Terra [Paperback]

Stefano Benni (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Trying to escape desert heat, a mouse crawls inside a nuclear command center and falls onto the doomsday button. ``And this is how W.W. III started. Three more followed.'' Thus opens this satire by an Italian journalist/humorist. The time is 2157. The earth is now sunless and people live underground. Report of a planet that is everything ours once was provokes an exploration ship from the Sinoeuropean Federation, tailed by ones from the Aramerussian and Samurai military empires. Meanwhile, an incredible energy source is detected beneath the iced-over ruins of the Inca Empire. With all stops pulledincluding the kitchen sink'sBenni ties together these events while ribbing our civilization and its cultural trends. Sometimes silly and precious, often charming like minor Stanislaw Lem, Terra! is never less than amusing, if not quite profound. Jeff Clark, SUNY Coll. at Old Westbury Lib.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English, Italian (translation)

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Pantheon; 1st Edition. edition (September 12, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394740645
• ISBN-13: 978-0394740645
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #913,657 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:

4.0 out of 5 stars very good political satire, September 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Terra! (Hardcover)

I found the book very good, although I read it in the original language, so I don't know how it is in translation. The only problem for very young readers is that this is a book rooted in a period when the (then) two superpowers faced each other with nuclear weapons. It reflects the fear of a nuclear catastrophe (which is still with us, however) and the atmosphere of the cold war. Even the imaginary military alliances seemed original when the book came out, because at that time it was very difficult to imagine something different from the West/East division. If you look for a 'cheap' science fiction book, this is not for you. However, if you look for intelligent and funny political satire with tender moments, this is definitely an excellent book. I am very surprised that _Terra!_ is the only book of Stefano Benni's to be available in English translation.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sci-fi Comedy you'll never forget., December 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Terra! (Hardcover)

I read this book when I was fifteen back in the 80's. I can still remember many of the vivid images and characters from this amazingly funny and wildly eccentric book. Dark technodromes, talking alligators, and video games that kill if you lose. And a terrific story to boot. I can't wait for the re-release!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impossible, October 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Terra! (Hardcover)

If you liked D. Adams trilogy 'Don't panic', you should read this book. The author has extraordinary creativity and sense of humour. He gives us a scenario where after 3 nuclear wars the Earth enters another Ice Age and energy is the big problem for the people. And as they search for a solution, you get to know all the strange beings in the Galaxy. If you like science fiction that is also very funny, don't miss this book. It is about time people decided to translate it into English.