Icon book review of two by Bluffton author
Local author speculates dire nightmares.
Review by Robert McCool
It's Monday in a sunny August blur where the world is in full bloom, the weather fine. During the past two days, and in addition to my regular weekend chores, I managed to read two speculative fiction novels where the weather is most definitively not fine.
Those books, Arctic Rising (Tor, ISBN 978-0-7653-1921-0), and Hurricane Fever (Tor, ISBN 978-0-7653-1922-7) byTobias S. Buckell take place in a space where global warming is transforming our world with an undesirable outcome.
Arctic Rising
In the first novel, Arctic Rising, the Arctic has melted enough for a Northwest Passage to expose rich oil fields that energy companies compete to drill. In addition, a group named Gaia Corp aims to launch a cloud of tiny mirrors into lower space to focus as an energy source- or a weapon.
Characters Anika Duncan and Prudence Jones discover a plot to explode a nuclear warhead as an EMP to thwart Gaia's plans, and struggle through a plot-driven drive to find the nuclear bomb. The action is engrossing as it grows, ending in a satisfying conclusion. However, the world cannot be pulled away from its endangered status, and the novel becomes an all too real cautionary tale.
Hurricane Fever
In the second book, Hurricane Fever, the action takes place in the Caribbean, amidst a hurricane season grown strong and consistent as the earth has warmed enough to impact the tropical environment, making it deadly.
In this book a character from Arctic Rising becomes the protagonist. Prudence (“Pru”) Jones finds himself in a plot to release a deadly virus into the strong hurricane winds, killing as a way to reduce the population of people of color.
Pru is a highly identifiable character, and guides us through the Caribbean environment, with its multiple islands and cultures. This book is a joy to read, and to imagine the danger to Pru and the islands as a real possibility.
Tobias Buckell
Bluffton resident Tobias S. Buckell is no stranger to speculative fiction, and is known for many accomplishments. He has been a nominee for the Astounding Award as best new author, the Nebula Award, the Hugo Award, the Prometheus Award, and he is a graduate of the Clarion Science Fiction Writer Workshop. In addition he is a New York Times Best Seller author for his HALO game tie-in, “The Cole Protocol”.
He has been called “violent, poetic, and compulsively readable” by McClean's magazine. And he's become a hero to me for his insightful observations and warnings. We are blessed to have him here in our Midwestern community. Read him.
Stories Posted This Week
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Friday, November 22, 2024
- Ticket and livestream info for Bluffton Pirates v. Patrick Henry football
- Service of thanks at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran
- Pirate girls basketball beats Hornets in McDonald’s opener
- 100+ voices in Bluffton's Handel's Messiah chorus
- Pirate Worcester named top district defender
- BVHS receives Level 7 achievement in ‘Most Wired’ survey
Thursday, November 21, 2024
- McDonald’s Holiday Tournament, Thursday, November 21
- 2024 Fall Festival in pictures: At the Schumacher Homestead
- Fairy I. Parkins was postmaster of Benton Ridge
- Council committee and residents discuss ADUs, best and worst case scenarios
- BPL hosts Open Crafts and Game Space, November 26
- Women in Business meet November 21
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
- Bluffton Beavers sports roundup, Nov. 13-19
- ODOT prepping for first snow of the season
- Mason named OBL 2024 Banker of the Year
- October 2024 land transfers in Bluffton school district
- November chamber meeting explores member news, Blaze plans and flag etiquette
- Bluffton EMS by the numbers: October 2024
- Children left unattended in running vehicles can lead to abductions
- Icon search function goes from 0 to 30
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
- Tickets and streaming information for Nov. 22 Pirate football playoff game
- Spirit Bus for November 22 football playoff in Findlay
- Tea Bag Exchange & Tasting at BPL, November 21
- Letter: University students learn about Fair Trade
- Join volunteer crew for 2024 Ream Display-Blaze of Lights setup
- Village of Bluffton asks for updated utility billing contact information