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The Ministry for the Future

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The Ministry for the Future

By: Kim Stanley Robinson
Narrated by: Jennifer Fitzgerald, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Ramon de Ocampo, Gary Bennett, Raphael Corkhill, Barrie Kreinik, Natasha Soudek, Nikki Massoud, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Inés del Castillo, Vikas Adam
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About this listen

Chosen by Barack Obama as one of his favourite reads of 2020

Established in 2025, the purpose of the new organisation was simple: to advocate for the world's future generations and to protect all living creatures, present and future. It soon became known as the Ministry for the Future, and this is its story.

From legendary science-fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson comes a vision of climate change unlike any ever imagined.

Told entirely through fictional eye-witness accounts, The Ministry for the Future is a masterpiece of the imagination, the story of how climate change will affect us all over the decades to come.

Its setting is not a desolate, post-apocalyptic world, but a future that is almost upon us - and in which we might just overcome the extraordinary challenges we face.

It is a novel both immediate and impactful, desperate and hopeful in equal measure, and it is one of the most powerful and original books on climate change ever written.

©2020 Kim Stanley Robinson (P)2020 Hachette Audio UK Science Fiction Fiction Socialism
All stars
Most relevant
A necessary book for our current times. May it inspire the next generation to take the actions described within.

Optimistic Dystopia at its Finest

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I struggled to finish it, very shallow characters, bland story. A compendium of ideas on how to transform capitalism into a communist green Utopia with animals humans and mother Earth in harmony, with a narrative focus in demonising the usual villains: rhe US, the bankers, and the oil companies. Shallow and naive dialogues between key characters, at times portraing them in a childish or immature way.

boring communist utopian manifesto

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I have read news articles which focus on the ideas in this book. That confirms that ideas in this book will become real very soon. Author does a great job of drawing on what's happening around us and dares to build a future that we can relate to.

Future fiction, so close to future fact

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The first chapter grabbed me, then it built from there.

Then, the final third became a real slog

Started out great, then dragged on......and on....

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Interesting premise and global story told from personal perspectives. Story tends to drag when exploring rambling around the town with a narrative that doesn't contribute to the plot nor character development. Narrators are mainly good but the fake Australian accent is horrible and jarring.

Starts strong but loses its way towards the end

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I thought I had my eyes opened and then I read this book.
It really made me see, it scared me, and then it gave me hope. Felt much closer to the skin than New York 2140 or 2312 (both briliant books in their own rights). It'll be really appreciated by all open minds.

Brilliant vision, a must read for Earth's citizens

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A must read if we are going to save h
the world from the catastrophe we are already heading into.

This gives me hope

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Once you understand the crisis of climate change. You can’t I unknow it. This book is ultimately hopeful. Completely engaging and absorbing. Can’t recommend it more highly.

The best book I have read or heard this year

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Taking a climate mass death event as it's starting point, this novel is a sophisticated look at the practical, scientific, political, direct action and social drivers and implications of a climate future
Spoiler alert
We survive

Important contribution to reimagining the future

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Can't stop telling others to read it, highly recommend. Favorite book in a long while. Well researched but also does what fiction should - help us imagine a different, better future

Great book

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