Customer Reviews

Explorers of the New Century

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the new century, theories abound, the inventiveness of the age giving way to unparalleled problem solving and great social movements, citizens infused with a can-do spirit, the future sparkling on the horizon. Against an expanse of untamed continent, two teams of explorers, one perhaps Scandinavian and the other perhaps British) set off for the AFP, Agreed Farthest Point, one team west, over land and the other charting a course through a dry riverbed, their mules critical to the success of the endeavors. The loss of one of their mules is a blow to Johns' party, who are forced to their overland trek since Tostig's, has co-opted the riverbed route. Small fissures erupt as the westerly journey begins, but Johns and his deputy keep the men in check through discipline.

On the first day of the march, the western group is confronted by miles and miles of scree, their progress slowed by the uncertain surface, the mules unable to maintain secure footing. Tostig, who has left markers in the dry river bed for Johns to follow, notices the second group has splintered off in another direction, suggesting they want to make a contest of it; Tostig informs his men they have a rival for the goal. While John's expedition is larger and manned with volunteers, Tostig's is smaller, all seasoned professionals.

So begins the two-pronged march, ostensibly with the same objective, each party driven as well by a spirit of competition, both in service to the newly popular Theory of Transportation, their mules integral to the ventures. As might be expected, the terrain offers each group serious obstacles, but they are rigidly controlled by military-like hierarchies of leader and trusted troops. Human nature ever unpredictable, a few question the logic of authority, setting in motion an undercurrent of discontent and doubt. For the most part they soldier on, each step closer to the AFP bringing new challenges of adaptation and altered strategies for the same objective. Nothing in this adventure is as promised from the outset, no discernible physical markers or identifiable terrain.

In the stark prose of man against nature, Mills frames this tale with the nobility of intent, yet lays the groundwork for a mind-bending twist that stops the reader cold. Whatever assumptions and preferences for either team, Johns' or Tostig's, the seduction of adventure pales in the light of ideology. Life and death are at stake at every turn in this remarkable novel, but who's life and who's death and who shall decide? As biting as the arctic winds that buffet the travelers, Explorers of the New Century will leave you chilled and disturbed. Luan Gaines/ 2006.

'Explorers of the New Century' seems to be an allegory for a variety of society's mores. Amongst them - chauvinism,racism,and the collective stupidity of blind adherence to regulations. Like Mill's previous book 'The Restraint of Beasts', the story is compelling reading even though there's no obvious direction (he presents a deliberately vague overall picture, while the simple details of day to day life are rendered with humor and crisp detail). Both books are very simply written, which is part of their charm. The cliche "Less is more" fits and works in these instances.

This is my first exposure to Magnus Mills, and I'm impressed. Taut diaologue and evocative descriptions bring you into the world of the explorers. Yet, the author puts their arduous journeys in a larger context -- and leaves the reader to ponder important lessons about man's humanity.

The book veers into the world of magical realism, like Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Except that Mills does it in a spare way, instead of the lush world (and vocabulary) of Marquez. And it's just as effective.

This is a truly memorable book. It will stay with me for a long time.

Two groups of explorers set off toward the Agreed Furthest Point in a desolate wilderness.That's about all the information you start with; it's unclear where they are or even when. Mills slowly unfolds additional details in a series of carefully-planned Big Reveals. The ending misses a couple of minor details, but it's still a ton of fun to read - and it'll only take a couple of hours. It's really more of a novella. Fun way to spend an evening.

Note that some of these reviews give away the big plot twist. You might guess it yourself, but that's certainly more fun than having someone blow it for you before you start.

If you've enjoyed the other books by Magnus Mills, you'll appreciate this strange fable.

Two teams of explorers travel in search of the Agreed Furthest Point. The deathly dark humour and `to-the-point' dialogue is perfect in this tale set in a cold, harsh location.

Be prepared to embark on a new barmy adventure delivered in minimal prose and constant understatement.

The five-star rating is largely an appreciation of a well-controlled leap of imagination, if that makes sense. The story, and characters, are quite economically and expertly handled; descriptions and actions are vivid, yet lightly rendered. While the exercise may seem slight to some, the reader is left with just enough information to want to linger in this barren, rocky landscape, pondering the questions left behind (what, or who, ARE those mules, and what is the blue stuff, anyway?).

