News and general discussion on KSR; discussion of short stories and novellas
General
Comments
62 responses to “General”
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A Magical Futurism short story from KSR only available in German language. Please find contents and further information at my blog.
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1) By reflecting away 30% of ISR the albedo, which would not exist w/o the atmosphere, makes the earth cooler than it would be without the atmosphere like that reflective panel set on the dash. Remove the atmosphere/GHGs and the earth becomes much like the moon, a 0.1 albedo, 20% more kJ/h, hot^3 on the lit side, cold^3 on the dark. Nikolov, Kramm (U of AK) and UCLA Diviner mission all tacitly agree.
2) the GHG up/down welling, “trapping”/”back” radiating, 100 % efficient, perpetual warming loop requires “extra” energy which it gets from
3) the terrestrial surface radiating that “extra” energy as an ideal, .95 emissivity black body which
4) it cannot do because of the non-radiative heat transfer processes of the contiguous atmospheric molecules.
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 0 RGHE + 0 GHG warming + 0 CAGW.
All science backed up by experiment, the gold standard of classical science.
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Dear Kim,
I have read many of your books, with very high level of sociological, scientifics and search for empowering vision. These experiences are mainly in closed areas ( mars, spaceship, earth..).
Is possible to support/reboost humankind vision, after this today Covid-19 experience, with aiming at spreading humankind more widely in universe (solar system for starting) to guarantee that we could not disappear through one microbe (like prion on Aurora)?
What political/social trend or industrial leader to convict ?
What financial added value to support their decision (iron in comet, deutherium on moon, gold on mercure…)?-
Really appreciate your thought-provoking post — I think many of us are grappling with similar questions post-Covid. Kim’s work has definitely helped expand our collective imagination about where humanity could (and maybe should) go next.
The idea of decentralizing humankind beyond Earth to protect against existential risks is both bold and, strangely, more tangible after what we’ve experienced. You’re right — from Aurora to Red Mars, the underlying theme often asks: how do we design resilient societies, even off-world?
As for political or industrial momentum — it seems like we’re seeing small steps: NASA’s Artemis program, SpaceX’s Mars vision, ESA’s growing interest in lunar missions. But to really shift gears, there needs to be not just innovation, but storytelling that convinces people and policymakers it’s worth it — not for the minerals, but for survival and purpose.
If you’re into diving deeper into arguments around space, society, and values, I found this useful: https://studyhelper.com/argumentative-essay-samples — lots of great examples on how to shape and structure big ideas into impactful messages.
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Truly captivating inquiry and closely aligned with Robinson’s research, where endurance isn’t solely organic but also societal, political, and even religious. COVID-19 showed us how easily our centralized society can break down. Expanding into the solar system would take us a step further in technology and serve as a safeguard for our future. In Robinson’s narratives, this distribution is frequently associated with an extreme transformation of political activism rooted in sustainability, fairness, and enduring existence instead of immediate financial gain. In practical comparisons, the burgeoning enthusiasm for asteroid mining (consider iron-laden comets, lunar deuterium, and valuable metals on Mercury) might offer the financial motivation decision-makers frequently require. Private businesses may initially focus on profit but often evolve to become cultural leaders. If you’re delving into discussions on why extending into the cosmos is not merely a fantasy but an imperative, you might wish to peruse here for more organized concepts. https://studyhelper.com/argumentative-essay-samples Love seeing these big-picture conversations they feel more urgent than ever.
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By reflecting away 30% of the incoming solar energy the albedo, created and maintained by the atmosphere, cools the earth much like that reflective panel behind a car’s windshield.
Remove the atmosphere and the albedo goes with it, i.e. no water vapor, no clouds, no snow and ice, no vegetation, no oceans – the earth becomes a desolate barren rock much like the moon, blazing hot lit side, bitter cold dark.
The terrestrial surface without an atmosphere would receive 30% more kJ/h of solar energy and become warmer.
These observations are supported by lunar studies performed by Nikolov and Kramm (Univ of AK) and data collected by the UCLA Diviner lunar mission.
