26. Fifty Degrees Below

by Kim Stanley Robinson – The second in Robinson’s trilogy on abrupt global-climate change, this book is based around the implications of the stall of the Gulf Stream, and with scientific attempts to restart it. The story picks up in the months immediately after Forty Signs of Rain, with all subplots further developed and the characters lives explored in more depth. There’s perhaps too much jargon (with much of the science/math coming across as extraneous and unnecessary to the plot) and Robinson is a bit too fond of some of his verbal “tics” (for example, the main character’s repeated and repeated and repeated use of the expression “Ooooooop, ooooooooooooooop!”), but I’m glad I stuck through it. And, yes, it appears I have read this book, too, but I didn’t remember how it would turn out. And no, I have no idea if I read book 3 in the past, either. (finished 5/14)