Overshoot [Paperback]

Mona Clee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1998

Eighty-year old Moira Burke had expected life to end with nuclear war--simply and quickly. But by 2032, global warming had become the real threat. And a bold new experiment called "The Green Man" had become the only hope. .

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

As global warming, environmental distress and political turmoil signal the catastrophic collapse of society in the mid-21st century, octogenarian Moira Burke and the residents of her California commune become the witnesses to the beginning of a new order of human existence. The author of Branch Point (Ace, 1996) brings the seminal events of the 20th century to life through the eyes of her aging protagonist in a thought-provoking novel that should appeal to New Agers and other fans of ecologically correct sf. Purchase for large collections.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

This is a successful parable of our world, our times, and our future. It quite eloquently assures us that if we are to have a future, we must implement drastic measures as soon as we can possibly manage. Its greatest drawback is that I find Clee's solution to the problem too simplistic to believe. It's inescapably flawed (to my materialist mind) by mysticism. And it's probably not drastic enough. Still, this one's well worth your attention. -- Analog, Tom Easton

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Ace (February 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441005098
• ISBN-13: 978-0441005093
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,199,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book: believable, terrifying, great characters., May 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Overshoot (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book! I was so absorbed in it, I stayed up half the night reading, (the first time I have done that since becoming a parent). The premise is totally believable: the greenhouse effect is happening, and by 2032 the world is a disaster. The story takes place in Berkeley - which has not escaped the heat or other changes. Clee manages to create an 80 year old woman narrator that even very young people will identify with: she is spunky, with a dry, sarcastic sense of humor and totally down to earth. There is no dogma or preachiness or political correctness in this book, and the technological deus ex machina at the end reveals an author with a really complex and nuanced view of technology and nature. Much of the book is just about hard, day to day, real life, perhaps that is why the book is so terrifying. It's a novel of ideas that touches on everything from genetic engineering, to computers, to witchcraft. It woke me up!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Could this really happen?, June 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Overshoot (Paperback)

"Overshoot" is a novel about global warming and other unexpected results of modern society.

What is ahead of us in the 21st Century? This novel gives us one possible scenario. Eighty-year-old Moira Burke shares her experiences, past & present, and her actions as a result of thes experiences. The good thing about this book is that it's easy to follow even though you jump back and forth between the 20th and 21st centuries. A diary-style storyline improves the readability greatly. What's interesting too is the fact that much of the 20th century part of the book is based on real hapennings of the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's of our current century. Now that I have aroused your curiousity, get the book, think about the happenings and guess about how it comes out in the long run.

"Overshoot" is an enjoyable read but it's not a "can't put it down" type of book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Growing old in post-apocalyptic Berkeley, October 14, 2001

By 

Bonnie - See all my reviews

This review is from: Overshoot (Paperback)

Books about communities surviving catastrophic times are usually fascinating and this one is no exception. Overshoot tells the story of a group of senior citizens in the Berkeley hills trying to survive after global warming is about to bring the world to an end. Clee gets her descriptions of the SF Bay Area exactly right as she intersperses her characters' actions in 2032 with flashbacks from one woman's life, relating her encounters with ideas about mythology and (pagan) religion, environmental warnings, and a wealth of historical events covering several decades. Hard sci fi fans might not appreciate the references to synchronicity and Gaia beliefs in Overshoot, but I felt Clee skillfully weaves together aspects of culture and mysticism while still keeping her empirical feet (mostly) on the ground. She has a good ear for communal life, recognizing the importance of group actions. What she does with the birds is a nice touch too. Perhaps Clee's only misstep was in having her main character make a few odd choices, but this is a small quibble about a book that brings a lot of pleasure.