Radiative Green House Effect theory postulates exactly the opposite incorrectly claiming that a naked earth would become a -430 F ball of ice.
No greenhouse theory means there are no greenhouse gases, no carbon dioxide warming and no man caused climate change or global warming.
Contemplate the consequences if the statements above are correct.
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Thanks to Antifada and KSR for a wonderful interview, and to Kimon for bringing it to me/us.
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Do alternative history authors have a desire to change history? While every author places characters in motion, alternative history writers change events in a timeline.
Does this come from a yearning to be a decision maker? From a drive beyond escapism to being a participant? A quilt for not fulfilling a lost chance?
Let’s look at some possible scenarios. Born in 1947, Stephen King might have watched the TV in 1963 as Jack Ruby killed Oswald. Did the young King think of a cover up, a potential for a change that could have occurred if someone had stepped in to prevent JFK’s assassination? Was that the genesis of his alternative history novel 11/22/23?
When Eric Flint wrote 1632, did the origin arrive from a desire to think of another chance for Germany other than the one chosen through our timeline? Did he foresee a different course had King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden lived longer? Maybe the finances of that era posed other outcomes he saw. Did a different Germany aided by Sweden offer a stability not seen then?
Alan Smale’s world of a Native American league standing up to ancient Rome played with two areas with the series Clash of Eagles. Could a Native league have formed? What if Rome survived into the 1200s? While Smale’s fascination may have come from his aerodynamic skills, he showed the Native strength coming from powerful Thunderbird gliders. But was Smale drawn into the concept of a Native league from discovering the history of Tecumseh’s dream of a Native union? Or the knowledge of the Iroquois Confederation? Was the novel a glimpse of Smale seeing decisions that could have led to another timeline?
Do alternative history writers seek to change history? Correct a wrong? Most writers start with the “What if” of a character development or a question about a plot twist. Science fiction writers like to speculate about how an element of science affects people. But these examples don’t require the author to enter the fictional world as a player. Using existing timeline facts that lead to different decisions makes the writer a participant — does it not?
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Robinson likes EO Wilson’s concept of confining humans to a portion of Earth’s surface so other species have a better chance to survive. I wonder if he knows of Alan Savory’s (controversial) work reclaiming land through cattle grazing management. I wonder what KSR thinks of it.
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KSR recently penned an essay for the Sierra club, referring to the environmental crisis that may very well overwhelm us all and titled: The is no plan B. Well that is no longer the case! And for those who are rightly convinced by hard experience, that mankind is unable to change direction sufficiently to avoid an eco apocalypse, and even human extinction, the only plan B able to do the job is already getting underway at http://www.energon.org.uk
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Nate Hagens is doing some great work that forward thinking KSR readers may find interesting. His program works to provide a synthesis view of energy, economy, ecology, and psychology, to help us understand how to progress as we exceed to the limits to growth. Check out the lecture to get ready for his upcoming free books. https://youtu.be/YUSpsT6Oqrg
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Hi,
I am a french editor and I am looking Kim Stanley Robinson’s literary agent. But I don’t find him/her. If any one knows, could he contact me ?
thank you very much
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Hi all – does anyone know of any speaking engagements by KSR anywhere in California between May 12th and 27th this year? I’m in the area, I’ve never had the chance to see him talk live, and I’m holding out hope that he might have something on.
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hoping to find one….. not for a bothersome reason.
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From Slate “Space isn’t a void”
“In an interview for the book, renowned science fiction author and longtime space watcher Kim Stanley Robinson elegantly summarized the problem: “We don’t need space. We need sustainability in this biosphere. Space is a luxury problem and a luxury opportunity. It’s what we get to explore in some detail, in the centuries after we succeed in inventing permaculture here, if we do.”
Mostly agree with this. But I think it misses the historical evidence that frontiers spur innovation, and the best of that innovation flows back to improve lives in the home country which is sending people to the frontier.
