Customer Reviews

Terra!

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

 

 

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.

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!

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.

Perhaps it's the "Continental" approach of an Italian author, but I found _Terra!_ a rather dense and chaotic read. (I'm able to review this book because it was originally released stateside in softcover in 1985.) This book takes place (mostly) in an Earth shrouded in a nuclear ice age. Earth is starved for energy. As stockpiles dwindle, the powers that be divert the masses with lethal entertainments (sound at all familiar?). Then a shining ray of hope is introduced, by way of a deep space mission's discovery of a virgin world ripe for exploitation. Three missions are launched into space to find and lay claim to this new planet, and the book (supposedly) begins in earnest at this point. I say 'supposedly' because the story is comprised of several different subplots. Furthermore, characters have a tendency to launch into long-winded narratives of their own, further complicating a tangled storyline. Everything does eventually get resolved, but by the end o! f the book, I wasn't entirely sure if it was worth the energy (hah!). BOTTOM LINE: Most of the book is really only two-star material; a four-star ending pulls the rating up to a three.

Stefano Benni's books have brought by a significant change in the tendencies of italian fiction in the last 20 years. He has pubblished many novels, short stories, poems, theatre pieces etc. Sadly, "Terra" is probably his worst book, and this according to many. His best novels present an incredible originality, both in linguistic form (following a tradition spanning from Gadda onwards) and in contents, with humorous pieces but also moral instances of great depth. Benni represents without doubt one of the best italian writers of the last years, and he must be by no means mistaken for a cheap satiric sf-writer. Other (better) novels I can suggest are: "Comici spaventati guerrieri", "La compagnia dei celestini", "Elianto", plus the short stories "Bar Sport" and "L'ultima lacrima".