-packed plot in the traditional sense. So that means that, at times, the “story” dragged a little, or focused on random things that really didn’t seem all that important/necessary, at the expense/in favor of developing other parts. I think, if I had been reading, it might have put me off (especially since I hadn’t known to expect that and wouldn’t have been prepped for it). But listening to it was a great experience. I got really into the story, the way the narrators were telling it, their different biases/interpretations of the same situations, etc. Random bonus: it had one of the best/most poignant double-meaning last lines I have ever read. In fact, all the endings were adeptly written combinations of closure (pun not intended…if you’ve read it, you’ll get this) and open-endedness.
Overall, the language, flow and character development were clearly written by a master of language. Although it was not necessarily plot heavy, there was enough of it (and it was well created enough) to support the greater focus of the story, all of which was handled and executed with great skill. If you are in the mood for some serious psyche-examination, then this is definitely the book for you.
T.C. Boyle is an incredibly prolific author, one whose name is fairly widely known and respected, but I’ll be honest I have never really considered reading anything by him, nor even heard of this book, until it was sent to me in a book subscription box (Muse Monthly). And even then, it has taken me over a year to get around to it. Not because it doesn’t sound interesting, but just…there are so many books to read, ok. I just didn’t get to it. But I recently decided that the time had come for me to try my first fiction audiobook. If you follow my reviews at all, you’ll notice that most of my nonfiction reads are actually listens…and I have never tried a fiction audiobook before. I always have been so worried that I’ll get confused with the dialogue. However, after a year or so of nonfiction listens, I figured I was accustomed enough to the media to try something new. And when I saw this one on the shelf at the library, I figured here was my chance to try something new and knock out a backlist book at the same time. Perfect.
This is an interesting mix of contemporary lit and sci-fi that I haven’t really read before, like magical realism but with sci-fi instead of fantasy elements. It’s based in our normal world, or more specifically, the pre-“ubiquitous internet and cell phone” world of the mid-1990s. Close enough. But it’s a sci-fi sort of tale in that tells the story of 8 “terranauts,” hand-picked scientists and environmentalists chosen to part of a human and scientific experiment funded by a billionaire visionary in response to global overpopulation and climate change. They will spend two years living under glass in E2, a prototype of a possible off-earth colony (based loosely on the actual Biosphere 2 complex in Arizona?), living in this air-locked environment under the motto “nothing in, nothing out.” But as the two years pass, these 8 people face possible disasters both external and internal that threaten their cooperation and the mission at large, all while under intense media scrutiny. I mean none of that actually happened, but it’s not out of the question to the extent that I feel a full-on sci-fi categorization is unnecessary. Very interesting.
The story is told by three separate narrators: Dawn, the mission’s generalist ecologist (young and pretty), Ramsay, the mission’s communications officer (and a bit sexually irrepressible), and Linda, Dawn’s friend who was passed over as one of the 8 and is supporting the mission from the outside (and is perhaps a bit bitter about it). First, to be clear, this was a great fiction piece to start with on audio, as the three POVs were read by three different narrators who all did a great job and separated the sections wonderfully. In addition, a lot of it was “written” as sort of journal entries, so the dialogue was fairly minimal. (Good choice, me!) And even if I had been reading it like normal, I have to say that the voices of the characters were fantastically distinct and personal. They each truly seemed like separate entities, which is not always a given when the same writer is penning every perspective. I could pick up the book and open to any page and know just from a sentence or two who the narrator is at that point. Very impressive. Relatedly, the general character development was extensive and so real. Like, these characters came alive and I swear I felt like I could have googled them and actually looked up all the events/drama they were talking about happening throughout the novel. Dawn, Ramsay and Linda all read as truly multifaceted and meaningful people, with all the quirks, flaws, unreliability and bias of any real person. And let me tell you, the author pulled no punches on that score. In fact, these were three of the most flawed characters I may have ever read, all in one place. I may even go so far as to say that not a single one of them was fully likable. There were parts in every single narrative that had me cringing, rolling my eyes, getting angry/annoyed, etc. I mean I loved their individuality, but most of the time it was like reading (listening to) a train wreck – it’s horrible but you can’t look away. I appreciated it though; I do enjoy reading about unlikable characters, as they are often the most dynamic.
