Customer Reviews

Ecotopia Emerging

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Callenbach's book does not come without flaws, but it was a fun read, with many practical ideas about constructing an ecologically friendly world. Not a work of literature per se, but an imaginative leap into a greener future, based squarely on contemporary problems that effect us all. Perhaps that is what I liked best about this book: Callenbach gives us a good look at things as they already exist. For that reason, I would even hesitate to call it a utopia. A well-grounded and researched work of ecological imagination. Worth your time.

Ecotopia Emerging is a novel of ideas written by Ernest Callenbach. The main idea of this book is, Callenbach uses a setting like our modern day civilized world, with pollutions, contaminations of streams, rivers, and ground waters by industrial toxic wastes. Doubtfully, after several years of this continuous contaminated way of living, he came up with a powerful and dedicated movement to preserve our future generations. In the book, the used Vera Allwen, a legislator as the organizer and the leader of the movement, assisted by a devoted Marissa D'Amico, her mother Laura, who organizes a group of Cancer victims to fight against plants making Carcinogenic chemicals. Finally, Lou Swift, a bright physics student who invented a unique Solar cell that would end the dependence on polluting fossil energy. Never the less, this movement was also joined by thousand of people, mostly commoners, who shared the same vision and values of their natural and traditional environment.
In the first three chapters of Ecotopia Emerging, the movement came up with rules similar to the Ten Commandments and the Bill of Rights called the "No More" list. It reads: No extinction of species, nuclear plants, manufacturing of carcinogenic or mutagenic substances. No adulterating in food, no discrimination of sex, race, age, religion or ethnic group. No private cars, and advertiser controllers, no limited liability corporations, no absentee ownership, no growth in population. Some of the rules were thought to be considered controversial in the public eyes, by some of the movement's members. For example, no private cars and growth in population. However, they stick to their rules and went to work by exposing government and private industries' evil deeds to the public for not making the earth a safer place to dwell. Drastically, the movement was popular due to it appearances on major TVs and in newspapers. In fact, they made their won TV channel for the convenience of their members who were in remote places
Lou was a bright physics student who love dating, having sex, and working on her cell. One day after school, she opened her lab door and discovered that one of her cell had magical ingredients, which was rain and seawater, chlorides, and bromides. She couldn't find the replica of that exact magical cell, after series of experiments. She became frustrated and kicked the legs of the cell. She opened the cell's hut to look for any damage; one of the switches had fallen closed. Then she remembered that when she discovered the original cell, a switch had also fallen closed also, and one of the cells had salt water in it, it creates electrolytic reaction like chlorine, sodium hydroxide, and other compounds. Finally she did the experiment over, and then came up with the results like the original cell. She rushed the news to her father, Roger, he was proud of her. Since Lou wanted the cell to be do-it-yourself, to the public, it scared the hell out of companies who had been spending money on similar research and couldn't find the answer. Many threats from the FBI, oil companies were to Lou and her family.
In the end, after continuous battle with the government and other organizations, the survivalist party finally separated themselves from the union, but it wasn't easy, the only reason why they won and successfully gained their independent country was the U.S military troops that were camped in Nevada was moved to the Middle East, due to immediate needs for troops over there.

Once you have read Callenbach's other famous book, Ecotopia, you're bound to feel frustrated. He holds out a vision of a wonderful country - but the path there involves breaking off from the U.S. and a short war.

Surely the road to heaven doesn't have to be paved with bad intentions; Ecotopia Emerging shows a way. This "prequel" is about the period of formation of Ecotopia, but in this revised version, the new nation manages to find its way without blood being shed, or severing communications with the rest of the United States.

In addition, Ecotopia Emerging is an engaging tale in its own right, particular its telling of the coming of age of the main character, Lou Swift. It would be worth reading even without the message - a rare accomplishment for a utopian novel.

This is one of my favorite books. In contrast to its clunky predecessor _Ecotopia_, this book actually has a plot that, if a wee bit melodramatic, is fun and engaging. It's a bit chilling that the administration running the U.S. that the Ecotopians split off from in this book is actually less insane than the Cheney/Bush/Exxon government we have now. Ecotopia Emerging tells the story of how the Pacific Northwest secedes from the U.S. and establishes a sane lifestyle. This book does go a little far in glorifying the lifestyle it describes but if you can deal with that you'll probably enjoy it.

A fictional account of the events leading up to
secession of the Pacific Northwest from the
United States. The book interweaves the
lives of several people: a young inventor
of a new solar cell who decides to put her
invention in the public domain rather than
market it; a politician who breaks from
establishment politics to form a new ecological
political party; and several grassroots environmental
activists. As their lives progress their
activities lead up to the formation of the new
nation which was the topic of Callenbach's
previous novel, _Ecotopia_. If you enjoyed
that book, this one is a must read as well.
If you haven't read it and want to know what
the fuss is about, I would recommend that
you read _Ecotopia Emerging_ first and then
read _Ecotopia_. An excellent book on several levels.

