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A review by savaging
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
4.0
This is a hopeful, near-future book about how we can combat climate change. Which means the entire book hinges on the author's theory of change.
At least Robinson's theory is an all-tools-in-the-toolbox version, where most readers will be able to root for one strategy or another. There are bureaucrats; there are communards; there are assassins. There are even dull community groups of people scrupulously counting all the wattage they use up in a year. Sometimes I wept over depictions of solidarity. Sometimes I wanted to throw the book across a room.
All that being said, even skillful writing can't stop this from being didactic. Which is helpful if you're trying to didact yourself, but also sometimes a little frail. I think I recommend it.
At least Robinson's theory is an all-tools-in-the-toolbox version, where most readers will be able to root for one strategy or another. There are bureaucrats; there are communards; there are assassins. There are even dull community groups of people scrupulously counting all the wattage they use up in a year. Sometimes I wept over depictions of solidarity. Sometimes I wanted to throw the book across a room.
All that being said, even skillful writing can't stop this from being didactic. Which is helpful if you're trying to didact yourself, but also sometimes a little frail. I think I recommend it.