Definitely we need sustainability in our biosphere, and space dev is very costly and risky compared to similar efforts on Earth. But look at the USA frontier’s effect on Europe – monarchies over, all the cars, skyscrapers and modern tech, the internet.
This is a simplistic example, but I’m sure a strong case could be made for frontiers sending back innovations which improve lives in the origin culture.
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I had never heard of Kim Robinson. I was sitting in a coffee shop in a B&N while my wife shopped. I read, but I was not in the mood to book hunt. I love science fiction books, fantasy, and classics. This f*cking book kept catching my eye for some reason. I looked at it about ten times. I could not figure out why and walked to it, picked it up, and began reading it. It was 2312. My wife came over and said, “Funny, the title of this book is the same as our address.” Boom. Mind blown. I bought it immediately. I still have not read it, but it sits on my bookshelf because I live there!
-Chris Kessel
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I kust now heard only 5 minutes of an interview with Mr Robinson where he spoke of the fundamnetal issue of law reform. I am not familiar with his work but learned within that 5 minutes that he is visionary and clearly grounded in his analysis. I teach a course at a law school where I address the necessity of altering our concepts of what is “property”, property law and use, and the extention of natural “personhood” to ecosystems and wildlife (to protect them under law). I would like two things – 1) recommendations for me on his essays, etc., and 2) to contact him for possible contribution to my law course.
Matthew Stanton
Chicago
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Hi Kim,
I love your writing! I just finished Aurora, Shaman and New York 2140. (Reverse order of reading). I am in awe of your writing. Did I say I love your writing? I wish I could articulate my thoughts to you about your characters, stories, research, science and most of all connections to nature. You are brilliant!
I am telling everyone to read your books and will be gifting several. Thanks for your amazing stories.
Barbara -
Hi Kim,
I’m Jordi Bruno, your neigbourgh at Zurichberg when your wife and I were young postdocs at Eawag
I saw you today on a Spanish newspaper and I thought I’ll send you a big hug to both of you
Take care
Jordi
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Good day dear sir(s),
I read your article in Scientific American here:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-will-it-take-for-humans-to-colonize-the-milky-way1/
May I suggest a different approach:
Humans need not migrate themselves to colonize the Milky Way. The could migrate life, in the fom of microbes, engineered to survive in an environment. What if we could place microbes on Venus that can survive its temperature, and reproduce ? And then let nature take over, and evolve these bacteria into something more complex, perhaps altering the atmosphere and creating animal life in the process ? Im not saying that “building” such microbes will be easy, but I certainly believe it to be easier and more feasible than moving ourselves into the universe using spaceship arcs.
I think microbes is the correct way to continue. The reason it is not popular, is because it will take about one billion years for the Venus microbe to evolve into intelligent life, and that is the best case scenario. And none of us is ready to wait that long!
So perhaps it is our vanity that prohibits us from colonizing space ? We want immediate results so that the people involved in the program get the credit while they are alive. I do not think that interstellar travel will work at such small scales.
Thank you for your time to read this, I would be interested in a response at dim DOT tripakis At gmail dot com.
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Fantastic interview in High Country News! As a fellow resident of Davis who has worked for decades to protect the Sierra Nevada, thank you.
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Hi,
My name is Patrick Haney, and I want to send a letter to Kim Stanley Robinson for a school English project about his short story “the Lucky Strike”. Does anyone have his contact information (even email), or is there anyway I can get to it? If you’ve already seen this comment, sorry about that: it didn’t show up so I wrote a new one.
Thanks!
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Hi,
My name is Patrick Haney, and I want to send a letter to Kim Stanley Robinson for a school English project about his short story “the Lucky Strike”. Does anyone have his contact information (even email), or is there anyway I can get to it?
Thanks!
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I wonder what KSR thinks about these private corporations readying to go into space (like Elon Musk’s Space X, etc.). Sorry, I haven’t had time to read all the comments to see if this has already been discussed. My qualm is, will there be any utopians on board as in the Mars Trilogy? I somwhow doubt it!
