This Other Eden

Ben Elton

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In a future world plagued by environmental catastrophes, Ben Elton's 'This Other Eden' follows the story of Plastic Tolstoy, a rich businessman marketing Claustrospheres as a solution to survive the Earth's degradation. The book humorously delves into the extreme consequences of environmental degradation, showcasing a wide array of characters including a vain actor, environmentalists, eco-terrorists, and an FBI agent. Elton cleverly uses satire to critique current trends, focusing on themes of pollution, marketing, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding technology like Claustrospheres.

Characters:

The characters are richly crafted, showcasing distinct personalities and flaws that reflect the themes of the novel, highlighting societal absurdities related to fame and environmentalism.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is a blend of humor and satire, marked by directness and sharp commentary on contemporary issues, creating a lively yet thought-provoking reading experience.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a near-future world facing ecological decay, driven by corporate greed and consumerism. It follows multiple characters navigating the implications of a marketed solution for survival.

Setting:

The setting is a dystopian future profoundly affected by environmental crisis, with the Claustrosphere symbolizing humanity's attempt to evade reality.

Pacing:

Pacing fluctuates, with an initial slow build that evolves into a more engaging and fast-paced narrative, especially in the latter parts of the book.

The desperate man knows it will be easier to detach the limb from the body than the rat from the limb. The diner is stronger than the dinner, for the diner has no drug to numb its pain. The rat’s head...

Notes:

This Other Eden is one of Ben Elton's early environmental novels.

The story takes place in the mid-21st century when Earth is on the verge of becoming uninhabitable due to pollution.

Plastic Tolstoy, a media mogul, markets a product called the Claustrosphere, a self-sustaining dome that people can live in when the planet suffers catastrophic environmental damage.

The novel explores human attitudes towards the environment, the economic system, and the advertising industry in a satirical way.

Elton’s satire is described as aggressive and unsubtle, often interrupting the narrative with rants.

The book features an array of characters, including a struggling writer, an FBI agent, a vain movie star, and an environmental activist.

The second half of the book is noted to be much more engaging than the first.

Elton's works often highlight that humanity can be both brilliant and terrible.

The use of humor is a key element, making the serious themes of environmental collapse more accessible.

The narrative is filled with absurd elements, such as the cloning of Hitler for a trial and inflatable consumer products.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of environmental disaster, satire of sensitive subjects related to fame and capitalism, and some instances of violence.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance in the book, especially between characters involved in the environmental movement and the entertainment industry.

From The Publisher:

SMALL, WELL APPOINTED FUTURE. SEMI DETACHED.

If the end of the world is nigh, then surely it's only sensible to make alternative arrangements. Certainly the Earth has its points, but what most people need is something smaller and more manageable. Of course there are those who say that's planetary treason, but who cares what the weirdos and terrorists think? Not Nathan. All he cares is that his movie gets made and that there's somebody left to see it.

In marketing terms the end of the world will be very big. Anyone trying to save it should remember that.

Ratings (2)

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1 comment(s)

PurpleAmythest

Loved It

1 month

I found this to be a quite bizarre, science fiction, sort of opposite to a utopia type of fantasy novel. Its set in a semi-nightmareish future version of Earth. There are some moral points made, or certainly hinted at, via the sub-plots but it didn't feel especially preachy.

This isn't a book for kids, as there is some sexual language and other strong language contained in it. You need to have a good imagination to be able to picture some of it and I did get a bit lost in the details about certain characters but overall I found it quite engrossing and entertaining.

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