As far as plot is concerned, it’s definitely secondary to the characters in this novel. I mean, things definitely happen, all based around the team’s 2 years under glass. There is a lot of drama that unfolds related to being in such an enclosed place, with the same people and limited food rations and entertainment options. And of course there is the one large…slip?...if you will, that becomes the centerpoint of the story after it occurs (about a third of the way in). And that event really affects the ways the continued development of the characters and their relationships/interactions with each other unfold. But at the end of the day, this is really a trumped up, academic gossip column story. For all the complicated covers of science experiments, environmental concerns, the future of humanity, the mission, etc. the focus is really the drama of the exploration of small group dynamics. Don’t get me wrong, it was actually fascinating, at times, but it was not an action-packed plot in the traditional sense. So that means that, at times, the “story” dragged a little, or focused on random things that really didn’t seem all that important/necessary, at the expense/in favor of developing other parts. I think, if I had been reading, it might have put me off (especially since I hadn’t known to expect that and wouldn’t have been prepped for it). But listening to it was a great experience. I got really into the story, the way the narrators were telling it, their different biases/interpretations of the same situations, etc. Random bonus: it had one of the best/most poignant double-meaning last lines I have ever read. In fact, all the endings were adeptly written combinations of closure (pun not intended…if you’ve read it, you’ll get this) and open-endedness.
Overall, the language, flow and character development were clearly written by a master of language. Although it was not necessarily plot heavy, there was enough of it (and it was well created enough) to support the greater focus of the story, all of which was handled and executed with great skill. If you are in the mood for some serious psyche-examination, then this is definitely the book for you.
It is difficult to believe that something that occurred in the 1990s is considered historical fiction, but there it is. Anyone who grew up in the 1990s may remember the movie Biodome with Pauly Shore and one of the Baldwin brothers. The Terranauts is a more serious version of the movie, without the bad acting and interlopers who find themselves locked inside the biodome. The focus of the novel is on the human element, the one uncontrollable element of the entire experiment, and honestly, the human element comes out looking pretty bad.
The entire novel takes place over the course of the two-year experiment. Told from the three different viewpoints, we get the chance to see multiple sides of the drama. Unfortunately, the drama is essentially a soap opera under a bubble, and the three narrators are thoroughly unlikable. Each expresses a sense of self-righteousness that is meant to be a defense of their actions but turns out to be an indication of the egos at work. Linda Ryu’s narration is particularly disturbing as she comes across as a jealous, two-faced harpy.
Then there is the discomfort brought about by their unwavering belief in the mission. It borders on cult behavior, and there are some instances of the entire experiment being described as a cult. The focus on purity and lack of outside interference not only becomes repetitive but also downright uncomfortable because it is so extreme. Their behavior does not necessarily exude rationality, and their complete unwillingness to compromise at all makes one question their sanity as well. This does not just apply to the two terranauts/narrators on the inside of E2; since Linda is on the outside of the experiment, the argument that the extreme attitudes are a result of the pressures of living in the enclosure do not apply. In fact, Linda is just as committed to the entire experiment as the other two and exhibits the same attitudes and belief systems as the other narrators.
In other words, the people are just not enjoyable. Getting into the mind of someone with a mental illness or a serial killer is interesting because there is reason for their deviations from “normal”. In The Terranauts, we get to see inside of the minds of extreme believers, and that is a bit too much to handle because for most people that extremism is unfathomable. They have no reason for such unwavering faith, and it is scary. It is no different than the person who takes the Bible or the Quran literally or someone who joins a cult.
