16 votes

Tildes Book Club - The Ministry for the Future - How is it going?

Happy New Year friends and fellow readers. In approximately two weeks we will be discussing Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson.

How's it going? I got started just after Christmas and it was such a tense fast paced book that I finished within a week.

34 comments

  1. [7]
    tanglisha
    Link
    I just managed to get a copy from the library and am only a few chapters in so far. I didn't look up anything about this book ahead of time and had not read the author before. All I knew going in...

    I just managed to get a copy from the library and am only a few chapters in so far. I didn't look up anything about this book ahead of time and had not read the author before. All I knew going in was that it was science fiction.

    All this to say that I was not prepared for that first chapter.

    6 votes
    1. Requirement
      Link Parent
      I just picked up the book today and haven't started. You not being prepared for the first chapter is the only thing I know going into it, so I guess I'm in for a wild ride.

      I just picked up the book today and haven't started. You not being prepared for the first chapter is the only thing I know going into it, so I guess I'm in for a wild ride.

      4 votes
    2. [2]
      boxer_dogs_dance
      Link Parent
      I also went in blind. It's a powerful book. It's also not entirely a downer by the end.

      I also went in blind. It's a powerful book. It's also not entirely a downer by the end.

      3 votes
    3. [3]
      tanglisha
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I finally finished the book. The overall story was okay, but I wasn't a fan of the segue chapters and found myself checking the percent of the book left a lot more often than I normally do. The...

      I finally finished the book. The overall story was okay, but I wasn't a fan of the segue chapters and found myself checking the percent of the book left a lot more often than I normally do. The segue chapters gave me the same irritated feeling the philosophy chapters in *War and Peace * did. Given how popular War and Peace is, this might just be a me thing. The “notes” chapters made me very annoyed, it made the book feel unfinished.

      I felt like the author spent a lot of time on fiddly details like

      spoilers the pumping and what a salvation the blockchain is.
      It started to feel like a slog after a while.

      Interesting to me, I read Termination Shock maybe six months ago and didn’t get that same sense of too much explaining, even though that book went into great detail about how science-y things worked.

      The author did a good job of humanizing the basic story and including relationships that are relatable. I agree with the person who said a lot of the interesting parts happened between the scenes. I believe this was done because the main character didn’t know for sure what happened, but between the first chapter pov and all the segue chapters I didn’t feel like this story was focused enough on the main character for that to make sense. I’ve heard it said in rpg circles to not talk about this cool thing that happened centuries ago and then start the adventure, make the cool thing the adventure. In this case, we heard of the cool things as though we had caught snippets of the news in the background of a movie scene about something else.

      Overall my reaction was kind of meh. I didn’t hate it, but I will definitely not read it again.

      1. [2]
        boxer_dogs_dance
        Link Parent
        I'm going to post the formal book discussion soon. Please contribute there also if you are willing.

        I'm going to post the formal book discussion soon. Please contribute there also if you are willing.

        1. tanglisha
          Link Parent
          Oh, thank you. I'd completely forgotten about your question list, it's an awesome way to start the discussion and I appreciate it.

          Oh, thank you. I'd completely forgotten about your question list, it's an awesome way to start the discussion and I appreciate it.

          1 vote
  2. [3]
    Weldawadyathink
    Link
    I’ve owned the audiobook for years, but never read it. I want going to participate, but I saw it come up a bunch on other threads so I decided to go for it. So far I am mixed on the quality of the...

    I’ve owned the audiobook for years, but never read it. I want going to participate, but I saw it come up a bunch on other threads so I decided to go for it. So far I am mixed on the quality of the audiobook. I just don’t like some of the narrators. I will try to be vague, but when the PTSD guy was talking to the woman, the narrator voiced the guy as very breathy. It was very unpleasant for me.

    Anyway, audiobook aside, the story has me decently captivated. My ADHD is doing weird things right now, so I haven’t been able to read as much as I would like, but I have been enjoying it.

    4 votes
    1. Requirement
      Link Parent
      Oof, I just made it to the part you are critiquing and... surely they could have done better than making the male character sound like a Saturday morning cartoon... Some of these lines are really...

      Oof, I just made it to the part you are critiquing and... surely they could have done better than making the male character sound like a Saturday morning cartoon... Some of these lines are really taking me out of the plot.

      2 votes
    2. tanglisha
      Link Parent
      It's interesting how much of a difference a good narrator makes. I once grabbed a recording of a Sherlock Holmes book that must have been originally a tape meant for the blind - it sounded like...

