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Summary: Callenbach, a modern Orwell
Review: "Ecotopia" comprises the futuristic musings of Mr. Callenbach, who has compiled a "1984" for the late 20th century through visions of a positive utopia, albeit one that could only exist outside the borders of the United States. Unlike Orwell or Huxley, however, Callenbach prsents the fictitious nation of "Ecotopia" outside the political and technoloical sphere of the rest of the world- as an isolated geopolitical entity. This is interesting considering the book's emergance 20 years prior to the current "globalisation" conflict gripping the world that pits the global conformity thought to be a future theme by Orwell and Huxley aainst the virtues of th small nation-state. Callenbach presents Ecotopia as a model of small-nation efficiency and cohesiveness. Although the premises of Ecotopia's emergence as an independent state are somewhat suspicious, they are irrelevant to the overall message of the book.That said, the book is throughlly well-executed, presenting the new nation as seen through the eys of an American reporter, significant due to the belligerant status employed between the two nations at the current period. Will Weston, the novel's "hero", not only studies Ecotopian culture but becomes overtaken and intertwined in its decadence. The interspertion of Weston's personal thoughts and his articles sent back to New York are interesting and present the contrastin views of Weston the "journalist" versus Weston the "man". Ecotopia itself is the realisation of an almost utopic society for many environmentalists, urbanists, and socialists. One will have to dive into the actual work to discover its intricacies, but I will divulge that Callenbach does not present the nation as a complete paradise and carefully balances the American perspective with Ecotopian attitudes. I thoroughlly recommend this not only beautiful work of fiction, but excellent commentary on our social and environmental future.
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Summary: exactly what the name implies
Review: ecotopia - an ecological utopia; utopia from callenbach's point of view, yet completely dismissing any sort of sociological reality. i understand that he's trying to describe a 'perfect' society, but it is so stretched and strained at points as to defy any logic - there must be 100% suspension of belief to enjoy this book. additionally, the timeframe - a mere 20 years - is a completely outlandish figure to reconfigure a society as drastically as he describes. really, this is not worth the money or the time.
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Summary: An entirely new concept of environmentalism
Review: Ecotopia, by Ernest Callenbach, is not what one might call a novel. It's written from the point of view of a New York journalist exploring the world of the Northwest after an environmental secession. Others have mentioned the lack of character depth, but the point of the book is not to interest you in the characters; it is to interest you in the world. In Ecotopia, people are very free, relaxed. In San Francisco, rather than the endless cars and streets and smog, there are parks and newly ubiquitous bikes. The idea behind the bikes is that you can go outside and find them, ride them where you're going, then leave them there for the next person to use. Interesting? The culture and society of Ecotopia are thought-provoking, at least for a teenager. When I read this book it was the first time I really thought about what things could be done as alternatives to the current way of life. After reading Ecotopia, I am more environmentally conscious. I enjoyed the concept behind this book very much. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the future if the Green party takes over, or something along those lines.
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Summary: Looking at the other side!
Review: I loved reading Ecotopia for my Government class. This book is really easy to understand. The author goes into great detail. For those of you who do like exploring new things this book is for you. It is possible to have a world like Ecotopia, that's whats so appealing. I recomend this to everyone. Open your mind explore something new and don't be afraid.
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Summary: Read Ecotopia Emerging instead
Review: I read the prequel (which came out later) to this book, Ecotopia Emerging, first. Ecotopia Emerging was an excellent book, with a pretty gripping plot that did a good job of highlighting Callenbach's call for a more balanced and ecologically sound way of living. I read this book a few weeks later, and I could barely get through it. If you've ever read any science fiction concerning a utopian or alternative society which is visited by an outside scientist/journalist/observer who then ends up becoming a part of the society (think Walden Two), you've already read this book. The book is simply a mouthpiece in which the journalist (with whom you are supposed to identify) wanders around recording his observations in Ecotopia (and sleeping with every woman he meets along the way). There is no real plot or characterization, and it's too predictable to be exciting. If you're looking for a good work of fiction about an ecotopian way of living, do yourself a favor and read Ecotopia Emerging, not this.
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Summary: Read Ecotopia Emerging instead
Review: I read the prequel (which came out later) to this book, Ecotopia Emerging, first. Ecotopia Emerging was an excellent book, with a pretty gripping plot that did a good job of highlighting Callenbach's call for a more balanced and ecologically sound way of living. I read this book a few weeks later, and I could barely get through it. If you've ever read any science fiction concerning a utopian or alternative society which is visited by an outside scientist/journalist/observer who then ends up becoming a part of the society (think Walden Two), you've already read this book. The book is simply a mouthpiece in which the journalist (with whom you are supposed to identify) wanders around recording his observations in Ecotopia (and sleeping with every woman he meets along the way). There is no real plot or characterization, and it's too predictable to be exciting. If you're looking for a good work of fiction about an ecotopian way of living, do yourself a favor and read Ecotopia Emerging, not this.
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Summary: Ecotopia - worth thinking about
Review: I read this book in the early 90's while living in Corvalis, Oregon. At that time you could see and experience bits and peices of "Ecotopia" at Nearly Normal's restaurant, The Beanery, and New Morning Bakery. Callenbach takes communal eco-feminist ideas and extends them to imagine a new society based on them. I do not think I would like to live in Ecotopia. Parts of it appeal to me, parts of it don't. But it was well worth the visit. Ten years later I still think about this book, and recommend it. If you are an ideological literalist, don't go there. You won't like it. If you want to explore the consequences of ideas and values, you will find Ecotopia a useful place to think about the world as it is and the world as it could be.
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Summary: Fageddaboutit --
Review: Sad attempt at scifi -- billing itself as political it fails at that too. Simplistic and underwhelming, it's difficult to persevere [we had it assigned in our book club] -- if you're interested in scifi U- and Dys- topias, check out the realf stuff - Ted Sturgeon, David Brin, the Hyperion novels, etc,etc
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Summary: An unique view of an ecologically sustainable society
Review: This book is unique in it's description of a totally different society. Influenced by the growing ecological (radical) movement, Callenbach gets us reading the notes and articles of a journalist that comes from the country from which Ecotopia separated (USA) and became independent. Callenbach "builds" a very detailed society, showing it's positive and negative (after all the journalist was from an "enemy" country) aspects. But even so, the positive aspects are so emphasized that we want to join that society when we finish reading the book. It is a whole new concept: not only the economic or political system, but also the interpersonal relations, the psichology of everyone, love, relations with Nature, etc. Callenbach was successful in making a literary book that describes a whole society. I would give 5 stars to this book if it wasn't for some parts that became too descriptive and without much emotion. Overall, this is a great book that should be read by anyone who wants to know about other ways of social organization.
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Summary: Not a Normal Novel ...
Review: This is not a book about plot or characterization; it is a book about an idea. Earlier reviews describe the idea well enough; let my review's contribution be to suggest that if you are looking for gripping plot or deep characters, you should go somewhere else. But if you are interested in an idea that was radical at the time, and still pooh-poohed in our present (2003), then this is a book to read. Indeed, the idea is so important, that this book should be read (... and criticized!...) in any decent educational curriculum. This is a fine book and well worth your time, so long as you don't expect yet-another-normal-novel. What a pity Frank Herbert or Connie Willis didn't write this book!
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