2312 (novel)
2312 is a hard science fiction novel by American writer Kim Stanley Robinson, published in 2012. It is set in the year 2312 when society has spread out across the Solar System. The novel won the 2013 Nebula Award for Best Novel.[1]
Plot summary
The novel is set in the year 2312, in the great city of Terminator on
Inspector Genette eventually discovers how the artificial meteorite that destroyed Terminator was created: someone launched a large number of smaller objects on trajectories that would eventually cause them to coalesce above Mercury, but low enough that the planet's defense system could not destroy the now large object in time. The complexity of the attack leads her to determine that quantum computers must have been used.
Meanwhile, Swan and Wahram become involved in restoring and re-wilding the climate-change-ravaged Earth by returning thousands of species from space-based temporary environments to their home environments on the Earth.
Characters
- Swan Er Hong. An artist and former asteroid terrarium designer
- Fitz Wahram. Diplomat from the moon Titan
- Jean Genette. A "small" who was a close friend to Alex
- Alex. Influential and deceased scientist and diplomat. Swan's step-grandmother
- Mqaret. A scientist and Alex's partner
- Kiran. A young Earth boy who saves Swan from some trouble in his slum-like hometown. In thanks, Swan gives him a job off-planet.
Themes
Science and technology
In the world of the novel, the planets
In the novel, scientific and technological advances, such as
Capitalism has been replaced by a planned economy described as based on the mondragon concept controlled by the quantum computers, but on Earth there are still remnants of the market system.
Sex, sexuality and gender
Gender and sexuality within this world is fluid and expansive, with the principal categories of gender and sexuality listed to include
As part of a lifespan extending process many people exhibit intersex or "gynandromorphous" sex characteristics, including both penises and vaginas.
Development
Terminator, a city that slowly drives around Mercury to stay out of direct line from the Sun, first appeared in Robinson's earlier novel The Memory of Whiteness,[2] as well as appearing during a brief mention in his Mars Trilogy. Terminator is also briefly mentioned in Robinson's 2015 novel Aurora.
Reception
Critical reception for 2312 has been mixed to positive,[3][4] with Strange Horizons saying that "readers must make up their own minds".[5] Slate Magazine and the Guardian both reviewed 2312, with Slate praising the book as "brilliant" while the Guardian criticized the book's ending as "contrived".[6][7] Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Jeff VanderMeer called the book a "treasured gift to fans of passionate storytelling", writing that the book's "audacity" was an asset.[8]
The book won the 2013
See also
References
- ^ a b "2012 Nebula Award Winners," Locus Magazine, May 18, 2013.
- Wired. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^ Kaveney, Roz (June 12, 2012). "2312, By Kim Stanley Robinson". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^ Canavan, Gerry (June 14, 2012). "Struggle Forever". Los Angeles Review of Books. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- ^ Yanarella, Ernest J. (June 4, 2012). "2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson". Strange Horizons. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- ^ M John Harrison (June 14, 2012). "2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson – review". The Guardian. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^ Sicha, Choire (June 1, 2012). "What Will Be". Slate. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^ VanderMeer, Jeff. "Review: Kim Stanley Robinson's '2312' a masterful, moving vision". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
- ^ Hugo Award Finalists, LoneStarCon, March 31, 2013, archived from the original on February 21, 2012, retrieved April 2, 2013
- ^ BSFA Shortlist Announced, British Science Fiction Association, January 18, 2013, archived from the original on May 24, 2018, retrieved May 30, 2013
- ^ 2013 Shortlist, Serendip, April 4, 2013, archived from the original on January 3, 2014, retrieved May 30, 2013
- ^ Kiernan and Salaam Win Tiptree Awards, Locus Magazine, March 5, 2013, retrieved May 30, 2013
- ^ "Best Science Fiction 2012 — Goodreads Choice Awards". Goodreads. Retrieved January 10, 2021.