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devonforest's review
4.0
I liked that this book focused on real world problems that we're facing today. Since global warming is such a big issue it's nice to see the plot focused around that- it made it more relatable. I also liked that the characters were from all over the world.
crimsoncor's review
4.0
Fun. [b:Snow Crash|830|Snow Crash|Neal Stephenson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1385214698s/830.jpg|493634] meets [a:Kim Stanley Robinson|1858|Kim Stanley Robinson|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1376955089p2/1858.jpg]'s global warming trilogy. It doesn't have the same deep sociological component that you get from KSR and the characters have a slight tendency to do a 'stand and recite', but overall very enjoyable. Actually reminded me quite a bit of [b:Invisible Armies|1387419|Invisible Armies|Jon Evans|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1183174943s/1387419.jpg|1617143] in terms of pacing; very cinematic in feel.
kadomi's review
4.0
Fast-paced and short near-future eco-thriller. Set in the Arctic circle in a world where global warming has melted away almost all of the northern ice cap, we have Anika as our protagonist. She works as a pilot for the United Nations Polar Guard monitoring the ice-free Northwest passage. When she and her partner Tom spot a suspicious ship with radioactive material aboard, they get shot from the sky. Anika wants to get to the bottom of why exactly they were shot.
The protagonist is certainly unusual. A female, Nigerian, lesbian pilot, who also gets to grow into a relationship with another strong female character. I liked that part a lot. The main plot doesn't seem very believable and practically screams for a sequel. I enjoyed myself, but there's not much real substance behind it. It's a good book, not outstanding.
3.5 stars
The protagonist is certainly unusual. A female, Nigerian, lesbian pilot, who also gets to grow into a relationship with another strong female character. I liked that part a lot. The main plot doesn't seem very believable and practically screams for a sequel. I enjoyed myself, but there's not much real substance behind it. It's a good book, not outstanding.
3.5 stars
kodermike's review
4.0
*** DON'T READ THE GOODREADS SYNOPSIS OF THIS BOOK. IT IS A SPOILER AND GIVES MOST OF THE BOOK AWAY. ***
Tobias Buckell, known for his Caribbean influenced science fiction Xenowealth series and additions to the Halo universe, brings us his first new novel in four years with "Arctic Rising". In the very near future, the Arctic ice cap has all but melted as rising global temperatures change the dynamics and balance of power in the world. Tundras are now prairies, and the once ice locked islands of the Arctic circle are now the coveted centers of commercial and shipping success.
Anika Duncan is an airship pilot for the U.N. Polar Guard, patrolling these northern shipping lanes by air when events kick off in the novel. Readers are propelled through this eco-thriller as the stakes are raised and the balance of power is at risk.
Buckell's book seems somewhat apropos this year, when in the dead of winter we are looking at 70 degree days during a time of year when we usually measure the day by how deep the snow is. At its heart, "Arctic Rising" is a thriller set in the backdrop of a world where global warming has already started to wreak severe havoc, destroying tropical islands in floods while at the same time opening the northern reaches of Canada and Russia to more temperate activity.
When the book excels as a thriller, it really excels. Buckell has a gift for writing down the play by play action of a fight scene, whether that fight is in the scrub of Greenland, or between armed groups in a disintegrating floating city. Sadly, its not without its flaws - the info dumps, when they happen, are a force to be reckoned with, and occasionally someone takes a sip of the monologue draught.
Buckell always does a great job of breaking us out of the northern European descent perspective of the world, giving us a better rounded view of the world. His characters aren't just white Americans - they're Nigerian, Caribbean, and Canadian, and they come from a culture and history that you can almost feel.
I would love to learn a little bit more about the world Anika and friends live in, though. If the Arctic is melting, what about the Antarctic? What's going on south of the equator? Maybe a future book will give us that glimpse. For now, I'd recommend this near future thriller for the fast paced zeppelin ride that it is.
Tobias Buckell, known for his Caribbean influenced science fiction Xenowealth series and additions to the Halo universe, brings us his first new novel in four years with "Arctic Rising". In the very near future, the Arctic ice cap has all but melted as rising global temperatures change the dynamics and balance of power in the world. Tundras are now prairies, and the once ice locked islands of the Arctic circle are now the coveted centers of commercial and shipping success.
Anika Duncan is an airship pilot for the U.N. Polar Guard, patrolling these northern shipping lanes by air when events kick off in the novel. Readers are propelled through this eco-thriller as the stakes are raised and the balance of power is at risk.
