Forty Signs of Rain (Science in the Capital Trilogy, Book 1)

In the novel Forty Signs of Rain Kim Stanley Robinson deliberately tries to de-stigmatize science by claiming that it is not boring. In class we discussed the excerpt found on page 89 that begins with “It could be said that science is boring…”. I personally have always found science to be boring and uninteresting because I could never relate to it. Although I am still not very interested with science after reading this novel, I can appreciate and understand the work that scientists do and what their jobs entail. Robinson succeeds in overcoming the generalizations made about science and shows the truth of what goes on behind close doors.Robinson provides a realistic account of what a scientists’ everyday life is like. Often times people are unable to relate to science because they feel that scientists are above them or of a higher status, Robinson shows the reader that scientists live normal lives and are faced with problems like any other person. Specifically, Robinson makes the connection that like any worker in America, scientists also work hard in order to try and move up in their field. For example, Anna Quibler and her husband Charlie are a prime example of this. Not only does she work as a scientist, she is also a mother. Robinson emphasizes how Anna has to balance her career with her responsibilities at home to show how scientists have the same struggles as other people do. Charlie is a science advisor for a senator and he writes science legislation. In addition, he is a stay at home father. Robinson includes this family dynamic into the novel to disprove the reader’s generalizations about scientists. He shows how scientists can be both male and female and can have jobs that involve work outside the laboratory.Therefore, I believe that Robinson is more successful in showing the reality of science than he is showing how science is not boring. After reading this novel, I have more respect for scientists. The characters in this novel show that to be a scientist you need great determination and patience. Moreover, scientists have to work as a team if they want to make any real progress. This can be applied to the larger concept of how we are dealing with climate change as a whole society. Yes it is true that we cannot fix this problem over night. However, we should adopt the mindset of scientists in that if we continue to work together as a team and take the necessary steps we will be able to make a difference.

No one can write this stuff like Robinson. Forty Signs of Rain begins a new trilogy about abrupt climate change. In the book (as in the real world) this is not some vague worry for the future, but something that is going on all around us right now, just waiting for a trigger event before things get really bad. In Forty Signs of Rain, the characters are real people living real lives. They respond to political, environmental, and domestic pressures that are identical to those we all witness every day, so Robinson's plot is very real and tangible throughout.Don't expect Hollywood disaster themes in this book, climate change isn't working that way. Rather, the characters get on with their lives and struggles while subtle hints of what's to come appear here and there. Throughout the book, the science is rock solid. The only criticism I have is that this is the first Robinson I have read in which the opening book clearly requires a sequel. Forty Signs of Rain does not stand alone unless your expectations are very low. Normally I resent this from authors and publishers, but Robinson is too good at what he writes; I will give him a break.

After not only hearing our teacher’s adoration about Kim Stanley Robinson but also the raving of a friend I was sure that I was in for a treat while reading Forty Signs of Rain. While I believe that Forty Signs of Rain is a very well written, researched, and developed novel; it is also extremely dry up until the very end and felt much more like set-up than the beginning of a trilogy should. This has been the most realistic novel we have read so far this semester. Not only was the characterization of the main characters well developed but the science was clear enough that most of the discussions were not lost on me. I was able to follow along without periodic stops to re-read science heavy sections. Robinson does an excellent job of maintaining an extremely realistic look at climate change all while keeping the character interactions, one of the only things the book has going for it, fresh long enough for me to make it through all four hundred pages of realistic fiction.My main problem with Forty Signs of Rain is how disappointed I was with the plot itself. The realism that Robinson uses while examining the minutia of government and science work detracts from the actual fiction that should be exhibited in a type of book such as this. The characters were all interesting and getting to examine the National Science Foundation through various eyes was the highlight of the novel for me. Getting an insight on why it takes such a long time for scientists and politicians to take any real notice of climate change felt extremely realistic and related back to everything we discuss in class. Reading the discussions between NSF employees and exploring how the panels and funding functioned was fascinating as that is rarely the side of science that is explored in fiction. While I found these conversations and science addled debating interesting, it was not what I wanted to read or expected from a work of popular fiction. My problem with the novel was that I never felt like I was reading an entertaining story, merely the workings of actual scientists. While that may be a compliment to Robinson’s impressive realism, I would have rather read those discussions in an internet article instead of a four hundred page slowly progressing novel. While other readers have pointed out the elevator scene, office break in, and ending climate issues as exciting high points, I see them as what the novel should have been delivering all along. While I appreciated the nuanced and varied opinions of the scientists, which lead me to a new understanding on why barely anything is currently being done for global warming, I do not believe a novel like this was the best way for Robinson to get his points across.

Good writing, hottest possible topic. Characters are both believable and likeable. Showing how research and development is funded and highlighting the importance of the NSF - excellent!

It will be interesting to see how much of the final part of this story become a prophecy for the future.Science vs. politics. All so true.

Another excellent read from KSR mixing characters you get to know well, with science that is easily understood.

I have read most of Kim Stanley Robinson's books since coming upon the Orange County books and enjoyed them greatly. I'm sorry to say that this was a disappointment. The quality of writing remains excellent, but as the characters and plot develop, you realise that you are 200 odd pages into the book, with ~100 remaining, and little has happened. I presume that this is the first in a series of books and the story will develop in "50 Degrees Below" out later this year. However, this would be like publishing the masterpiece "Red Mars" in thirds rather than one volume. Has this been a Publisher's decision rather than author?A good first book in a series but standing alone is a little disappointing.

When you buy Robinson you expect beautiful description, genuine motivation and left wing ideology. Forty Signs of Rain does not disappoint - a story of big science and big politics in the face of ecological disaster; spiced up with cleverly observed moments of individual lives: dinner parties, childcare, meetings, coffee breaks. Robinson can really create those "yes, that's what it's like!" moments and then move on to surrealistic images of tigers roaming the backgardens of Washington.Robinson continues to mature as a writer - he is more free with his brand of gentle humour, more relaxed and realistic with the romantic scenes. Above all, he disciplines his descriptions of nature and landscape - focusing on the telling detail rather than the pages and pages of description which occaisionally marred the Mars trilogy.It's not packed with action. There are no laser guns, spaceships or aliens. It is thoughtful, intellectual, witty, moving, vivid, defiantly high brow and engagingly 'new age'.