Hardcover, 384 pages
English language
Published May 10, 2011 by St. Martin's Press.
I rather enjoyed the big ideas that Brooks brought up, and the various personal issues helped to humanize characters that otherwise could have ended up being stereotypes. The ending felt a bit rushed, and left too many of the big questions raised earlier unanswered.
This not so very far fetched story will engage you like a moderately entertaining television show you watch because you have insomnia or a hangover. It passes quickly, and you are glad for the distraction but indifferent to the outcome.
Sure, we all know the Chinese are biding their time and that old people complain too much and young people are ingrates- and the results in 2030 are indeed serious. But I just had a few questions that do not have a speculative, fun turn to them- What happens to the environmental problems facing China today? Why do the "olds" retire so early? More details on the cancer cure? How does Mr. Li's rotating medic robots find enough doctors to staff them? What about water shortages? Women's rights? The glossing over of global warning? I was also distracted by a few inconsistencies and spelling errors. But this is a fun …
This not so very far fetched story will engage you like a moderately entertaining television show you watch because you have insomnia or a hangover. It passes quickly, and you are glad for the distraction but indifferent to the outcome.
Sure, we all know the Chinese are biding their time and that old people complain too much and young people are ingrates- and the results in 2030 are indeed serious. But I just had a few questions that do not have a speculative, fun turn to them- What happens to the environmental problems facing China today? Why do the "olds" retire so early? More details on the cancer cure? How does Mr. Li's rotating medic robots find enough doctors to staff them? What about water shortages? Women's rights? The glossing over of global warning? I was also distracted by a few inconsistencies and spelling errors. But this is a fun what if and promises not to tax your brain, unlike some better written and harder won sci-fi. I liked it overall.
