The Terraformers

I did not hate it, but it never lost its timidity to either invest time in the world forming (literally) or the characters and it seems a bit flat on both. With these kind of books where science, ecology, social sciences, economic sciences collide you choose to go into the potentially alienating 700 page route that allows you to flesh things out, or split it into three books. With this book we got it all condensed in an earnest “do goodness” that fell a bit flat. Douglas Adams, in one page, with the Cow coming to the table selling their best parts to restaurant patrons achieved far more moral discussion in my mind that 30 pages on bioengineering sentient cows but not “using” them for milk.