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However “ligjht” a treatment R’s article in Scientific American, “What Will It Take for Humans to Colonize the Milky Way?” may be, I am distressed that he isn’t writing instead on what it will take for us earthlings to survive on this rapidly-warming planet beyone the end of this century. Similarly for most of the other larg-ish species with whom we share the Earth. The exponential release of methane in the arctic and the exponential rise in temperatures, especially in the Arctic, have collaborated to produce run-away warming– as we have seen in the past (nearly-) three years of unprecedented record global temperature averages. It is happening NOW. Does anyone else think of the flashback scenes in David Bowie’s film, “The Man Who Fell To Earth”– a man in search of a still-habitable planet, as his own has been cooked? Could Robinson’s colonizers survive a multi-generational voyage on an interstellar vessel– seems not worth a thought as we watch our own “spaceship Earth” crashing, ecologically (For those who have not been following the problem of Artctic methane releases, google (1) methane from the melting tundra, (2) the dissociation of methane hydrates underwater- particuylarly on the Siberian shelf, and (3)b, burps” or plumes of pure methane released beneath the seas as the thinning hydrates are no longer strong enough to continue capping off seams of this gas beneath the comtinental shelf. And/or watch a few of the youtube talks by Prof. Guy McPherson on the subject.)
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Dear futurists/sci fi fans
just by chance — a new book on the future of New York City comes out just before Kim’s in October, 2016, called Ecotopia 2121. It’s filled with 100 full-color pics of what 100 Green cities of the future will possibly look like (if they survive the eco-catastrophes of today and go on to become super ecofriendly, that is).
You can get more info, and see some of these illustrations, at:
ecotopia2121.com
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Kim Stanley Robinson will be giving the keynote lecture at the April 15th event sponsored by Columbia’s Temple Hoyne Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture. More information can be found here and here. Free and open to the public. We hope you can make it!
“Power and the Space of the Planet”
Friday, April 15th, 2PM
Wood Auditorium, Avery Hall, Columbia University
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I am very terrible about remembering titles but get a feel for authors. There was a story i read that was an extremely slow downfall of “the grid”. Two children that had educated parents that had moved them into the country because of what they believed to be danger in the cities oncoming. Together they learned gardening and other obvious self sufficientcy living. What struck me about this story was how in the first part of the book, the young girl character said something to effect of no-one noticed the fall because it happend so slowly. Everyone just got used to the power going out every once in a while. But slowly it increased until there was no “grid” ETC. anyone have a clue?
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No, I can’t think of any that fits with that. There’s “Glacier”, with a teenage boy and teacher parents moving around while North America seems to be invaded by cold and glaciers. And there’s “Down and Out in the Year 2000”, a kind of urban post-apocalyptic setting with insecurity and covert weed growers…
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Is there any way to get in touch with Mr. Robinson? Id like to share with him an idea I have for a book about our first contact with a different civilization and see what he thinks. The novel would cover 250 years, but the events that happen in the book are based on real events just changed from the past into the future to give a different perspective.
In some ways I think this is a book that I would like to read and would like to know if KSR is interested in lunch to hear me out. Im in Mountain View area.
Im a fan and got many of KSRs books. Mars Trilogy, Martian, The Years of Salt and Rice (perhaps my 2nd favorite), and 2312 and Shaman. (Aurora is on the way)
I was also at the conference about terraforming Mars at Moffatt Field and talked to the Mr. Robinson then, and when ask to read an excerpt from Green Mars he borrowed my book from the audience. Afterwards we talked about the fate of Hiroko at the end of the Blue Mars book.
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I just finished Gretel Ehrlichs “This Cold Heaven” about her trips to northern Greenland and life among native people there. Climate, landscapes, vegetation and people are all evocative of the KSRs Mars books. The Inuit who (at the time of of writing – late 90s) were still doing subsistence hunting from dog sleds and kayaks trying to stave off a growing market economy, outboard engines and snowmobiles and worried about global warming….Good book! Wonder if KSR read it?
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I ve been a voracious reader of fiction for years and nothing has spoken to me the way your writing has.