Mills' first two books (The Restraint of Beasts and All Quiet on the Orient Express) are among my all time favorites, however, his last two (Three to See the King and The Scheme for Full Employment) were deeply disappointing. This latest brief novel has many of the Mills' hallmarks, such as sparse deadpan prose, black humor, and an almost entirely male cast, but ultimately falls more into the disappointing category.

The story is built around a kind of pastiche of the 1911 "race" to the South Pole between Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and British explorer Robert Scott. Set in what seems to be the same era, the chapters alternate between the efforts of an apparently British team and an apparently Scandinavian team to reach the "AFP" (Agreed Furthest Point from Civilization). The composition of the teams mirrors the real Amundsen/Scott race in that the British is made up of a large group of enthusiastic amateurs and the Scandinavian team is a smaller unit of professionals. Like the real-life expeditions, there is much hardship and battling of the elements, although this expedition is not polar, but faces harsh landscapes, bitter wind, and weeks without sun. Since it's not a polar setting, there aren't the sled-dogs one might expect, but instead, there are mule trains, which are vital to the expeditions.

All of this is fairly straightforward stuff, as are the various interpersonal rivalries and jealousies that erupt between the members of the expeditions. The formal, quasi-military groups are the perfect venue for Mills' spare, deadpan style, which perfectly mirrors the psychological discomfort among the men. However, as one would expect from a Mills novel, disparate episodes slowly congeal into a darker atmosphere. For example, what is this "Theory of Transportation" which is the catalyst for the expeditions? And why are the two teams intent not just on reaching the AFP, but of establishing a trail to be used in the future by others? Anyone whose read any of Mills' books knows that All Is Not As It Seems...

It becomes impossible to discuss the novel's larger themes and ambitions without revealing the book's major twist. However, the twist is not a fresh or surprising one (especially to avid readers of classic science fiction), and anyone who's guessed the twist is likely to be left feeling rather underwhelmed by it all. The Amundsen/Scott framework is carried through to the end, but ultimately, this ends up feeling more like a neat idea than an actual novel. It's not bad, just somewhat slight.

I'm a big Mills fan and loved Restraint of Beasts and Orient Express. This one was tedious and labored. It is parody of classic polar expedition books, but the real books are marvelous and describe real events. Their characters were more interesting and quirky than any of Mills fictional characters in this book and so it seems pointless to attempt to parody them. The whole book comes down to a one line joke and as I finished the book I felt like the office boor had cornered me and recanted an endless story at the office party. I was just glad when it ended. However, I remain a devoted Mills fan and look forward optimistically to any new works.

Ever since his debut novel, The Restraint of Beasts (1998), Mills has been surprising and delighting readers with his short novels. His minimalist prose and terse dialogue complement the bleak settings and set his sometimes dark messages into high relief. Satiric and often wryly humorous, Mills offers social commentary and thoughtful assessments of the human condition.

Here two explorers, Captains Johns (British) and Tostig (Scandinavian), race to see who will become the first man to reach the AFP, or Agreed Furthest Point. Mills creates obvious parallels between this race and the 1911 race for the South Pole between Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who became the first man to reach the South Pole, and the British explorer Robert Falcon Scott, who, with his crew, died in the attempt.

From the outset, the novel is full of anticipation and excitement, as the rival crews head south with their pack mules. Johns, his ten-man crew, and twenty-three mules blaze a trail across the scree; Tostig with four men and ten mules, follows a dry river bed. Alternating the point of view between the two parties, Mills shows their differences--the Johns party is better equipped, with twice as many men and mules, while the Tostig camp is better organized and better disciplined. In the Johns party, petty jealousies arise, men compete for influence, and some men begin to scapegoat others. With Tostig, all the men can perform multiple roles, and they work together for a common goal.

The rush to the AFP is fascinating and exciting in its own right, as readers get caught up in the action and identify with some of the participants, but there is a much bigger story here. More than halfway through the novel, Mills dramatically reveals what is motivating the trip to the AFP (though it cannot be described without spoiling the novel for readers). This revelation introduces a whole new set of parallels and broadens the themes--the arrogance of power, man's inhumanity toward others, and the intolerance of differences--issues which have dominated twentieth century history. Simultaneously, Mills also recognizes and celebrates those moments, rare and often brief, when man succeeds in making emotional commitments to the world at large.

Though some readers may find the parallels to be somewhat didactic, the author is careful not to violate the limits of his plot, and he does not sermonize. Writing with dark humor and irony, Mills is more political than in the past, but the message, incorporated within this fable/fantasy, is powerful, suggesting new ways to consider contemporary history. n Mary Whipple