The Long Earth (The Long Earth, #1) in Apocalypse Whenever

Sep 29, 2012 Sandi rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi, 2012, audiobooks, fantasy

This is a really good example of a great idea that's poorly executed. It really needed more of a plot, better continuity, drama, character development, or something. Just choosing one of those elements would have elevated The Long Earth to something special. As it was, it just kept reminding me of Ozzie's journey on the Silfen roads in Peter F. Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga. At times, it seemed like I was re-reading those books but not enjoying it as much.

I gave this book two stars based on the ...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Christy rated it liked it

Shelves: science-fiction-and-fantasy, 21st-century-british-lit

Twitter review: Pratchett & Baxter's The Long Earth is a cool alternate worlds story about exploration & evolution, but it lacks resolution.

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The premise of this book is great - humanity discovers an ability to step between worlds, each world slightly different from ours. The protagonists go exploring across these worlds, collectively called the Long Earth, to discover what's out there, how far it goes, what the purpose of the Long Earth is, and why the other species (ho Twitter review: Pratchett & Baxter's The Long Earth is a cool alternate worlds story about exploration & evolution, but it lacks resolution.

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The premise of this book is great - humanity discovers an ability to step between worlds, each world slightly different from ours. The protagonists go exploring across these worlds, collectively called the Long Earth, to discover what's out there, how far it goes, what the purpose of the Long Earth is, and why the other species (homo sapiens appears to have only evolved on our version of Earth, but there are other species of varying intelligences out there) are all on the move and apparently headed toward our home Earth.

This exploring is fun, with cool creatures and discussions about evolution, imagination, and personhood; however, many of these ideas never quite feel fully fleshed out, as the book moves quickly from one point to then next, taking our protagonists above and through these worlds as fast as they can to go as far as they can. So we only get a partial answer to the first question (what's out there). In the process, the final question (why the other species are on the move) is also answered, and that answer is fascinating. Here, too, though, it seems like there should be more to it. Exploring the answer to this question could potentially have made up the bulk of the book but it doesn't. It is discovered and then the answer heads off and out of the main narrative as the protagonists go back on the move.

The other two answers (how far does the Long Earth go and what is its purpose) are never answered.

Some reviews speculate that this is intended to be the first book in a series and we'll get more of this story later. I suppose that's a possibility (but it's not one I'm really expecting). I am more inclined to believe that this open-endedness is part of the book's design - a feature, not a bug.

This is a story about apparently infinite possibilities, after all, that asks us as readers to consider how our lives (as individuals and as species) could be different if the situation were slightly different or if we were given a second chance to start over and explore. The ends of this Long Earth and its purpose, therefore, remain to be discovered because there is no one answer but possible answers unfolding in a multiplicity of directions, possible answers that we can explore and find ourselves instead of being handed closure and answers by Pratchett and Baxter.

I like this concept but, even thinking it through this way, I found the ending disappointing. Read this book for the big ideas and the adventure, but don't read it for answers. ...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Tom rated it liked it

Shelves: hard-copy

Yeah, I guess it was OK. It has some fun Pratchett-ish happenings and descriptions early on but that seems to fade away as the story moves along... I suppose as co-writer Baxter took the reins. The curse of a "collaboration." Too bad that the Pratchettness couldn't be maintained throughout.

The premise is that a nutty professor found a way to step between the multiverse versions of earth and posted instructions for how to do that online. So people set off willy-nilly exploring alternate worlds.. ...more

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Jun 30, 2013 Becky rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy

"The Long Earth" is a future wherein humanity discovers there are many parallel Earths that people can "step" to. It really reads like a compilation of short stories that happen to coexist in that universe - the book lacks cohesion.

I've given it 4-stars* for several reasons. First, the premise is extremely interesting - imagine if humanity could escape from the horror we've created on this Earth into new, pristine worlds. Imagine if land and resources were unlimited and we didn't fight over thos ...more

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