Our Angry Earth - Softcover

Asimov, Isaac; Pohl, Frederik

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0812520963 ISBN 13: 9780812520965

Publisher: Tom Doherty Assoc Llc, 1993

Synopsis

Two masters of science fiction take a serious look at the fate of the earth that describes the consequences of human "progress" on the planet and offers suggestions for healing. Reprint.

About this title

About the Author

ISAAC ASIMOV (1920-1992) was one of science fiction's greatest writers. He wrote prolifically across genres and academic fields, but was best known for his hard science fiction and popular science work. Asimov's fiction includes the short stories "Nightfall" and "I, Robot" and his award-winning novels Foundation's Edge and The Gods Themselves. His "Three Laws of Robotics" is only one example among many of his profound influence on science fiction.

FREDERIK POHL (1919-2013) was a profoundly influential science fiction author and editor. As an award-winning editor, he helmed Galaxy and If, and won the Nebula Award for Man Plus. Pohl collaborated with other sf authors such as Cyril M. Kornbluth on The Space Merchants, and Arthur C. Clarke on The Last Theorem.

From Kirkus Reviews

This latest in a barrage of environmental overviews by big names takes a lowest-common-denominator approach, chatting up readers in discursive if not patronizing prose that spends much time assessing concepts such as Gaia and countering implied arguments that might be made by people who are either simple-minded or misinformed. Those who respond favorably to this treatment, though, might take to the totally nontechnical profiles of the major suspects- -global warming, ozone depletion, mounting trash, air and water pollution--because science-fiction institutions Asimov and Pohl sum up the problems clearly and include some jolting details about their causes and effects. Still the topics have been covered again and again in recent popular books and newspaper articles. What Asimov and Pohl promise to add here are suggestions for how catastrophe can be avoided and how political means can effectuate solutions--but these sections prove particularly weak. The authors don't come through with new visions or specific programs, and their political section combines the usual suggestions (write letters to public officials, etc.) with sketchy advice on starting an organization (pros and cons of having a constitution) and getting into politics through helping candidates, getting on political- party municipal and county committees, and getting out the vote on election day. Again, most of this is commonplace in manuals for grass-roots activists and unrelated here to the environmental issues they're supposed to implement. Just because the entire book is so basic, however, some libraries may find it handy. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Tom Doherty Assoc Llc
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0812520963
• ISBN 13: 9780812520965
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 429