I just want to say thank you. Thank you for writing novels that allow me to escape and dream. Thank you for making characters that I care and fear for. Thank you for using your novels as a means to prompt discussions about some of humanitys biggest issues.
I would love nothing more than to buy you a beer. I ll likely never have such a pleasure so I ll hope you ll read this comment one day.
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How does he do his research for the science in his books? They re so well researched, I;d love to know how.
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Please, how can I contact Kim Stanley robinson?
I have been asking for a while now…
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I am reading ‘the years of rice and salt’ after thoroughly enjoying the Mars series and 2312, and I would really benefit from being able to express me gratitude to the great KSR, is there any way to directly reach him? (Email or an old fashioned letter for example?)
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A couple of decades ago I read KSR’s story “A History of the Twentieth Century, with Illustrations”. Much of it consists of a travelogue around Orkney, and in particular the neolithic village of Skara Brae. Ever since I’ve had this desire to visit the place, and now I finally did it.
It is hard to describe why I feel such a strong connection to those neolithic sites, but in a way it was like half-seeing the invention of civilization, a cultural revolution that brought about technological and ideological concepts that we now take for granted.
In any case, I’m not sure this is the proper forum for this, and I apologize if it is not, but I wanted to share this. I’ve put some pictures up (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ml42/tags/orkney/), and a blog post (n Portuguese) http://ml42.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/queen-mary-university-of-london-londres_14.html, so people can have some idea of what I’ve seen and why it affected me this way.
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Hi, my name is Greg. I’ve surfed the web through and couldn’t find any trace of Kim Stanley Robinson, which as I know was published via your agency. The question is about translation his books into Russian and publishing them in Russia, but still I cannot find neither him, nor his lobbyists. If you can help me somehow, please respond via the e-mail.
Sincerely, Greg. -
Hi, my name is Greg. I’ve surfed the web through and couldn’t find any trace of Kim Stanley Robinson. The question is about translation his books into Russian and publishing them in Russia, but still I cannot find neither him, nor his lobbyists. If you can help me somehow, please respond via the e-mail.
Sincerely, Greg. -
Hi, my name is Greg. I’ve surfed the web through and couldn’t find any trace of Kim Stanley Robinson. The question is about translation his books into Russian and publishing them in Russia, but still I cannot find neither him, nor his lobbyists. If you can help me somehow, please respond.
Sincerely, Greg. -
I heard a reviewer on NPR recommend 2312 as their best SF pick for 2012.
How right they were! I just finished the audiobook version and I cannot begin to express how amazing this book is.
The quality of writing, the vocabulary, the science (hard and social), the characters, the “scenery”, the use of Lists and Extracts, the Quantum Walks… all conspire to weave an extraordinary tale.
This must sound a bit like a gushy fanboy, but I am 54 and have been reading SF since grade school. This is some of the best SF ever!
Thank you very much Mr. Robinson!!
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hey everyone,
i wanted to buy the mars trilogy, but in amazon there’s only mass market paperback versions. anyone knows where can i order not a mass market version?
thanks, -
I need to contact Mr. Kim Stanley Robinson. It’s urgent for me and I need help with finding his e-mail address at least, or any other method to contact him.
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Hi,
The Mt Shasta Library is participating in the statewide, California Reads grant program, “Searching for Democracy.” I was looking for potential authors to visit as part of the grant and a friend shared an article written in Shambhala Sun about KSR. The more I read (I am currently reading “Remaking History”) and hear/see (I watched his talk last November in Texas), the more I am excited about his work and would love to see if he would be interested in coming to the Mt Shasta Library this fall. Our library has chosen to focus on Rebecca Solnit’s “A Paradise Built in Hell,” which is an inspiring, indepth, historical look at how people deal with disaster and can find meaning and purpose, as also expressed by Viktor Frankl in “Man’s Search for Meaning,” which she cites in her book.
