New York 2140

This science fiction I’ve read in the past has worked to horrify me, thrill me, shock me, or bend my mind. That’s all well and good, but it’s nothing like what Kim Stanley Robinson wants to do over the course of New York 2140. He is more focused on building a clear picture of the future, one that straddles the line between hope and realism. The particular focus of this picture is New York City, now flooded after decades of global warming. Humanity has begun taking steps to save itself, but not before the city’s familiar streets and cars were replaced by canals and boats. Robinson’s characters all share the same packed apartment building, the threads of their stories slowly winding together as they each try to wring good out of a corrupt, messy world. Their methods are subtler than laser fire or biohacking, but no less powerful. The riveting fiction is held together with real-life quotes and groovy science. Overall, Robinson has built a sweeping tribute to New York’s past, present, and possibilities. His voice is witty and sharp, even if the book occasionally dips too far into financial technobabble. Storyteller and prophet both, Robinson is a clear master at making learning both important and fun.