New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson is not a book I would normally select. New York under water. Ho-hum. If New York is under water things would be much worse then the plight of New York. Oh, and that is what Kim Stanley Robinson addresses. Hmmmm... I really enjoyed the Mars series, so I think I will find this a light, but interesting read. Perfect for audio book on commutes.
Started: 7/24/2019
Completed: 8/5/2019
Recommendation: Mild Recommendation
Recommended By: Nobody in particular, but I read about it in several places
Words for which I sought help:
tumescent -- swollen or becoming swollen, especially as a response to sexual arousal
Review:
This is light reading. There really isn't very much there. It does feel like Robinson is on his bully pulpit to explain climate crisis boldly to those who many not really get it and to forward a pet theory about how it could be much worse than expected much more quickly then expected. I have a feeling that those who read a book about New York being inundated are already solidly sold on climate change; are willing to believe the theory that sort of runs through the book; and, don't need the repetition to "get it."
The characters are pretty flat without any real development as far as I can tell. Mutt and Jeff run through a horror and emerge about the same as they went in (with the exception of preferring the out doors--no real character change). It sort of feels like the scientific ideas predated the story (typical of many a sci-fi novel), but instead of the book examining what happens when the scientific ideas appear, it feels like the novel is a form of presentation for the scientific (and political) ideas.
New York is the setting for the familiarity of the landmarks that are transformed by water and, thus, different. Despite the author's protestations, this city could be any coastal city and the book would read the same.
This is light reading. There really isn't very much there. It does feel like Robinson is on his bully pulpit to explain climate crisis boldly to those who many not really get it and to forward a pet theory about how it could be much worse than expected much more quickly then expected. I have a feeling that those who read a book about New York being inundated are already solidly sold on climate change; are willing to believe the theory that sort of runs through the book; and, don't need the repetition to "get it."
The characters are pretty flat without any real development as far as I can tell. Mutt and Jeff run through a horror and emerge about the same as they went in (with the exception of preferring the out doors--no real character change). It sort of feels like the scientific ideas predated the story (typical of many a sci-fi novel), but instead of the book examining what happens when the scientific ideas appear, it feels like the novel is a form of presentation for the scientific (and political) ideas.
New York is the setting for the familiarity of the landmarks that are transformed by water and, thus, different. Despite the author's protestations, this city could be any coastal city and the book would read the same.
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