Terraforming Earth
 Jack Williamson
 (Reviewer - - D. H. BROWN)
 2001 TOR Books
  ISBN: 0312872003


Far, far in the future, long after the catastrophic impact of a huge meteor, the cloned children of humanity's last people who had escaped by establishing a safe harbor on the Moon, undertake the enormous task of restoring life to a barren planet.

Upon seeing the hazy red-spattered planet before her, one of the five clone children asks of her Robo father, “Is it bleeding?”

“Bleeding red-hot lava all over the land,” he tells her. “The rivers all bleeding iron-red rain into the seas.”

Senior Staff Reviewer D. H. BROWN writes:

When one opens a Jack Williamson book the first thing that grabs the eye is the fact that books by this author fill an entire page. Books going back 9 decades, spanning an impressive career, with co-writers like Frederik Pohl & Miles Breuer. I'm in my 50s & I can remember reading his books over 40 years ago.

The scope & breadth of a Williamson book is always breathtaking & exciting.

Well, he's done it again with Terraforming Earth!

We start in the near future & move off into the very far future & along the way he keeps the theme of hope, innovation & adaptability that our species has survived on for the past 2 million years. A Jack Williamson book is always about the triumph of the human species.

Terraforming Earth makes one stop while reading rapidly & understand just how tenacious is our species. It also brings to the stark fore front of thought just how dangerous it is to have all of our eggs in one basket at this stage of our development. We are so vulnerable sitting here on our little blue marble amid the impartial physics of the Universe.

I like the twist that he's given to the debate on cloning. One more questioning voice added to this timely controversy.

His writing makes you conjure up scenarios that otherwise might be unspeakable in our current PC world. My imagination is always stoked when I read Jack Williamson.

Buy this book & consider its implications. Fascinating!

Jack Williamson, the Dean of American science fiction writers, has an oeuvre that fills an entire page some of which are: The Legion of Space; The Moon Children; Darker than You Think; The Power of Blackness; The Legion of Time; Seetee Ship; Manseed; Lifeburst; The Humanoids; The Silicon Dagger; Trapped in Space; Golden Blood; People Machines; The Pandora Effect & many, many more.
(11/25/01)

David
A RebeccasReads.com Reviewer -

Reviewer's Bio:
D. H. BROWN is the author of the critically acclaimed HONOR DUE and the Citizens Warrior Series. The son of missionary parents and with the help his Uncle Sam, he has touched base in more than 40 countries. In 1986 he produced the independent children's film Lessie's Rainbow. During the late 80s and early 90s, he wrote the book Common Sense and delivered the seminars of the same name for the Community Action Network of Seattle (CAN). While doing his early Vietnam recovery work, he counseled Veterans and spoke widely to men's groups in Washington state, and was a founder of The Lodge of the Wolf.

D. H. BROWN has worked as a Logistics and Weapons Specialist in Viet Nam; day laborer; Director of Security; Armored Car Driver; Police Officer; Professional Hunting Guide; Trapper; Dog Sledder; Homesteader; Truck Driver; General Contractor; Minister; Editor; Writer; Speaker; Restaurateur; Movie Producer; Antique Restoration Specialist; Personal Care Worker; PC Repair Specialist; Computer Instructor; Webmaster and Web Designer. "I write about what I know."

He lives deep in the Pacific Northwest rainforest with his wife, author and editor Rebecca and Buddy Dog, working on his next book.
Visit him at: www.dhbrownbooks.com