Can an Ecotopia really exist? Ernest Callenbach does an excellent job of making you believe and even hope that one day an Ecotopia will exist. This book explores the options the world has to reverse the damage that has been created over the many years of our industrial expansion. Not only does Callenbach give alternative life styles, he helps you to understand how they could flourish and expand in society today.
Callenbach creates characters, such as Lou Swift and Vera Allwen, that comprehend the damage being done to society and want to reverse it. These inspiring characters embody what Callenbach is preaching, but they are not the only characters in Ecotopia. There are many obstacles that Callenbach has created for Lou Swift and Vera Allwen and all the supporters of an Ecotopia environment. Such obstacles are characters like Howard Penderton, who is the president of Raussen Chemical Corporation, and Whitey Whitehead, who douses trees with the deadly chemical 2,4,5 T. The friction between Ecotopia supportes and the rest of the country eventually lead to a scandalous decision that the Ecotopians decide to make. Will it lead to war?
Take the time to read this intriguing book on how to save the world. You will find yourself wanting to get to the end to find out if the world will be saved or forever doomed.

Ernest Callenbach has, in good detail, pointed out that there needs to be a way for us to come together and create a better environment. Though that has been shown that we need to be more environmentally conservative, doesn't mean that the book is actually good. Really, i want to take this book, tie it to a stake, and burn it.

There are no, zip, zero chapters in this book. It jumps around from person, to person, to person. Half the time your going to be back tracking just to remember who you are reading about. To me it downgraded the book, making it beyond dull and impossible to read.

The book itself is about or mostly about Vera and Lou. Vera is the leader of a group called the Survivalists and Lou is a biology wiz kid that is in the process of making a new form of solar cell. First off the Survivalist is an environment friendly group that wishes for people to live healthier and energy conservative lives. They suggest things like no private cars, no alterations in food, and no growth in population just to name a few. The group i find is well set and has a right mind. Lou's cells is something she is doing for the good of humanity and people from all over are out to get it. It is a new do-it-yourself process she is tring to accomplish. Though other than somebody breaking into her house once, that's all the excitement there is from the greedy companies.

If you love books about helping the environment kind of books then you can pick this up. Though if you want to read a good book, run away far away. The only bit of entertainment this book has brought me is how far i can throw it across the living room.

This book hits close to home on a lot of issues. Pollution of air, water, and other things has become intolerable. Excessive military spending is hurting the economy and people are generally ignoring the issues because they won't be here when the problems hit. People from this emerging ecotopia start to take action. Lou Swift, among many others, explores the possibility and reality of alternate sources of fuel ranging from solar cells to a hybrid mix of gasoline and alcohol, gasohol. A few cancer patients calling themselves "Cancer Commandos" strategically bomb a nuclear plant to send a message out to the corporations. Vera Allwen and the Survivalist Party offer a new and better tomorrow. One that they take steps towards; even if it means succeeding from the United States. All of the intertwining agendas leads to a book filled with anticipation and absorbing twists and turns.

In Ecotopia Emerging it's important for the United States to find an alternative energy source because oil will soon run out. Instead of trying to find new sources, the U.S. goes to war with other places to fight over their oil. But even if they succeeded that oil will eventually run out as well. There are characters in Ecotopia Emerging who take a stand and think outside the box. They create phenomenal alternative energy sources that could get the whole world "off the grid."
The main alternative energy source spoke of in the book is a solar cell created by Lou Swift. Lou is just a high school student who is very interested in biology. She wanted to create a source of energy which would be inexpensive and could be used by all people. In several months the cell is complete and Lou realizes that it will be very helpful in assisting others with "getting off the grid".
Another energy source used in this book was very interesting and creative. Ralph Burns, who is a farmer, was tired of high gasoline prices. It was becoming more and more expensive to operate his equipment. He comes up with to use a mixture of alcohol to run his machines rather than gasoline. After some research at a local university he put his plan into action along with some friends. The plan worked and now Burns and others who completed this project are now gas free!
Windmills are used in current times but also in this novel. People have often over looked windmills but they are a very adequate energy source. They run off of wind which is abundant all around the world, some place more than others. Windmills are also pollution free which is very environmental friendly.
These are only three other means of energy but with creative minds and research lot of other energy sources can be created as well. All it takes is time and effort. If a seventeen year old could do it why can others? The benefits would be beyond measure and the environment would definitely be cleaner and safer.

Most of the Amazon reviews on this book are curiously from Statesboro Georgia. Perhaps the same individual writing multiple bad reviews.

I would recommend reading Ernest Callenbach's "Ecotopia" before reading "Ecotopia Emerging", as Ecotopia sets the groundwork for this book.