      It's interesting how much of a difference a good narrator makes. I once grabbed a recording of a Sherlock Holmes book that must have been originally a tape meant for the blind - it sounded like they hired Ben Stein to read it. Other books I've really enjoyed the narrators but probably wouldn't have finished the book at all if I'd been reading it.

      1 vote
  3. [4]
    crialpaca
    Link
    I'm on hold across like 3 or 4 editions at two libraries and have been for a month, and no luck getting ahold of it yet. Going in blind but might be late. I'm up to being second in line on a...

    I'm on hold across like 3 or 4 editions at two libraries and have been for a month, and no luck getting ahold of it yet. Going in blind but might be late. I'm up to being second in line on a physical copy, so... We'll see!

    4 votes
    1. cdb
      Link Parent
      I haven't managed to borrow it from my libraries either. Considering just buying it, but we'll see.

      I haven't managed to borrow it from my libraries either. Considering just buying it, but we'll see.

      2 votes
    2. tanglisha
      Link Parent
      I was 45th in line, then it was suddenly available. I guess people must be busy and pushed it back.

      I was 45th in line, then it was suddenly available. I guess people must be busy and pushed it back.

      1 vote
    3. crialpaca
      Link Parent
      I just got my copy today. I'm leaving for a several-day vacation on Wednesday where I may or may not have decent chunks of reading time, so... fingers crossed I can make significant progress.

      I just got my copy today. I'm leaving for a several-day vacation on Wednesday where I may or may not have decent chunks of reading time, so... fingers crossed I can make significant progress.

      1 vote
  4. Dr_Amazing
    Link
    I read it a while back after seeing it mentioned here in another thread. I thought it was pretty good but way too unfocused. I was sold on it being a story of people standing up and saying "fuck...

    I read it a while back after seeing it mentioned here in another thread. I thought it was pretty good but way too unfocused.

    I was sold on it being a story of people standing up and saying "fuck you, we're solving this and you better not get in our way."
    It's in there but it's really not the focus and I was disappointed that a lot of that stuff was sort of glossed over, and outside a few chapters, mostly happened behind the scenes.

    4 votes
  5. [4]
    lackofaname
    Link
    I'll be quite late getting to this read. I originally hadn't planned on reading it, as my previous experience with KSR (red mars) I found too long and felt mixed on the characters. But, I've heard...

    I'll be quite late getting to this read. I originally hadn't planned on reading it, as my previous experience with KSR (red mars) I found too long and felt mixed on the characters. But, I've heard some interesting things about this one so put it on hold a little too late to get to it this month.

    Last year I found I really struggled to participate in the discussions even when I had read the book more less in sync with the schedule. Im going to try to be better about commenting this year, even if it's a bit late.

    3 votes
    1. luka
      Link Parent
      I've had the same thought about the Red Mars, having only read most of the first book. Maybe I'll give it a chance too.

      I've had the same thought about the Red Mars, having only read most of the first book. Maybe I'll give it a chance too.

      4 votes
    2. [2]
      davek804
      Link Parent
      If you couldn't work through the first of the three Mars books ... MFTF is a tough sell instead. I'd say his Science in the Capital series is quicker to pick up and enjoy, as was Aurora. Even 2312...

      If you couldn't work through the first of the three Mars books ... MFTF is a tough sell instead.

      I'd say his Science in the Capital series is quicker to pick up and enjoy, as was Aurora. Even 2312 picked up well.

      Red Moon, MFTF, and the Mars trilogy are all slower build up.

      3 votes
      1. lackofaname
        Link Parent
        Aha, thanks for the heads-up and the recommendations for some other reads! I'll give it a try anyway when I can; I have no issue dnfing books if I'm not into them.

        Aha, thanks for the heads-up and the recommendations for some other reads! I'll give it a try anyway when I can; I have no issue dnfing books if I'm not into them.

  6. [2]
    smores
    Link
    Making good progress! It’s definitely not gripping me the way some other books do, and I’m not exactly sure why, but I’m still enjoying it and I’m not having any trouble spending time reading and...

    47% - 10 hours and 58 minutes left

    Making good progress! It’s definitely not gripping me the way some other books do, and I’m not exactly sure why, but I’m still enjoying it and I’m not having any trouble spending time reading and listening to it! The audiobook narration is mostly quite good

    3 votes
    1. davek804
      Link Parent
      I find the way the subject / target changes between chapters was kind of jarring. The series-of-short-stories aspect was a bit tight to keep pace.

