When we last left Kim Stanley Robinson’s do-gooder D.C. characters in FIFTY DEGREES BELOW, they were practically frozen from a freak ice storm. Now they’re dealing with rising sea levels and the hovering threat of mankind’s extinction as Robinson’s ambitious, message-heavy polisci-fi trilogy comes to an end in SIXTY DAYS AND COUNTING.
Although it’s been more than year since FIFTY’s release, SIXTY again finds the characters instantly comfortable. National Science Foundation employee Frank Vanderwal is under surveillance and fearing for his life – as is his new quasi-girlfriend, pursued by a spook organization. Meanwhile, it’s business as usual for the Quibler family, although Charlie has to give up Mr. Mom status to fulfill his new duty of advising the freshly inaugurated President of the United States on global warming.
And that’s about it. Oh, there’s talk of feral animals and sustainable treehouses. Scenes of kayaking and hiking. Wisdom from Emerson and Thoreau. Even a passage in which Frank drops ecstacy and finds himself saddled with a painful erection. But much of SIXTY is bogged down in conversation that rings redundant, in statistics that wear on the reader.
Despite being timelier than ever, it’s a lackluster end to an otherwise strangely satisfying series. Beginning with FORTY SIGNS OF RAIN, Robinson always has made the action and the weather on equal ground with the politics, but something seems out of balance here. Whereas the first two novels continued the story but seemed very different in perspective and focus, SIXTY doesn’t forge new ground. It simply hits “repeat.” It’s still intelligent – just not invigorating.
However, if you liked the previous novels, you’ll likely want to read SIXTY just to see all the loose ends tie up into a neat little bow. As expected, they do – too optimistically, too idealistic, no perhaps about it – but given that the lack of plot this time around makes us less invested in the cast, the send-off is bittersweet. –Rod Lott
OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS SERIES:
• FIFTY DEGREES BELOW by Kim Stanley Robinson
• FORTY SIGNS OF RAIN by Kim Stanley Robinson
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I couldn’t agree more! I loved the first two books — very eagerly awaited this one. About a third of the way in I couldn’t believe how bored I was!
It should have been only two books. Stretching it out to three was a bad idea.