Ecotopia
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Few novels can survive that kind of thing; yet, somehow, Ecotopia has thrived, having now sold nearly a million copies in nine languages. Were it otherwise, there would be no sense in reissuing the book — nor, indeed, in reviewing it — except perhaps as a cultural artifact. But even today, the novel is assigned reading for college courses in political science and environmental studies.
And it may even be true that some pillars of the modern environmental movement were built upon Ecotopian ideals. As a writer, Abbey was in another league, but his sensibilities were also a world apart. While they aimed to merely throw a wrench in the works of industrial civilization, Callenbach conjured a model society — a City on a Hill, so to speak — where humans could live in balance with nature.
Therein lies both its appeal and its fatal weakness, for while Callenbach dared, at least, to envision human history as something other than a forced march to oblivion, his characters, stuck as they are within the utopian framework, seem like little more than the self-satisfied minions of the newly dawned Aquarius. Callenbach takes pains, in fact, to show us that the good people of Ecotopia are unrestrained in their emotions.
One illustration of this involves a plate of cold eggs in a restaurant. When the indignant recipient of the tepid huevos raises a stink, the resulting row brings the place to a grinding halt as the aggrieved customer and the offended cook square off in front of the other diners.
His lucky narrator enjoys wild romps in forest shrines, anonymous threesomes in tents, even sex with the lovely and obliging nurse who tends to him in the hospital. Native Americans are at once prominent and scarce in Ecotopia; that is, they exist only as part of the idealized, pre-Columbian past, as noble savages. As such, Ecotopians are free to play Indian: The formal reports lay out how the society runs -- this is the more important stuff in the novel. The journals cover Weston's inner conflict -- he is very skeptical of the whole thing, but the lumberjack girl with the "animal" sexuality, well, she breaks that down a bit.
These chapters sometimes devolve into puerile hippie sex fantasy. This isn't just an ecological utopia, but the Full Berkeley -- free love, ganjaburning on the high-speed mag-lev train from Tahoe to SF suck it, Bobby Jindal! Much of what's here we take for granted today, at least in San Francisco -- sorted recycling bins check , biodegradable plastics check , round-the-bay electric rail link check , female political leadership Boxer -- check! What's so incredible is that I last taught this book maybe in -- and much, much more of reality has aligned with Callenbach's vision since.
Ecotopia is, for environmentalists, what Star Trek has been to physicists and astronomers and astronauts since just a few years earlier -- the map that points the way to the next frontier.
donnsboatshop.com: Ecotopia: A Novel (): Ernest Callenbach: Books
Read it, and read Obama's recent joint address to Congress. Start at "it begins with energy" on page 3 of the NYT transcript, linked below: Apr 17, ryan rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: The philosophies are wildly ecentric, and idealistic, but often very inspiring and uplifting. Jan 04, Fil rated it did not like it Shelves: Demeaning to men and women alike, very dated with racist and sexist overtones, seemed written by a pre-pubescent idiot with zero understanding of basic human emotions and motivations — with very little political and economic acumen to boot.
This fool equates superficial sex to deep feelings, likens it to true love and thinks a strong, powerful woman would 'tolerate' being raped and is glib about it , disgusting! Almost everything here is a stereotype of some kind 70s st Terrible, just terrible. Almost everything here is a stereotype of some kind 70s style , coated with a thin gloss of what passes as innovative and progressive thought. View all 4 comments. May 14, Terence rated it liked it Recommends it for: I went into Ecotopia not expecting much in the way of serious character studies or deeds of derring-do.
I was pleasantly surprised, however, at how well the novel read. Strictly speaking, Ecotopia is neither a utopia nor a dystopia. And there are some aspects that may be problematic to the reader: I will admit that the author is preaching to the choir in my case - given the choice, I would happily emigrate. Apr 04, Wes rated it liked it. The story as told by a reporter from the remaining United States visiting Ecotopia -- the seceded northwest bio-region of Northern California, Oregon, and Washington -- after 20 years of isolationism. His objective skepticism is quickly eroded by this green Utopian playground in which respect for living things is the society's primary value.
It is like Callenbach paved the way for our current silly belief in green capitalism. We can do everything we do now in more or les The story as told by a reporter from the remaining United States visiting Ecotopia -- the seceded northwest bio-region of Northern California, Oregon, and Washington -- after 20 years of isolationism.
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We can do everything we do now in more or less the same way, but we can do it differently and sustainably and green. And yet, the longer its been since I've read this, the more it works on me. Things I thought were silly in my youth seem to make more sense as time goes by.
Revisiting the 1970s eco-cult classic that gripped a nation
I think about this book frequently. And since books that present our almost certainly bleak future as having the possibility of positive chance are rare, it is worth reading. For a very different, though hardly as positive viewpoint about future direction, check out Derrick Jensen. Or better yet, for a ecologically-aware, anarchist-friendly, and compassionate future vision against all the odds of militaristic, industrial society, read The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk. Dec 02, Mike the Paladin rated it did not like it Shelves: It would be very easy to make fun of this book, but I shall do my best to refrain from that.