The other problem lies in the fact that there is no action at all. In a novel in which the characters are at least sympathetic in nature, the lack of action would be perfectly fine. Character-driven novels are enjoyable, insightful, and often quite thought-provoking. This character-driven novel is none of those. The three narrators are so selfish that it is like reading a novel from Donald Trump’s point of view times three. There is no character development, just a devolving into the most childish of adults. Given the space constraints of E2, there are only so many daily tasks and rituals that one can read without getting bored. While this is meant to confirm the devotion of the terranauts and their willingness to face such boredom for two years, readers do not have the same belief in the experiment as the characters in the novel and therefore struggle to understand why they put themselves through the torture.
It does not help to know that there was indeed a real-life E2 near Tucson and that in the mid-1990s, eight people locked themselves inside for two years as an experiment to discover whether a biodome would be a viable option should we need to abandon Earth. They faced similar challenges that those in the book face, except the real-life terranauts were willing to compromise and accept outside help when survival inside got a little dicey. Given this information, it is easy to extrapolate that many of the issues from E1, the first experiment, that Linda, Dawn, and Ramsey scorn so thoroughly are really the problems that arose during the real-life experiment. The fact that the second experiment only lasted six months, and the entire project was abandoned after that makes you wish that the same thing had happened with E2.
As much as I detested the characters and scorned the soap opera nature of their behavior, the surprising truth is that The Terranauts is an easy and somewhat enjoyable read. It really is a soap opera in book form, and there is something about a soap opera that is just so darn watchable. You hate what is happening and groan with every unrealistic scene, but you cannot turn away if you tried.
The entire novel takes place over the course of the two-year experiment. Told from the three different viewpoints, we get the chance to see multiple sides of the drama. Unfortunately, the drama is essentially a soap opera under a bubble, and the three narrators are thoroughly unlikable. Each expresses a sense of self-righteousness that is meant to be a defense of their actions but turns out to be an indication of the egos at work. Linda Ryu’s narration is particularly disturbing as she comes across as a jealous, two-faced harpy.
Then there is the discomfort brought about by their unwavering belief in the mission. It borders on cult behavior, and there are some instances of the entire experiment being described as a cult. The focus on purity and lack of outside interference not only becomes repetitive but also downright uncomfortable because it is so extreme. Their behavior does not necessarily exude rationality, and their complete unwillingness to compromise at all makes one question their sanity as well. This does not just apply to the two terranauts/narrators on the inside of E2; since Linda is on the outside of the experiment, the argument that the extreme attitudes are a result of the pressures of living in the enclosure do not apply. In fact, Linda is just as committed to the entire experiment as the other two and exhibits the same attitudes and belief systems as the other narrators.
In other words, the people are just not enjoyable. Getting into the mind of someone with a mental illness or a serial killer is interesting because there is reason for their deviations from “normal”. In The Terranauts, we get to see inside of the minds of extreme believers, and that is a bit too much to handle because for most people that extremism is unfathomable. They have no reason for such unwavering faith, and it is scary. It is no different than the person who takes the Bible or the Quran literally or someone who joins a cult.
The other problem lies in the fact that there is no action at all. In a novel in which the characters are at least sympathetic in nature, the lack of action would be perfectly fine. Character-driven novels are enjoyable, insightful, and often quite thought-provoking. This character-driven novel is none of those. The three narrators are so selfish that it is like reading a novel from Donald Trump’s point of view times three. There is no character development, just a devolving into the most childish of adults. Given the space constraints of E2, there are only so many daily tasks and rituals that one can read without getting bored. While this is meant to confirm the devotion of the terranauts and their willingness to face such boredom for two years, readers do not have the same belief in the experiment as the characters in the novel and therefore struggle to understand why they put themselves through the torture.
It does not help to know that there was indeed a real-life E2 near Tucson and that in the mid-1990s, eight people locked themselves inside for two years as an experiment to discover whether a biodome would be a viable option should we need to abandon Earth. They faced similar challenges that those in the book face, except the real-life terranauts were willing to compromise and accept outside help when survival inside got a little dicey. Given this information, it is easy to extrapolate that many of the issues from E1, the first experiment, that Linda, Dawn, and Ramsey scorn so thoroughly are really the problems that arose during the real-life experiment. The fact that the second experiment only lasted six months, and the entire project was abandoned after that makes you wish that the same thing had happened with E2.
