The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz

The Terraformers

by Annalee Newitz

Destry's life is dedicated to terraforming Sask-E. As part of the Environmental Rescue Team, she cares for the planet and its burgeoning eco-systems as her parents and their parents did before her.

But the bright, clean future they're building comes under threat when Destry discovers a city full of people that shouldn't exist, hidden inside a massive volcano.

As she uncovers more about their past, Destry begins to question the mission she's devoted her life to and must make a choice that will reverberate through Sask-E's future for generations to come.

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

Share

Book Summary:

Destry is on planet Sask-E with a very specific mission – preventing ecosystems from collapsing. As such, she's here to terraform a world that's similar enough to Earth to pass. At least, that's the hope. There's only one problem – she's come across a clay that shouldn't exist.

Meanwhile, centuries into the future, Misha is working hard to build a transit system on Sask-E. While working, he and his engineer come across a deep dark secret of the planet. This secret could destroy everything they know about the planet.

My Review:

Okay guys, if you're looking for a science fiction novel that will suck you in and refuse to let go, you've got to check out The Terraformers. I'm not just saying that because I loved the environmentalism elements (though there is that). It's everything!

Whoever marketed The Terraformers as a book perfect for Martha Wells fans was spot on. This book is perfection. It's split into two timelines – the past and the far future. Together they help us understand the extraordinary set of circumstances that kick off a mystery of the century (or several, in this case).

Not only is this book a blast to read, but it really makes you stop and think. The heavy focus on the characters makes it feel deeply personal, even while dealing with such a massive scale. I highly recommend it to all readers.

Highlights:
Speculative Fiction
LGBT+
Science Fiction
Environmentalism Themes
Martha Wells Vibes

Trigger Warnings:
Environmental Concerns

Thanks to Tor Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 10 February, 2023: Finished reading
  • 10 February, 2023: Reviewed