2312

By: Kim Stanley Robinson

Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman

Length: 19 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

The year is 2312. Scientific and technological advances have opened gateways to an extraordinary future. Earth is no longer humanity's only home; new habitats have been created throughout the solar system on moons, planets, and in between. But in this year, 2312, a sequence of events will force humanity to confront its past, its present, and its future.

The first event takes place on Mercury, on the city of Terminator, itself a miracle of engineering on an unprecedented scale. It is an unexpected death, but one that might have been foreseen. For Swan Er Hong, it is an event that will change her life. Swan was once a woman who designed worlds. Now she will be led into a plot to destroy them.

©2012 Kim Stanley Robinson (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Great book, great voice, mispronunciations

This book is amazing set in a similar timeline to KSR’s mars trilogy. The reader is good. But mispronounces quite a few words. Including gibbous and Mondragon. It’s a little jarring.

2312 review

Struggled to finish. The story is buried in a mass of descriptive digression and verbosity.

Super good

Despite this book being rooted in the scientific end of things, it is neither too dry or a slow read. Humor is well placed but doesn't take over.

Poetic and visionary

This is probably best enjoyed in written form due to the author’s poetic prose. Sun walkers on Mercury, indeed. The main flaw is a tendency for verbosity for its own sake, to wit, listicles. More listicles, where enumeration swamps and drowns narrative.

But where else can you find wise, free living centenarian characters looking forward to another hundred years of surprises?

Oh yes, and the Mondragon Cooperatve is real.

2312 was an absolute pleasure to read

After having read Banks's The Culture series, I wasn't sure I'd ever find another hardcore sci-fi book or series that could match it in creativity, science, and storytelling. But this was it. excellent work!

An Intriguing Story of the early 24th Century

Fascinating view of how humanity will spread through the solar system, in many variations, still carrying baggage from the 21st century.

KSR just does it for me

I listened to this 10 minutes after wrapping up the Red Mars series and just loved the feeling of being in the same world (more on this).I enjoy how well KSR builds a world and brings you right into the fold of how the world is built.
I love the extracts but couldn't stand the lists..
I like the brief story's of how the solar systems planets and moon have evolved but I could do with out the sexual oddness
Lastly- there are so many connections and nods to the Mars series that this book is really in the same world even if it's said it's not.

Bottom line is if you like hard science fiction this is a great book.

I loved the narration... after giving it a chance

I can understand why some reviewers have found Sarah Zimmerman’s narration offputting, if not a fatal flaw. Her rhythm can be unpredictable/unnatural at times, but I found that inspired me to listen more closely as well as manifesting some of the intellectual, psychological, and social “dislocations” of the novel itself in a creative way. I also appreciated the overall quality of her voice—very pleasant indeed—and that her diction is crystal clear.

The story meandered quite a bit, but that was appropriate for the topics the work touches upon and explores. Very Kim Stanley Robinson!

In all I liked it and recommend it!

Hard scifi with droning narrator

Interesting, but hard scifi is not for everyone. Narrator has great tone but droning delivery.

Great start, but hard to keep up interest

I fell asleep with about an hour and a half to go, and awoke to the finished screen. It felt like a victory! The last hour or two that i actually DID listen to is pretty much lost from my memory.

The beginning of the book really drew me in, and I liked all the visual input even though it slowed down the pace greatly. But at some point after the long corridor whistle walk Swan became irritating in her self-centeredness, and the descriptions and lists became as superfluous as the minutiae of the Lord of the Rings series. Returning to listen became a chore, and I repeatedly found that my mind had wandered off and I had no Idea what had happened in the book!

Perhaps at some later date it will seem important to figure out what happened after the floating in space for days? Perhaps Kiran will be the one that I want to know a little bit more about, since he was the only character that remained likeable? Knowing me, however, I will probably opt for googling a synopsis instead of forcing in a relisten to three hours of this book.