Genre: Fiction--Science Fiction
Completed: 28 September 2017
Summary & Review:
When the moon is stuck by a mysterious "agent" and explodes, renowned physicist Doc Dubois calculates that humanity only has two years before debris from the moon rains unrelentingly down on the earth killing everyone and everything. Over the course of the next 24 months, the world bands together to expand the ISS and send as many people, supplies, and irreplaceable artifacts into orbit as the last chance for humanity's survival.
This was a very interesting book. Parts 1 and 2 were fascinating as Stephenson presents a convincing picture of how the human race might survive in orbit for thousands of years. Then, Part 3 jumps 5,000 years into the future very abruptly. At first, this completely killed the enthusiasm I had for the book from Parts 1 and 2. But, as I read more of the final third and got to know the new characters and new world, I enjoyed it as well. However, I think Stephenson really missed an opportunity to expand on this story. Parts 1 and 2 should have been their own novel, with Part 3 as part of a sequel or even a trilogy. At well over 800 pages, he easily could have split this into at least two books and this would have fixed the incredibly unexpected and unpleasant story break two-thirds of the way through.
Aside from that less-than-desirable editing choice, the book was great. It was such a fascinating concept and I loved reading about how humans could conceivably survive in orbit, trapped in tiny habits for thousands of years. Then, Part 3 was a really cool look into that future and the way that we could potentially make earth fit for life once again. Though, the "Mer-people" almost derailed it at the end.
Rating: 7.0
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