Forty Signs of Rain: Science in the Capital, Book 1 Unabridged (Audio Download): Amazon.co.uk: Kim Stanley Robinson, Peter Ganim: Books

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Audio Download
Listening Length: 12 hours and 55 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Audible Frontiers
Audible Release Date: 11 Dec 2008
Language: English
ASIN: B002SPWLDY

Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

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Product Description

The best-selling author of the classic Mars trilogy and The Years of Rice and Salt returns with a riveting new trilogy of cutting-edge science, international politics, and the real-life ramifications of global warming as they are played out in our nation's capital-and in the daily lives of those at the center of the action. Hauntingly realistic, here is a novel of the near future that is inspired by scientific facts already making headlines.

When the Arctic ice pack was first measured in the 1950s, it averaged 30 feet thick in midwinter. By the end of the century it was down to 15. One August the ice broke. The next year the breakup started in July. The third year it began in May. That was last year.

It's an increasingly steamy summer in the nation's capital as Senate environmental staffer Charlie Quibler cares for his young son and deals with the frustrating politics of global warming. Charlie must find a way to get a skeptical administration to act before it's too late-and his progeny find themselves living in Swamp World. But the political climate poses almost as great a challenge as the environmental crisis when it comes to putting the public good ahead of private gain.

While Charlie struggles to play politics, his wife, Anna, takes a more rational approach to the looming crisis in her work at the National Science Foundation. There a proposal has come in for a revolutionary process that could solve the problem of global warming-if it can be recognized in time. But when a race to control the budding technology begins, the stakes only get higher. As these everyday heroes fight to align the awesome forces of nature with the extraordinary march of modern science, they are unaware that fate is about to put an unusual twist on their work-one that will place them at the heart of an unavoidable storm.

BONUS AUDIO: Includes an exclusive introduction by author Kim Stanley Robinson.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

West Wing meets The Day After Tomorrow? 25 May 2004

By Russell

Format:Hardcover

When you buy Robinson you expect beautiful description, genuine motivation and left wing ideology. Forty Signs of Rain does not disappoint - a story of big science and big politics in the face of ecological disaster; spiced up with cleverly observed moments of individual lives: dinner parties, childcare, meetings, coffee breaks. Robinson can really create those "yes, that's what it's like!" moments and then move on to surrealistic images of tigers roaming the backgardens of Washington.

Robinson continues to mature as a writer - he is more free with his brand of gentle humour, more relaxed and realistic with the romantic scenes. Above all, he disciplines his descriptions of nature and landscape - focusing on the telling detail rather than the pages and pages of description which occaisionally marred the Mars trilogy.

It's not packed with action. There are no laser guns, spaceships or aliens. It is thoughtful, intellectual, witty, moving, vivid, defiantly high brow and engagingly 'new age'.

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Seems like the first third of a larger volume. 13 May 2005

By Thalamus

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have read most of Kim Stanley Robinson's books since coming upon the Orange County books and enjoyed them greatly. I'm sorry to say that this was a disappointment. The quality of writing remains excellent, but as the characters and plot develop, you realise that you are 200 odd pages into the book, with ~100 remaining, and little has happened. I presume that this is the first in a series of books and the story will develop in "50 Degrees Below" out later this year. However, this would be like publishing the masterpiece "Red Mars" in thirds rather than one volume. Has this been a Publisher's decision rather than author?

A good first book in a series but standing alone is a little disappointing.

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Very good read 19 April 2012

By jpnldn

Format:Paperback

Speaking of the trilogy, not as good as some of his other work but a rewardable read nonetheless. Maintains his bang-on socio-economic analysis throughout and provides a bit of hope in today's dire state of cimactic affairs.

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2.9 out of 5 stars

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Disapointing

Like all of his books, the science and the policy background for 'Forty Signs of Rain' are well researched and engaging. Read more

Published 20 months ago by MR GARY THOMPSON

I hoped they'd drown

I liked his Mars tilogy I didn't like this. I won't be reading the next two in the trilogy. Maybe if you live in Washington DC this book speaks to you in some way. Read more

Published 22 months ago by Mr. N. J. Keighley

Simply boring

After painstakingly looking through my local library for a science fiction/fantasy/thriller to read on mundane journeys to and from work, I came across this book. Read more

Published on 21 Jan 2010 by patrick

An ambitious work and a convincing vision of climate change

"Forty Signs of Rain" is the first novel in Kim Stanley Robinson's 'Science in the Capital' trilogy, exploring the potential impact of global warming as well as science's role in... Read more

Published on 22 April 2008 by The Wanderer

Slow Slow Slow

I'm quite ticked off with this book. I've read the Mars trilogy and one of the reviews lead me to believe that this book would not be so heavy on description. Read more

Published on 10 Mar 2008 by A. Hallett

important storytelling

i enjoyed this book. ksr's trademark descriptions of nature and the landscape serve to root this novel into our greater world. in fact that is something very special about him. Read more

Published on 31 Aug 2007 by S. Egan

Very disappointing after the 'Mars' trilogy

No, this is not as billed - most of the story is lost in the minutia of venture capital funding and the mechanics of scientific research. Read more

Published on 1 Jun 2004


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Forty Signs of Rain: Science in the Capital, Book 1 (Unabridged) [Audio Download]

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