TERMINATION SHOCK

Best thing about the book is that it is not set in some distant dystopia or alien space. It's set in the not so distant future with a realistic premise. Entertaining throughout, but not as hard-sciency as some of Stephensons previous books. I'd categorise it more as a general thriller than sci-fi. Slightly over the top in some of the narratives, but not ridiculously so.

Neal Stephenson's characters are becoming repetitive: ex-military self-sufficient macho men, women clever enough to be interesting but not so clever as to get things done on their own. Lot of single combat with guns. What is missing is the fascinating inside takes on science, technology and their history that made Cryptonomicon and the Baroque Cycle so much fun to read.

All of the stories mixed with the topic of climate change are very interesting. I enjoyed it very much. A great book.

"Termination Shock" by Neal Stephenson is a tour de force in speculative fiction, seamlessly blending themes of climate change, geopolitics, and technological innovation into a compelling narrative that feels eerily prescient. As a reader deeply engaged with the intersection of science fiction and reality, I found myself captivated by Stephenson's masterful storytelling and thought-provoking insights.One of the most striking aspects of the novel is its portrayal of the dire consequences of climate change and the urgency of addressing it. Through vivid imagery and meticulous world-building, Stephenson paints a haunting picture of a world ravaged by extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and environmental degradation. What truly resonated with me was the realization of the immense carbon footprint we're leaving for future generations to grapple with. Stephenson's portrayal of this reality serves as a wake-up call, reminding us of the urgent need for action to mitigate climate catastrophe.Moreover, "Termination Shock" brilliantly explores the intersection of geopolitics and geoengineering, offering a glimpse into a future where nations vie for control over resources and influence through ambitious technological solutions. Stephenson's portrayal of the geopolitical tensions that arise when these forces collide is both gripping and thought-provoking. The prospect of a third world war sparked by the convergence of geopolitics and geoengineering feels chillingly plausible, serving as a stark warning against the dangers of unchecked technological advancement.What sets "Termination Shock" apart is Stephenson's ability to craft a narrative that feels both speculative and deeply grounded in reality. His meticulous attention to detail and expert storytelling create a world that feels as though it could be our own, making the novel's warnings all the more urgent and compelling.In conclusion, "Termination Shock" is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of our planet and the potential consequences of inaction in the face of climate change. Neal Stephenson's masterful blend of science fiction and social commentary makes for a truly unforgettable reading experience that will leave readers both entertained and profoundly moved.

For everyone who doesn't want to think about climate change, this novel is a must-read. Or if you're just entertained by meth gators, feral swine, and video games - they're here too. This is our future, warts and all, with Stephenson's typical style, skill and fabulous story-telling.

Neal Stephenson back to his very best. I don't know why he does collaborations, but none of these stack up well against the books he writes alone. He is one of my top 5 writers in the world for both his ideas, and writing skills 😄

Neal Stephenson makes a comparatively late addition to the cli-fi genre with a novel whose title sounds like the name of a heavy metal band. Characteristically, he sets the scene with his very first sentence:"Houston's air was too hot to support airplanes."in the same way he opened his novel "Seveneves" by saying that the moon blew up "with no warning and for no apparent reason". This book is set in some unspecified time in the near future (there's a clever reference to "COVID-19, COVID-23 and COVID-27" on p29) when the effects of climate change (like the atmosphere being too warm for planes to fly) have become more extreme. The heroine of the story is Saskia, the Queen of the Netherlands, a low-lying country which is painfully susceptible to the effects of rising sea-level. Despite her title, Saskia is a typical Stephenson character: sensible, resourceful and accomplished - thus, as the story opens, she's trying to land her plane in Texas, having piloted it across the Atlantic.She's meeting with T.R. Schmidt, an oil billionaire, who's attempting to reverse global warming with a solar geoengineering scheme - more specifically, by injecting sulphur into the atmosphere, forming aerosols which cool the atmosphere by reflecting solar radiation back into space. As usual in Stephenson's books, the details of how this is done and the way technical issues are overcome are presented clearly, but the fact that Schmidt is doing this unilaterally has geopolitical repercussions, illustrating the fact that the effects of geoengineering may not be spread evenly around the world. Tensions develop between countries like the Netherlands who would benefit from the scheme, and those like India, who apparently wouldn't. Meanwhile, China uses sophisticated cyberwarfare techniques to influence the debate in the Netherlands about geoengineering (a feature of this future world is that, despite the increased effects of climate change, there's still no consensus about what to do about it).I'm a big fan of Stephenson's books, so - despite its usual heft - read this one very quickly. Its subject is timely: whilst reading it, I had a conversation with someone who'd experienced this summer's hurricanes in Florida, describing record storm surges that overwhelmed houses that - it unfortunately turned out - were insufficiently elevated. The characters are skillfully delineated - for example, one of them who works in the (London) City was "fresh out of a posh education, sent down to the City for seasoning and to rack up some millions and find a wife who would enjoy picking out curtains in Sussex" [p155]. Recommended.