A review by usedtotheweather
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

adventurous challenging hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Rachel A recommended this to me specifically as an audiobook--a great rec. I'd been meaning to read it "at some point" but having read Red Mars in mid 2020 I knew it would be an interesting, if sometimes somewhat dry read. In audiobook form the lists and technical descriptions flowed by, and the cast read made the characters more engaging and real (with accents!) than I think I would have found them to be in written format. KSR's approach to climate change solutions is definitely a 'come one come all all hands on deck diversity of tactics' approach. Perhaps I missed it, but he didn't seem to account for blockchain/bitcoin equivalent's inordinate power usage so that aspect

which is key to this stories monetary pivot away from carbon-capitalism

seemed undertheorized. The little riddle-me-this vignettes were lighthearted diversions, a nice addition to the mix. Mary: very loveable, and perhaps my favorite arc of the story was hers, particularly

her post-retirement chapter. I loved  that her residence is not some grand, or even mid or small sized domestic unit, but a small attic apartment in, or near a co-op. I'm always on the lookout for apartment-based literary dwellings, as I try myself to give up the ghost of the American Dream of a house & lawn & patio in a single family home.

.  This book is, for the most part, though, a story of institutional interventions, of bureaucracy, international politics, bankers as the operative forces. The stories of the individuals within them are moving, but their agency is limited. Those individuals who go rogue (e.g in chapter 1, and later with the Children of Kali) are almost entirely outside of the narrative, though their actions punctuate it. I'm looking forward now to digging into Crooked Timber's blogpost series on the novel (they might speak to my block-chain hesitation), and also am eager to listen to Between the Covers/DDavid Naimon's podcast conversation with KSR.

Marked as 'outside your comfort zone' for the SPL/SAL summer book bingo 2022 because the format of audiobook is outside my comfort zone. This audiobook may have been a breakthrough for me..I'm kindof convinced...

Since reading it in the summer I continue to think about this book. It's shaping my perspective on daily life and my hopes for a climate future, as well as my ability and interest in following details about it. This is moving from a 4.5 to 5 star.