      I find the way the subject / target changes between chapters was kind of jarring. The series-of-short-stories aspect was a bit tight to keep pace.

      1 vote
  7. l_one
    Link
    I'm listening to the audiobook version and just paused at 67% to type this. It's dark, the introduction is one hell of a gut punch, but it is certainly compelling and I know I'll listen to the end.

    I'm listening to the audiobook version and just paused at 67% to type this.

    It's dark, the introduction is one hell of a gut punch, but it is certainly compelling and I know I'll listen to the end.

    3 votes
  8. OceanBreezy
    Link
    Wow that first chapter! More frightening than any horror fiction I ever read. I didn’t love the book, its topic is too serious for my current mood. I marvel at the depth of thought that went into it.

    Wow that first chapter! More frightening than any horror fiction I ever read. I didn’t love the book, its topic is too serious for my current mood. I marvel at the depth of thought that went into it.

    3 votes
  9. TonesTones
    Link
    I’m in the mid-80s, so I’m nearing the end of the book. I really, really enjoy Kim Stanley Robinson’s writing style. I both like and dislike the “I am a concept” chapters. The pivots between...

    I’m in the mid-80s, so I’m nearing the end of the book. I really, really enjoy Kim Stanley Robinson’s writing style. I both like and dislike the “I am a concept” chapters. The pivots between different short stories make for an interesting storytelling tool, and I’ll think more about that when I write for the actual discussion.

    3 votes
  10. [7]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. first-must-burn
      Link Parent
      I think we'd be okay with an Honest Orson :)

      I think we'd be okay with an Honest Orson :)

      4 votes
    2. [4]
      davek804
      Link Parent
      I'm willing to listen if you've got anything you'd like to say about it! I certainly didn't find it an enjoyable or universally good read. I mostly appreciated the ethical questions it made me ask...

      I'm willing to listen if you've got anything you'd like to say about it! I certainly didn't find it an enjoyable or universally good read.

      I mostly appreciated the ethical questions it made me ask myself.

      2 votes
      1. [4]
        Comment deleted by author
        Link Parent
        1. davek804
          Link Parent
          Mmm. I agree with your feedback. I read the book a few years back. The thing that struck me around realism and our response to climate change was the pumping. He dedicated a decent number of...

          Mmm. I agree with your feedback. I read the book a few years back.

          The thing that struck me around realism and our response to climate change was the pumping. He dedicated a decent number of passages discussing the scale of the problem and just how fruitless the effort was from a physics perspective. We had to try, but it was going to cost more energy/emissions than it was going to help arrest the problem.

          4 votes
        2. [2]
          davek804
          Link Parent
          Also, I'd like to hear a bit about your work if you'd be willing to share it in an anonymous fashion.

          Also, I'd like to hear a bit about your work if you'd be willing to share it in an anonymous fashion.

          3 votes
          1. tanglisha
            Link Parent
            Seconded, I've never heard of that career before.

            Seconded, I've never heard of that career before.

            2 votes
    3. boxer_dogs_dance
      Link Parent
      If you have criticism, that can make interesting discussion. Only if you feel like it though.

      If you have criticism, that can make interesting discussion. Only if you feel like it though.

      2 votes
  11. Wes
    Link
    I started a new series last month, and I don't think I'll have time to read both books simultaneously, so I'll unfortunately have to give this one a miss. Too bad though, because I'm extremely...

    I started a new series last month, and I don't think I'll have time to read both books simultaneously, so I'll unfortunately have to give this one a miss. Too bad though, because I'm extremely intrigued by everybody commenting about the first chapter!

    2 votes
  12. kfwyre
    Link
    I made the mistake of starting the book right before GDQ, so I dove into it and then almost immediately put it on pause for a week. GDQ is now over though, and I’m eager to get back to it. It had...

    I made the mistake of starting the book right before GDQ, so I dove into it and then almost immediately put it on pause for a week.

    GDQ is now over though, and I’m eager to get back to it. It had me hooked.

    Like many have mentioned, that first chapter is a hell of an opener.

    2 votes
  13. CrazyProfessor02
    Link
    I have already finished the book, there wasn't a line for the audiobook at my library so I could easily get it. And like as other people had said, the opening is one hell of a way to open a book....

    I have already finished the book, there wasn't a line for the audiobook at my library so I could easily get it. And like as other people had said, the opening is one hell of a way to open a book. And it really sets the mood of the book.

    2 votes