Buckell's book seems somewhat apropos this year, when in the dead of winter we are looking at 70 degree days during a time of year when we usually measure the day by how deep the snow is. At its heart, "Arctic Rising" is a thriller set in the backdrop of a world where global warming has already started to wreak severe havoc, destroying tropical islands in floods while at the same time opening the northern reaches of Canada and Russia to more temperate activity.
When the book excels as a thriller, it really excels. Buckell has a gift for writing down the play by play action of a fight scene, whether that fight is in the scrub of Greenland, or between armed groups in a disintegrating floating city. Sadly, its not without its flaws - the info dumps, when they happen, are a force to be reckoned with, and occasionally someone takes a sip of the monologue draught.
Buckell always does a great job of breaking us out of the northern European descent perspective of the world, giving us a better rounded view of the world. His characters aren't just white Americans - they're Nigerian, Caribbean, and Canadian, and they come from a culture and history that you can almost feel.
I would love to learn a little bit more about the world Anika and friends live in, though. If the Arctic is melting, what about the Antarctic? What's going on south of the equator? Maybe a future book will give us that glimpse. For now, I'd recommend this near future thriller for the fast paced zeppelin ride that it is.
lyrrael's review
2.0
I think it's fair to say that this just wasn't my cup of tea, despite its potential, and i gave up about halfway in. Set in a post-global warming future where the polar caps have melted, Arctic Rising includes many of the incredibly interesting geopolitical details that are fun to work with as a mind game. The main character was neat...but the story itself lacked the depth I've come to expect from a sci-fi novel, and was more just a typical thriller set in an interesting setting. The pacing also felt a bit strange, like the author was skimming in an attempt to create a sense of fast pacing, but fell short. Ah well, to each his own.
mjfmjfmjf's review
4.0
Interesting quick read near-future sf set in an ice free arctic. Basically a thriller with conspiracies an evil corporation and a plucky hero. Torture, boat chases, car versus motorcycle, floating cities, a nuclear missile. Seems more like a movie plot than a book but still some interesting ideas. And I guess I'll get used to sf set in an ice-free or near ice-free arctic. 3.5 of 5.
essinink's review
3.0
I want this to be a movie. Can we make this into a movie? That would be awesome.
There's a lot to love about this book. We have a near-future Arctic setting (why aren't there more of those?), protagonists that defy the expectations of the genre's mold, Terraforming on *earth*, an excellent analysis of the disproportionate impact of a warmer world.... I could go on and on.
The writing is very clean. As I've started to learn from his short stories and novellas, Tobias Buckell favors a very tight, clean narrative. As a science-fiction author, this serves him very well. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
So, given all of that... you're probably wondering, "why only 3 stars?"
Unfortunately, for a thriller, there's not a lot of "thrill" to be had. Despite the non-stop action, there's not actually a lot of tension over the whole of the book, and I'm not sure why.
It's common for sci-fi characters to be a little flat, but that's usually offset by the intrigue of the plot. In this case... I can't even put my finger on what's not working. The characters are all interesting, but there's a lack of connection and, ultimately, a lack of tension in the "will they/won't they succeed" of the ending.
Overall, a good book that I wouldn't mind seeing adapted, but not quite as good as it could have been.
There's a lot to love about this book. We have a near-future Arctic setting (why aren't there more of those?), protagonists that defy the expectations of the genre's mold, Terraforming on *earth*, an excellent analysis of the disproportionate impact of a warmer world.... I could go on and on.
The writing is very clean. As I've started to learn from his short stories and novellas, Tobias Buckell favors a very tight, clean narrative. As a science-fiction author, this serves him very well. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
So, given all of that... you're probably wondering, "why only 3 stars?"
Unfortunately, for a thriller, there's not a lot of "thrill" to be had. Despite the non-stop action, there's not actually a lot of tension over the whole of the book, and I'm not sure why.
It's common for sci-fi characters to be a little flat, but that's usually offset by the intrigue of the plot. In this case... I can't even put my finger on what's not working. The characters are all interesting, but there's a lack of connection and, ultimately, a lack of tension in the "will they/won't they succeed" of the ending.
Overall, a good book that I wouldn't mind seeing adapted, but not quite as good as it could have been.
jonmhansen's review
4.0
Rather different for most of Tobias's other stuff. More of a near future thriller in the best Tom Clancy-Clive Cussler kind of mode. A good quick read and much to recommend.
ahunt2494's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0