Icehenge

By: Kim Stanley Robinson

Narrated by: Danny Campbell, Kevin T. Collins, Carla Mercer-Meyer

On the North Pole of Pluto there stands an enigma: a huge circle of standing blocks of ice, built on the pattern of Earth's Stonehenge - but 10 times the size, standing alone at the farthest reaches of the Solar System. What is it? Who came there to build it?

The secret lies, perhaps, in the chaotic decades of the Martian Revolution, in the lost memories of those who have lived for centuries.

©1984 Kim Stanley Robinson (P)2018 Tantor

Surprisingly anti-climactic

The science, the idea, the writing are all phenomenal. Without question one of KSR’s coolest ideas. Full of the deep research expected from any KSR book. Having listened to every single one of his books, Icehenge is by far bottom of the barrel. The mystery is interesting and was really gripping at moments. But the book only really gripped me in the last hour or so of listening. Overall, decent, but lacks some seriously gripping material.

I can't finish it. I just don't care.

Kim Stanley Robinson is one of my favorite authors. The Mars trilogy. Forty Days series. Many of his stand alone books, particularly Days of Rice and Salt. I was happy to find another of his stand-alones and looking forward to it.

The first section of Icehenge is very good. Enjoyable, thought-provoking, forward-looking, science dependant, with slightly juvenile interpersonal relationships but solid overall.

The second section has an entirely different feel, more of a crusty old-fashioned spacer looking for his big break gritty drama. It was also enjoyable and the callbacks to the first part were meaningful.

The third part, which has driven me away, is anchored by a whiny protagonist about whom I just don't care. I can see the theme that appears to be the big payoff (I think. If I never finish the book I will never know if I got it all wrong and some twist finale makes this third section worthwhile.) has something to do with how our perception of historical events can be twisted by politics. personal bias, and social change over time. There may also be elements acknowledging that each generation assumes they are more brilliant than the previous and has a better grasp on Truth. Perhaps my distaste for this section is related to the dearth of adherence to fact in current real world political discourse.

If I ever push through to the end, I will update my review and give more credit if due!

Sort of fun

... until you get to the third part and figure out that it's going nowhere.

Kind of Scattered and I didn't keep up

Kind of Scattered and I didn't keep up. the story jumps back and forth several hundred years to different characters without notice.

Not KSRs best wotk

I struggled to finish this. The narrative and characters are way less polished than his later works. This feels like a set piece.