nitar8's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, War, Death of parent, Grief, Abandonment, Death, Violence, and Sexual assault
amaranth_wytch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Classism, Confinement, Slavery, Death, Torture, Violence, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, and War
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Rape and Cultural appropriation
eoghann's review against another edition
3.0
What if the waters just kept rising and rising?
That's the basic premise of this book. Stephen Baxter avoids the politically treacherous ground of global warming and simply goes for pockets of water under the crust that are somehow released causing escalating flooding.
It's a very simple idea and the early part of the book which is set round about now plays heavily on familiarity first by showing the effects of a relatively modest sea level rise on London and then later the effect of a more substantial rise on New York.
These are places that everyone "knows" so it's easy to connect. It's also why pretty much every disaster movie uses these locations. And that's what the early sections read like too. But since this is Stephen Baxter it's only a matter of time before the science starts to come through.
And as the story evolves it becomes more and more documentary like. There are longer jumps as Baxter shows the progression of the flooding. We move out of the familiar areas and into more remote parts of the world. People's lives change radically.
But at the same time while that happens we start to lose our connection with the central characters. Their lives are harder to relate to and because of the time jumps we don't get to grow with them. It was still fascinating to see where they were going, but I wasn't personally invested in the outcomes any more.
There were sections in fact that felt like they only existed as an opportunity to explain what might happen in a scenario like this. Particularly the exploration of a sunken London. I enjoyed the imagery but by that point it felt like there was really no plot any more. Just a series of disconnected scenes.
Flood is the first part of a duology which is completed by Ark, which I haven't read yet. I mention that because while the book does stand on its own, there are clearly elements set up here that will play out in the sequel. It's possible that may change my view of this book somewhat.
For all its flaws, I'd still recommend reading the book. It is quite fascinating in its exploration of the global flooding scenario
That's the basic premise of this book. Stephen Baxter avoids the politically treacherous ground of global warming and simply goes for pockets of water under the crust that are somehow released causing escalating flooding.
It's a very simple idea and the early part of the book which is set round about now plays heavily on familiarity first by showing the effects of a relatively modest sea level rise on London and then later the effect of a more substantial rise on New York.
These are places that everyone "knows" so it's easy to connect. It's also why pretty much every disaster movie uses these locations. And that's what the early sections read like too. But since this is Stephen Baxter it's only a matter of time before the science starts to come through.
And as the story evolves it becomes more and more documentary like. There are longer jumps as Baxter shows the progression of the flooding. We move out of the familiar areas and into more remote parts of the world. People's lives change radically.
But at the same time while that happens we start to lose our connection with the central characters. Their lives are harder to relate to and because of the time jumps we don't get to grow with them. It was still fascinating to see where they were going, but I wasn't personally invested in the outcomes any more.
There were sections in fact that felt like they only existed as an opportunity to explain what might happen in a scenario like this. Particularly the exploration of a sunken London. I enjoyed the imagery but by that point it felt like there was really no plot any more. Just a series of disconnected scenes.
Flood is the first part of a duology which is completed by Ark, which I haven't read yet. I mention that because while the book does stand on its own, there are clearly elements set up here that will play out in the sequel. It's possible that may change my view of this book somewhat.
For all its flaws, I'd still recommend reading the book. It is quite fascinating in its exploration of the global flooding scenario
kerush's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
This book was suggested as a candidate for the Powells SF group. Phil found it unreadable which is unheard of a for a apocalyptic book - though to be fair she prefers post-apocalyptic. I found it a bit of a slow read. The premise was interesting if unbelievable. It would be an okay book to discuss except for the people who would refuse to finish it. 4 of 5.
saltyessentials's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Enjoyably GoodÂ
spinnerroweok's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! I'm still digesting the images this book has imprinted on my mind. This novel tells the story of a drowning earth and how people struggle to stay alive. Great themes on rich vs. poor and a struggle to live against almost certain death. On a level with Earth Abides for end of the world fiction.
I listened to this as an audiobook read by Chris Patton. Patton does an excellent job although he does mispronounce a few words. His accents are great. He does a great job at differentiating character voices. Excellent job.
I just started, but so far I really like the description of an overly watered world. I'm feeling soggy already.
I listened to this as an audiobook read by Chris Patton. Patton does an excellent job although he does mispronounce a few words. His accents are great. He does a great job at differentiating character voices. Excellent job.
I just started, but so far I really like the description of an overly watered world. I'm feeling soggy already.
chrisspr's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
reginacattus's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, Baxter's style is similar to Dan Brown's, at least for this book series. It was interesting following the cast of characters throughout the flood. All the characters are very frank and real. In fact, the entire book was eerily real, with the very well-researched background, as well as the interspersed tech. I want an Angel! I had to keep reminding myself that such and such had happened, or that, for example, England was completely gone by that point, which was a little challenging, though no fault of the author's I suppose.
This book is a prime example of realistic science-fiction (rather than the mediocrity of what should really be called science-fantasy).
This book is a prime example of realistic science-fiction (rather than the mediocrity of what should really be called science-fantasy).
brucehoward's review against another edition
4.0
A slog in parts just from the sheer length, but in fairness that may be an unavoidable consequence of documenting the slow drowning of Earth and civilization across several decades.