The Terraformers

by Annalee Newitz

No cover — Annalee Newitz: The Terraformers (Paperback, 2023, Tor Books)

Paperback, 368 pages

Published Sept. 19, 2023 by Tor Books.

ISBN:: 978-1-250-22802-4

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(8 reviews)

4 editions

Dav Ito (they/them) reviewed The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz

If you're looking for a book that divests you from reality, don't read this book

5 stars

Newitz paints a world that is simultaneously deliciously and painfully woke. I started reading this book hoping for some light science fiction entertainment, and I was fantastically disappointed.

This book is not another example of how prophetic science fiction is, because so many of the issues are already happening. Now.

From corporate indentured servitude to gender as a spectrum to consent in kink... this book has got it.

If you're looking for a light read that won't suck you in and drown you in the pages, then you should probably look elsewhere.

Phil in SF reviewed The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz

Mixed feelings

4 stars

Content warning Mild spoilers

Very interesting world building. Sentient flying trains. A great bargain that includes all sorts of creatures as people. It's very thought provoking.

But the story and characters drag a lot at times. For instance, the second section follows data gatherers as they figure out where to put public transportation on the world of Sask-E. But since they're essentially surveyors, it's not that exciting and mostly the characters spend all their time talking.

And while i see what the author is doing with the sex scenes, it's a lot like watching porn I'm not into. Very mechanical and not at all titillating. So those come off as dry too.

Anyway, other folks may enjoy the parts i disliked. They weren't bad. They just didn't resonate with me.