Terraforming sci-fi?

SleepyBob · 09-23-2020, 02:37 PM

Does anyone have any recommendations for books where terraforming a planet/moon is a significant part of the story?

There's the Kim Stanley Robinson "Mars" series, and Dennis Taylor's Bobiverse has some in it, but I'm not sure what else is out there. I did some googling and only came up with some older books that were largely out of print.

Dazrin · 09-23-2020, 03:30 PM

You mentioned them but if you haven't read them, I really enjoyed the Mars series.

I've not encountered any other books that are focused on terraforming; although, I would call Neil Stephenson's Seveneves a terraforming book too (in the most literal sense.)

There are some parts of the Honor Harrington series that deal with this (Grayson) and it looks like parts of the Vorkosigan saga do as well, but they are not stand alone works and the focus is elsewhere (at least for HH.)

I see a couple lists when Googling this that include some other books but I assume you've found those too.

rantanplan · 09-24-2020, 05:49 AM

Well, there is Terra Formars, a manga series about mutated cockroaches on a terraformed mars which was also adapted into an anime series and live action movies.
It's as deep as it sounds but it's fun trash.

Pulpmeister · 09-24-2020, 06:17 AM

Vintage example; The Sands of Mars, Arthur C Clarke, 1951.

Uncle Robin · 09-24-2020, 06:23 AM

Mention of KSR's Mars trilogy (which I loved) reminded me of his Aurora, toward the end of which he devotes a lengthy paragraph to basically saying he got it wrong with Mars, and that terraforming Mars would take millennia, if it were achievable. A very rare thing to read from an author, especially of a work that brought him acclaim.

Pajamaman · 09-24-2020, 08:43 AM

Robert Charles Wilson's Spin includes a non-major but fascinating terraforming element.

pdurrant · 09-24-2020, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SleepyBob

Does anyone have any recommendations for books where terraforming a planet/moon is a significant part of the story?

Perhaps Heinlein's Farmer in the Sky, about a teenaged boy who emigrates with his family to Jupiter's moon Ganymede, which is in the process of being terraformed.

SleepyBob · 09-24-2020, 12:37 PM

I read the Mars series, but enjoyed them less and less as the series progressed and became more about politics than terraforming. I didn't read #4 yet.

jselby · 10-02-2020, 11:08 PM

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky has a terraforming aspect. If I recall correctly it focuses more on evolution than on the process of terraforming a planet. So it may not be exactly what you're looking for. It was an interesting read, though.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...ildren-of-time

There is a sequel to the book (Children of Ruin) which I have not yet read.

darryl · 10-03-2020, 03:30 AM

As I recall John Christopher's old YA Tripod trilogy has a chilling take on terraforming.

philandjan · 10-20-2020, 09:06 AM

I suppose that there's terraforming and terraforming! I enjoyed the concept in KSR's books but regretted not having a degree in chemistry when it came to the nitty-gritty of terraforming. That's where "hard sci-fi" got a bit too hard for me and my eyes glazed over the odd few pages.

Pajamaman · 10-20-2020, 09:53 AM

Heart of the Comet by David Brin and Gregory Benford is about humans colonizing a comet. Very good book too.

WillAdams · 10-21-2020, 08:44 AM

Red Genesis which was the first of "The Next Wave" series:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1654743.Red_Genesis

which criminally isn't available as an ebook, but ought to be --- the entire series is quite good, and it's unfortunate it wasn't continued (if anyone knows of spiritual successors and other topics that should have been dealt with, I'd be glad to know of them).

09-23-2020, 02:37 PM	#1
SleepyBob Evangelist Posts: 420 Karma: 8522810 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Device: Kindle PW3	Terraforming sci-fi? Does anyone have any recommendations for books where terraforming a planet/moon is a significant part of the story? There's the Kim Stanley Robinson "Mars" series, and Dennis Taylor's Bobiverse has some in it, but I'm not sure what else is out there. I did some googling and only came up with some older books that were largely out of print.

