Review of AWE
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Rajnee Varma
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Review of AWE
[Following is a volunteer review of "AWE" by Pierre R. Schwob.]
Author Pierre R. Schwob calls his novel, AWE, a technothriller, and aptly so. Japanese billionaire Makato Yamashita hired Palo Alto Research Institute, PARI, to select a suitable location for his space elevator anchor through climate modeling. The people at PARI were hit by a brutally shocking revelation—climate change is a real threat—global warming will play havoc with life on Earth within the next 5 years. It is a tough task to convince the world of this imminent danger and to take action. An investigative journalist named Roxanne agrees to help them through her articles, research, interviews, and media. But there is the obstacle of fake news media and the people who profit from businesses and industries contributing to carbon emissions. They do not care about climate issues or global warming and would try to stop any preventive measures. The Russian psychopath Galileo Olrik is one such person.
The novel very effectively presents the dangers of climate change and the concern over it. Through climate modeling, the author explains the minute details of the factors that contribute to climate change, greenhouse gases, and the role of methane and carbon dioxide gases in climate change. He explains how human activities, industries, and mining are the main culprits. To control the climate, immediate action is required to curb these emissions, directly impacting the lifestyle, profitable businesses, and industries. This is the reason there is a lobby that propagates fake news and propaganda that global warming is a hoax; that Earth has survived climate changes in the past and it will do so again; that there is no immediate threat.
The author has crafted his characters well—they are realistic and well-developed characters. The relaxed environment in PARI and the cordial relationship between the employees are effectively illustrated. I liked the simplicity and clarity of language that helps understand complex climate modeling, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. It was amazing to learn about fake news, broadcasting, narrowcasting, and slivercasting; the distinction between misinformation and disinformation; and how truth is twisted and manipulated by the media. The virtual reality excursions, discussions about great scientists and their works, and the ongoing research work in PARI fit well into the plot and keep the reader interested.
The main characters, both men and women, are intelligent, devoted experts in their respective fields of work. One of the directors of PARI, Pic de Lucrète, is the central character who keeps all the characters connected. Yamashita stands out due to his benevolence, hospitality, and his contribution to the cause. The personal stories of the characters, especially Pic, Yamashita, and the Chinese mathematician named Lily, are compelling. Olrik as a psychopath appears in the story like the proverbial fly in the pudding. I wish the author had not described his actions in so much detail.
The book is an eye-opener and reveals how the vested interests of some people and the ignorance of the majority prevent any serious action to save the planet. It also suggests possible actions and alternatives that can effectively help control global warming. This is a book worth reading, and I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.
The virtual reality tours show the scary picture of a world on the verge of destruction and the need to take action, thus raising awareness towards climate change. I would strongly recommend the book to people who care for the planet and like meaningful novels based on contemporary themes. This is a book that everyone should read, especially the younger generation, whose actions matter the most. However, some of the mature content is unsuitable for the young, impressionable minds of readers below the age of 18 years. Otherwise, I would have recommended this book to a library, especially a school library.
******
AWE
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Author Pierre R. Schwob calls his novel, AWE, a technothriller, and aptly so. Japanese billionaire Makato Yamashita hired Palo Alto Research Institute, PARI, to select a suitable location for his space elevator anchor through climate modeling. The people at PARI were hit by a brutally shocking revelation—climate change is a real threat—global warming will play havoc with life on Earth within the next 5 years. It is a tough task to convince the world of this imminent danger and to take action. An investigative journalist named Roxanne agrees to help them through her articles, research, interviews, and media. But there is the obstacle of fake news media and the people who profit from businesses and industries contributing to carbon emissions. They do not care about climate issues or global warming and would try to stop any preventive measures. The Russian psychopath Galileo Olrik is one such person.
The novel very effectively presents the dangers of climate change and the concern over it. Through climate modeling, the author explains the minute details of the factors that contribute to climate change, greenhouse gases, and the role of methane and carbon dioxide gases in climate change. He explains how human activities, industries, and mining are the main culprits. To control the climate, immediate action is required to curb these emissions, directly impacting the lifestyle, profitable businesses, and industries. This is the reason there is a lobby that propagates fake news and propaganda that global warming is a hoax; that Earth has survived climate changes in the past and it will do so again; that there is no immediate threat.
The author has crafted his characters well—they are realistic and well-developed characters. The relaxed environment in PARI and the cordial relationship between the employees are effectively illustrated. I liked the simplicity and clarity of language that helps understand complex climate modeling, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. It was amazing to learn about fake news, broadcasting, narrowcasting, and slivercasting; the distinction between misinformation and disinformation; and how truth is twisted and manipulated by the media. The virtual reality excursions, discussions about great scientists and their works, and the ongoing research work in PARI fit well into the plot and keep the reader interested.
The main characters, both men and women, are intelligent, devoted experts in their respective fields of work. One of the directors of PARI, Pic de Lucrète, is the central character who keeps all the characters connected. Yamashita stands out due to his benevolence, hospitality, and his contribution to the cause. The personal stories of the characters, especially Pic, Yamashita, and the Chinese mathematician named Lily, are compelling. Olrik as a psychopath appears in the story like the proverbial fly in the pudding. I wish the author had not described his actions in so much detail.
The book is an eye-opener and reveals how the vested interests of some people and the ignorance of the majority prevent any serious action to save the planet. It also suggests possible actions and alternatives that can effectively help control global warming. This is a book worth reading, and I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.
The virtual reality tours show the scary picture of a world on the verge of destruction and the need to take action, thus raising awareness towards climate change. I would strongly recommend the book to people who care for the planet and like meaningful novels based on contemporary themes. This is a book that everyone should read, especially the younger generation, whose actions matter the most. However, some of the mature content is unsuitable for the young, impressionable minds of readers below the age of 18 years. Otherwise, I would have recommended this book to a library, especially a school library.
******
AWE
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Inside Passage: by Burt Weissbourd