The intent of this grant is to create meaningful dialog and community using literature, and I would love to bring the large sci fi group to the discussion table, using “2312” as a springboard. (I’d love to hear how “Muir on Shasta” from “Remaking History” came to be.) The library’s email is mtshastalibrary@gmail.com and our phone number is 530.926.2031. Thanks so much!!! Lori-
Lori, thanks, I will relay this and keep you posted.
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Article includes comments from Kim:
Daring Mars Rover Landing Has High Stakes for NASA
by Leonard David, SPACE.com’s Space Insider Columnist
Date: 01 August 2012 Time: 11:44 AM ET
http://www.space.com/16847-mars-rover-curiosity-landing-high-stakes.html
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Howdy
was wondering if you guys have any links on the site to pro mars colonising websites like Mars-One
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A newly-published book on California becoming an independent nation is available on Amazon.com, called “California’s Next Century.”
I saw while researching this book that you had already written on topics about the future welfare of this great state.
I was hoping that you might be interested in this book, and would consider posting a comment about it on the Amazon.com site.
I am more than willing to send you free copies of the book at any time.
For more information on the book visit at: http://www.californiasnextcentury.com/ -
That definitely doesn’t sound like anything by KSR; you might want to try posting at http://whatsthatbook.com/.
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I am trying to track down a story about a geographer in ancient Egypt who met a feathered alien spaceperson, all of which led to the Egyptians’ religious part man part animal gods, and also in it was the pharos of Alexandria. I think it was by KSR. Does anyone know?
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Hi!
J’ai lu les 3 livres mars la rouge, la verte et la bleue, et ils ont littéralement changé ma façon de voir les choses.
Le système politique, basé sur l’éco-économie, est vraiment passionnant.Bien que ces livres soient un peu longs parfois (les parties avec Ann me semblent un peu ennuyeuses), et qu’à d’autres ils ne le soient pas assez (certaines technologies sont peu décrites), la globalité de la trilogie est vraiment géniale.
Kim Stanley est à mes yeux un génie, et j’espère qu’il va poursuivre ses talents d’écrivain, sociologue, économiste et scientifique amateur.
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I just finished the first book of yours I have ever read (not the first you wrote as I understand it): Sixty Days & Counting. WOW! That was a compelling read! I liked how you build up each character slowly and how the story was told from various people’s perspectives from Phil Chase to little Joe. Fantastic! Can’t wait to add more of your books to my personal library right along side David Eddings! Thank you!
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Watching Bill Moyers talk with Jim Hightower, Hightower while discussing the revolution, so to speak, gets into the co-op movement a bit, talking about how widespread and under-reported the movement is. I just re-read Antarctica a week or so ago, and KSR also went into some detail about how that movement is growing. Other than food co-ops, which I’ve belonged to for decades, and credit unions (ditto), I’m hard-pressed to find other co-ops. Would love to find a health plan co-op, for example. I’ve done a little searching for a co-op directory of some sort but with very little luck. Anyone know of such a thing?
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I’ve never read a quartet (including The Martians) twice with the possible exception of The Foundation Series but I’m too old to remember.
I just wanted to thank Dr. Kim for his work. I’m now back to Red Mars for the third time in a year.
It’s the next best thing to being there.
David
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Hello!
Je dois dire que j’ai eu du mal, mais terminer la Trilogie Martienne m’a vraiment fait beaucoup de bien. Une petite pause en passant par d’autres auteurs, mais vivement “Les Martiens”, “Chroniques des Années Noires”, et, malheureusement, bien d’autres sont très mal distribués en Belgique.
Malgré un style parfois soporifique, la richesse de contenu submerge le lecteur féru de sciences humaines, de géographie, de physique, d’astronomie, de génétique, ou encore de biologie.
Impossible bien sûr de tout retenir, de tout assimiler… Et on ne résume pas 15 ans de travail en 2000 pages.
J’ignore dans quelle mesure les Martiens approfondissent les rapprochements avec d’authentiques disciplines scientifiques (la sociologie par exemple), mais ce qui est sûr c’est que lire KSR est une expérience unique pour tout féru de SF… Certes un futur incontournable! Déjà que là… 8)
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