As much as I detested the characters and scorned the soap opera nature of their behavior, the surprising truth is that The Terranauts is an easy and somewhat enjoyable read. It really is a soap opera in book form, and there is something about a soap opera that is just so darn watchable. You hate what is happening and groan with every unrealistic scene, but you cannot turn away if you tried.
I put in A LOT of time for this book. I was really into it; it felt like it was building and building to a delicious ending. Boy was I wrong. Though there were some surprising events and some disappointingly predictable ones, the ending was the greatest let down.
After such a long, laboriously detailed novel that's how you end the book? I guess it was supposed to be an in depth look at human interactions and relationships. But heads up: none of the characters in this book are nice people nor do they learn anything from their errors. It was cliche, to put it bluntly. And I didn't care for Boyle's view and presentation of women.
The only positives for me were the writing, which was great, and the overall plot which in eight scientists live and work in a controlled ecosystem bubble for two years with no outside help or exposure. It was very Martian-esque but set in the mid 90's; pretty interesting.
I am left totally unsatisfied after a long read. What a bummer.
After such a long, laboriously detailed novel that's how you end the book? I guess it was supposed to be an in depth look at human interactions and relationships. But heads up: none of the characters in this book are nice people nor do they learn anything from their errors. It was cliche, to put it bluntly. And I didn't care for Boyle's view and presentation of women.
The only positives for me were the writing, which was great, and the overall plot which in eight scientists live and work in a controlled ecosystem bubble for two years with no outside help or exposure. It was very Martian-esque but set in the mid 90's; pretty interesting.
I am left totally unsatisfied after a long read. What a bummer.
Ich mochte das Buch wirklich sehr, den Stil und die Charakterentwicklung und-darstellung. Auch die Thematik fand ich äußerst spannend.
Allerdings waren die letzten 30 Seiten eher nicht sonderlich relevant für die gesamte Geschichte und das abrupte Ende hat mich auch mehr als überrascht.
Allerdings waren die letzten 30 Seiten eher nicht sonderlich relevant für die gesamte Geschichte und das abrupte Ende hat mich auch mehr als überrascht.
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read up to the 100-125 page. It did not hold my interest, characters were shallow and the plot seemed way less interesting in comparison to the synopsis.
I initially rated this book two stars based on the interesting premise. I was hooked on the concept - a biosphere, a containment experiment, a man-made coral reef? I’m there for that! Then I did some googling and found out that the biosphere actually did exist and that mission one went down pretty much the way it does in the book. The interesting premise? Common knowledge (that I somehow didn’t learn - probably because it was such a massive flop). The rest? Pretty much taken from actual biospherian Jane Poynter’s memoir about the experience. The unique plot points? Contrived. The characters? One dimension, cliched, and offensive. I can’t begin to cover my irritation at the way Boyle writes his female narrators in this book - vile. Did I read it? Was I entertained? Yes and yes, but kind of in the way persisting at something grotesque engages you. Final statement: dumb as hell. Skip it, and waste an hour of your life on a biosphere google deep dive instead.
This wasn't a sci-fi book, this was a reality TV show disguised as a sci-fi book. The only reason it got more than one star was that there was some good character development? Incredibly disappointing
I did enjoy the flipped perspectives. It worked on a second level because I listened as an audiobook with multiple narrators. It’s a sci fi cult here on Earth—heightened Elon Musk, et al. I agree the interpersonal bits were the best. The rest felt...pedestrian (nicest, most on point word that comes to mind).
I have to give this book a 3 because he is such a master stylist but my god this book took FOREVER to become anything remotely interesting. WAY too much time spent building up the pay off and way too little time establishing the "cult" of the project and CG as a "god." The basis for the story felt so rich and yet fairly unrealized. I can't recommend you read this.