It would be like the proverbial shooting of fish in a barrel. Also, I'm sure that this book means a lot to many well meaning people. I suppose the book for me might be summed up in 3 words, "oh come on. This s read is a hippie Utopian vision. I'm sorry, but it's so full of nonsense well meaning and ideological nonsense, but nonsense nonetheless as to be unintentionally humorous at times. The writer's use of language speaks to the era the common use of the great "F" word to be daring for example.
There are other words for the act of physical intimacy, but I think he thought he was going for shocking and "anti-establishment". This was written at arguably the beginning of the modern eco movement and shows it's "colors" throughout. Unfortunately, aside from the political agenda with the subtlety of assault and battery, the story such as it is isn't that interesting or told all that well. You get a litany of "how it would work if we'd all just get with program" inside a coating of predictable prose. I know that a lot of people believe in this radical view of ecology that is still out there and making it's way steadily into law.
Oddly if you'll take a look at the attempt at a story here you'll see that even here told by someone who believes it A boy is not a rat, a dog or a fish. That very approach is self defeating as humans must take the responsibility for the ecology that is set up in this book as a sort of object of worship. This approach just as much as unrestrained strip mining and clear cutting lacks balance and in the end is believe it or not a failing set of ideas.
So, poor story, only fair story telling wrapped around a creamy center of political claptrap. View all 56 comments. Feb 15, Tim rated it it was amazing Shelves: What's not to like? Five stars for imagination, given that this was written back in the 70s. This is a flawed masterpiece, an original vision that sticks to the inside of your head OK my head for decades.
It contains both deep and shallow futurism, gets dry for significant intervals, and attempts to tackle many unexpected and controversial subjects head on. At any rate, what is important here is how a green society would work - Callenbach could have placed it on another planet for all the difference it would make you know, like Pandora in Avatar. Very well written, very fantastic, and very beautiful. Perhaps not surprisingly, discussion on many of these topics is still raging in the Western world, and had barely started among the Nouveau Riche countries; there's much to wait until such discussion can even begin in places such as Somalia, North Korea, etc. When you click on a Sponsored Product ad, you will be taken to an Amazon detail page where you can learn more about the product and purchase it.
Callenbach shows us an alternative to the corporate- and profit-dominated world we live in now. Having read the book, I can't hear pundits talk about rising GDP and the need to increase our standard of living without wondering wh Northern California, Oregon, and Washington secede from the US. Having read the book, I can't hear pundits talk about rising GDP and the need to increase our standard of living without wondering whether all economic hocus-pocus is hooey.
And that's a good thing. That said, other reviewers have rightly said that the book is sexist, racist, and naive.
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I imagine it is, and I hate to think what influence it may have had on my adolescent mind back then. On the other hand, millions of us boomers survived the animated Peter Pan only to shudder in horror when showing it to our children. This is a jewel. A good friend offered me a worn out paperback, that was probably read by many people. Mine was already read by others. It is good to get a hold of utopian scenarios. This stories makes this utopia feel real. And why shouldn't we dream of a better world? It is interesting the way it was constructed. An outsider visits Ecotopia for the first time since it was created.
A visitor from the USA. Ecotopia is a new country, its territorry consists of Northen California, Oregon and Washi This is a jewel. Ecotopia is a new country, its territorry consists of Northen California, Oregon and Washington. He describes what he sees, as a reporter, and with some degree of skepticism, because Ecotopia has had its borders closed and almost not contact with its neighbour. What he sees is a eco-friendly nation, that was able to change habits, and create a new society.
The society is described with detail, the way things are connected, resources are used, technology is thought of, transportation, food, every aspect of civilization. What made me, at the time I read it, sensible, is how much the author invested in showing that people actually changed. In maybe two generations. That was probably the aspect that I did not think, at the time, was realistic. But maybe I got it wrong. Maybe people change, and quickly, if society changes around.
Aug 27, Headphonerecord rated it liked it Recommends it for: The great thing about this book is it thinks through all your West Coast Succession dreams. There is a lot of fake future trivia you can relate to and all the Eco living standards are wonderful to think about.
I rate it with a 3 because it is no literary masterpiece but I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever dreamed of West coast succession. Aug 10, Citra rated it it was amazing Shelves: It is interesting to read a story of how people life in harmony with nature from a different view from what we have now. Sep 16, Monica rated it really liked it. If you have read as I have Charles Eisenstein's "The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible"; If you are tired of living in "the world of Separation" and long for living in "a world of Reunion"; if you wonder what that world might actually look and feel like - have a look at one man's vision of it by reading "Ecotopia.
If you are looking for excellent and artistic word smithing in a work of fiction, stop looking here: Try to read on and ignore the flaws because the landscape of a possible World of Reunion that he lays out is magnificent in many ways. The scheme of the novel is quite juvenile but workable: Part of the novel is his private journal entries; the other parts his published columns. In this way, we get his internal private dialogue about what he experiences as well as his external public reports.
