Antarctica

Rating:
Summary: It's so cold, the plot died of hypothermia
Review: As other reviewers have noted, this book's main strength lies in its evocative descriptions of the Antarctic landscape and the day-to-day struggles of the people who live and work there. Indeed, it is a tribute to Kim Stanley Robinson's talent as a travelogue writer that I was almost halfway through the book before I noticed that nothing was actually happening, plotwise. The dramatic conflict hinted at in the opening chapter doesn't really get rolling until page 350 or so, and it is over far too quickly, leaving the novel to wind down into a truly tedious finale in which the protagonists lay plans to turn Antarctica into a Mondragon-style work cooperative. Hopefully someone with a real knack for storytelling will steal Robinson's descriptions and put them to better use, but until then, I'd advise readers to choose a warmer destination.

Rating:
Summary: Good imagery - flat characters and plot
Review: I really enjoyed being taken to such a foreign (to me) environment...although parts of it reminded me of Minnesota. I especially enjoyed the tractor-train sequence and was engaged in the plot to the point where I elected to stay up and read instead of getting the sleep my schedule demanded...from there it was all downhill. I actually grew to DISLIKE all the main characters of the book and found my self in Evelyn-Wood-mode by half way through. I scanned through pages of political polemic which, for my taste, only rehashed environmental positions with which I disagreed before and after the read. The plot progressed so slowly that as I skimmed the last half of the book I actually missed NO major developments...and the finale was for me the biggest dissapointment of all. I felt somewhat cheated as I have always been fascinated with the Polar regions and like science fiction! To be fair, I have not read the Mars trilogy, but feel that this author had enough bright spots to warrant another read. If I see the same there though, I don't think I'll be back.

Rating:
Summary: A hot alternative to the ugly coldness of capitalism
Review: Robinson's detailed account of the physical brutality of life in Antarctica coupled with a brazen legitimate theory of balancing nature and "progress" makes for powerful infusia. In addition,the use of feng shui theory,ecoteurishness and good old-fashioned human relationships give the book a complicated web of layering that was literally impressive.

Rating:
Summary: Political diatribe
Review: The book is a thinly-disguised political/ecological polemic, set slightly in the future so we can see the effects of global warming, pollution, etc. Like historical fiction, this book introduces characters in an effort to engage the reader in following its deeper purpose, but these characters are never really developed and serve just as a device. Descriptions of the land itself and life upon it are magnificent, but the nonstop preaching and the culminating chapter (the author's own "to-do" list with respect to Antarctica) made it much harder to get through pleasantly - and I AGREE with his political and environmental priorities! The writing at least is excellent, as one might expect.

Rating:
Summary: A book which should make us think.
Review: This book demonstrates the power of Science Fiction at its best to look at the here and now. The book developed slowly but this was appropriate giving the reader time to mull over the ideas within while gradually developing the characters (including the Antartic itself). The book is not just about the Antartic but is concerned with the effect of the near present social, economic and political systems and the potential consequences of them. This does not differ from the Mars books however it feels much closer because we are talking about our own planet.This ia a book to make you want to go out and campaign for a better world. The strength of the book is the passion with which these ideas as well as the Antartic is described. I will be recommending this book to friends.

Rating:
Summary: Slow moving but worth sticking with.
Review: ANTARCTICA is, in some respects, a slow-moving book... but it also needs that in order for you to appreciate the plot. Robinson spends a large section of the book letting the reader really understand the uniqueness of Antarctica, both physically and politically. It's only then that the book really gets rolling. Is this a good thing? Actually, yes. The actions in the book wouldn't have the same effect on the reader if they didn't really have a feel for Antarctica and the people who live there. While the set-up might be a little too long in places, the payoff is well worth it.

Rating:
Summary: A dreadfully tedious read.
Review: Incredibly ponderous. Except for the melding of the history of Antartic exploration and the strong personalities of those expeditions into the story this was an absolute waste of time.

Rating:
Summary: slow plot line but good imagary
Review: Very slow in developing much of a story but the descriptions of the terrian and life in the South Pole may make it worthwhile for some.

Rating:
Summary: An absorbing but flawed book on Antartica's history
Review: I have resisted reading science fiction for years, however, I came to this book after reading Red Mars, and because of my love of reading books on Antartic exploration. I found its description of the men who explored Antarctica in the early part of this century to be profoundly moving and historically accurate. The ecoterrorist plot and the characters' mad dash to warmth and safety was also extremely exciting and well-written. My one big however, is that the book comes to a crashing halt about 50 pages from the end while Robinson goes on (and on) about his dream for the future of Antartica. I can understand his desire to keep Antartica a natural wilderness, but surely there were more subtle ways to present his material to the readers without bashing them over the head with such pedestrian agitprop.

Rating:
Summary: The Mars trilogy in miniature
Review: The Mars trilogy was brilliant; the first hard science fiction I've read in years, since everything started giong cyberpunk and post-apocalyptic. Antarctica is very good, but restates the same themes, plot, characters, and story structure as the Mars books. However, this is not really a bad thing, since it worked so well the first time. And I agree that setting this book on Earth gives a certain immediacy to his social and political themes lacking in the Mars books. I can see this book being useful for a class in nature or ecology writing; not too long, and far better quality science fiction than, say, Ecotopia.