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09-23-2020, 03:30 PM	#2
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,631 Karma: 73864785 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	You mentioned them but if you haven't read them, I really enjoyed the Mars series. I've not encountered any other books that are focused on terraforming; although, I would call Neil Stephenson's Seveneves a terraforming book too (in the most literal sense.) There are some parts of the Honor Harrington series that deal with this (Grayson) and it looks like parts of the Vorkosigan saga do as well, but they are not stand alone works and the focus is elsewhere (at least for HH.) I see a couple lists when Googling this that include some other books but I assume you've found those too.

09-24-2020, 05:49 AM	#3
rantanplan Guru Posts: 620 Karma: 8592298 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Wuppertal, Germany Device: Paperwhite (2021), Boox Note Air 2+, Kobo Clara 2E, Tolino Vision 6	Well, there is Terra Formars, a manga series about mutated cockroaches on a terraformed mars which was also adapted into an anime series and live action movies. It's as deep as it sounds but it's fun trash.

09-24-2020, 06:17 AM	#4
Pulpmeister Wizard Posts: 2,502 Karma: 28893796 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle	Vintage example; The Sands of Mars, Arthur C Clarke, 1951.

09-24-2020, 06:23 AM	#5
Uncle Robin Diligent dilettante Posts: 3,417 Karma: 48736498 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: in my mind Device: Kobo Sage; Kobo Libra H2O	Mention of KSR's Mars trilogy (which I loved) reminded me of his Aurora, toward the end of which he devotes a lengthy paragraph to basically saying he got it wrong with Mars, and that terraforming Mars would take millennia, if it were achievable. A very rare thing to read from an author, especially of a work that brought him acclaim.

09-24-2020, 08:43 AM	#6
Pajamaman Wizard Posts: 2,827 Karma: 10700629 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada Device: Onyx Nova	Robert Charles Wilson's Spin includes a non-major but fascinating terraforming element.

09-24-2020, 12:37 PM	#8
SleepyBob Evangelist Posts: 420 Karma: 8522810 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Device: Kindle PW3	I read the Mars series, but enjoyed them less and less as the series progressed and became more about politics than terraforming. I didn't read #4 yet.

10-02-2020, 11:08 PM	#9
jselby Zealot Posts: 103 Karma: 400000 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Arkansas, US Device: Voyage \| Samsug GT4	Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky has a terraforming aspect. If I recall correctly it focuses more on evolution than on the process of terraforming a planet. So it may not be exactly what you're looking for. It was an interesting read, though. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/...ildren-of-time There is a sequel to the book (Children of Ruin) which I have not yet read.

10-03-2020, 03:30 AM	#10
darryl Wizard Posts: 3,108 Karma: 60231510 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Oasis, Huwei Ascend Mate 7	As I recall John Christopher's old YA Tripod trilogy has a chilling take on terraforming.

10-20-2020, 09:06 AM	#11
philandjan Trainee Old Git Posts: 78 Karma: 162 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dégagnac, France Device: Kindle	I suppose that there's terraforming and terraforming! I enjoyed the concept in KSR's books but regretted not having a degree in chemistry when it came to the nitty-gritty of terraforming. That's where "hard sci-fi" got a bit too hard for me and my eyes glazed over the odd few pages.

10-20-2020, 09:53 AM	#12
Pajamaman Wizard Posts: 2,827 Karma: 10700629 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada Device: Onyx Nova	Heart of the Comet by David Brin and Gregory Benford is about humans colonizing a comet. Very good book too.

10-21-2020, 08:44 AM	#13
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,234 Karma: 3350652 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	Red Genesis which was the first of "The Next Wave" series: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1654743.Red_Genesis which criminally isn't available as an ebook, but ought to be --- the entire series is quite good, and it's unfortunate it wasn't continued (if anyone knows of spiritual successors and other topics that should have been dealt with, I'd be glad to know of them).