This is the old archetype of The Stranger exploring and explaining The New World, struggling for objectivity while not really having any at first. I was amused that what started the Ecotopian succession from the United States was yet another desperate financial meltdown. That certainly makes this work of fiction extremely relevant to the uncertain world we live in today with "too big to fail" financial institutions, billionaires using "Citizens United" to buy our government and even running for office! I've seen reviews on this site that excoriated this novel due to the "free" sex and the "free" marijuana featured as a part of Ecotopian culture, and I'd like to comment on these things as well but not to excoriate them.
As human beings we are sexual creatures by nature. The author answers a question: The author does his best to answer this question, and I enjoyed reading about it and thinking my own thoughts about the nature of human sexuality, and admiring the author's chutzpah for trying this one on. As for "free" marijuana, we are in the midst of a world where many if not most people I know have tried marijuana, many people I know still love to enjoy it whether or not it is 'legal' to do so, and where many states have begun acknowledging that marijuana smoking is often far less dangerous to society or to individuals than, say, consuming alcohol, by easing laws and restrictions despite continuing federal opposition.
I do not consider it impossible even in our society that one day it might be possible for people to grow marijuana in window boxes and smoke it or bake it into brownies or other things if they so please as described in this novel. The so-called "War on Drugs" is a complete failure of policy and waste of treasure whose chief success is that it has served to wrongfully poor public treasure into the pockets of villains to the greater expense and sorrow of our society. Some good people fear that total legalization will encourage having "addicts" among us, but addicts exist whether or not forbidding laws exist, and it is easier, far less expensive to society, and far more compassionate and scientifically rational to treat addiction in the very small percentage of our population where addition becomes a problem as the medical issue it actually is rather than as a crime.
Creating even a pale version of Ecotopia in our real world of separation is my personal dream; it is a difficult work but not to take this path is a certain ride on a downward spiral into a destroyed ecosystem filled with bitterly embattled survivors trying to secure what's left for themselves alone. I wanted to read Ernest Callenbach 's Ecotopia since early It took me almost four years to get there. I had heard about it that it was introducing an utopian society, that it was exploring near-scientific explanations to how a sustainable society can exist, and that it practiced what it preached the book was printed on-demand, sustained by the demand of interested consumers rather than publishing economics.
Having finally read it, I am impressed in the way that I was after having read N I wanted to read Ernest Callenbach 's Ecotopia since early Having finally read it, I am impressed in the way that I was after having read Neal Stephenson 's Snow Crash , that is, not about the validity of the ideas, but about how this book seems prescient in listing important topics for the s world. Now about the actual book. Ecotopia is written around the premise that a near-socialist society, in which capitalist endeavors are tolerated but everything else is communal, is sustainable and desirable.
As such, this book can be easily mistaken as a more recent version of the Communist Manifesto, Mao's decrees, and similar proletcultist material. The story is quite coarse. To implement the premise, Callenbach sets William Weston the journalist with Wild West-sound-alike, sic! Will, who is an honest, generally likable journalist, manages to learn very quickly the ins and outs of the Ecotopian society, to which he becomes smitted over the first week-end.
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He also gets laid very often, perhaps to sweeten the pill. The ending includes the only real cliff-hanger in the story line, so I will avoid spoiling it here. The characters are not much to talk about, and in resistance speak they would be easily called megaphones for the main message of "Ecotopia is great, long live the Great Leader of" There's also quite a lot on racial and gender segregation, enough to fuel a raging talk about racism and feminism, and how Callenbach is this and that.
People are critical of government at all levels. Politics involves all citizens. Public drunkenness is no longer a crime, though violent offenses are punished more harshly than in the United States. Heroin and other hard drugs are legal, but unfortunately only as a government monopoly. Even in areas in which we would expect an onerous legal burden, Ecotopia offers a surprising amount of freedom.
The company making it then ordinarily has to stop production, or finds it possible to sell only in specialized stores.
This is not in spite, but because , of their ecological concerns. Despite offering a variety of fascinating and frightening possibilities for social change, the reader is bound to find the narrative of Ecotopia a bit flat and tensionless. This includes even confirmed classics such as Utopia , that gave the genre its name in the 16th century. Stories, like history, are about human action, and the locus of all action is the individual.
It is high time that their influence, which has already done harm enough, should be overthrown. Ecotopia is the most plausible utopia I have encountered, because it does not seek the perfection of humans or of nature. Ecotopian novels … exude a curious feeling of security, almost like 19th-century English novels: Perhaps we are always bound to dream of fictional worlds as an antidote to our own. Perhaps this is why, to a society rent by social, political, and economic disturbances, nothing could be more romantic than an evenly rotating economy.
Interestingly, Quebec seceded from Canada in the early s, and Weston hints that parts of the Soviet Union will soon break away. At the time, the first prediction must have seemed like a much safer bet than the second, though subsequent history proved the opposite to be the case.