Termination ShockTermination Shock
What it's about
In a near future ravaged by climate change, with superstorms, rising seas, heat waves and pandemics, a Texas billionaire has a big idea to reverse global warming: shooting sulfur into the stratosphere. As a Dutch queen, a Sikh Canadian martial-arts expert and others get involved, the plan threatens to spark a global conflict.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's a big, witty technothriller about climate.
You'll love it if you liked
The Deluge
Seveneves
Snow CrashGood to know
It's very long.
By the numbers
- Readers11 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
On our reserve shelf: it's well reviewed, but isn't currently a prize winner, a lifetime bestseller or a book everyone's talking about, so we don't rank it. We check again every month, and it can still turn up in your 50 once you've read most of our ranked books.
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Thought-provoking, Gripping
More by Neal Stephenson
The Diamond Age
Anathem
CryptonomiconSnow CrashIf you like this, read next
The Tainted Cup
A Drop of Corruption
The Will of the Many
Framed in Death
The Martian
Gideon the NinthExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Termination Shock worth reading?
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. Its Must-Read Score is 54.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Termination Shock about?
In a near future ravaged by climate change, with superstorms, rising seas, heat waves and pandemics, a Texas billionaire has a big idea to reverse global warming: shooting sulfur into the stratosphere. As a Dutch queen, a Sikh Canadian martial-arts expert and others get involved, the plan threatens to spark a global conflict.
How long does it take to read Termination Shock?
About 18 hours (720 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Termination Shock?
If you liked it, try The Deluge by Stephen Markley, Seveneves by Neal Stephenson or Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson.