Author(s): T. C. BOYLE

Novel

Eight people take part in an ecological experiment in 1990s Arizona. Inspired by real events, The Terranauts places human behaviour under the microscope to spellbinding effectLinda is desperate to be one of the lucky eight chosen to take part in the world's most ambitious ecological experiment. She knows that she can survive for two years under the glass dome of Ecosphere II, set in the Arizona desert. Competition is fierce between the hopefuls, among them smooth-talking PR man Ramsay, and Dawn, a na�ve beauty. Inside the humid microcosm, the terranauts' labours over crops and livestock, their battles with creepy crawlies, their hostilities and sexual dalliances are all observed by tourists who come to gawp, Mission Control's cameras and the watchful eye of the media. As they struggle to control nature, and hunger sets in, the snake in this Eden starts to look unmistakably human.

Welcome to E2 - Ecosphere II, a contained world: a shell of steel and glass sealed from E1 (Earth) in the Arizona desert. Meet Linda Ryu and Dawn Chapman, best friends and competitors for a place in the sphere. Meet cocky Ramsey Roothoorp, guaranteed a place in the team, a competent and logical Terranaut. The novel is told through these three voices - their viewpoints rotating to give us the worldview (in this case, the microscopic view of E2 and Mission Control). The Ecosphere is an experiment to develop a human self-supporting environment, one that will be able to support humankind when the world goes to custard and the earth is uninhabitable. The biodome has been carefully made, with species that will not destroy each other or the environment, with both wild and domestic animals - food sources and nurturers of a balanced ecology, and man-made water and air systems (which ironically need a ton of electrical power from the 'outside' to keep it going). It has all the ecosystems - including rain forest, plains, marine - on a mini scale, cared for a team of eight terranauts - most of whom are leading scientists. Mission Control consists of four power players - the visionary Jeremiah Reed, referred to as G.C. (God the Creator), assisted by chief aide Judy (Judas) and operations manager Dennis (Little Jesus), with the project backed by billionaire Darren Iverson, G.F (God the Financier). If it’s starting to sound a little cult-like, you’re on the right track. There are minions and hopeful wannabes awaiting their turn in the dome. The plan is a closed ecosystem experiment of 100 years - 50 missions of two years duration. We meet our three protagonists when they are in a team of sixteen, bonding and showing their best selves, scientifically, physically and emotionally, in an attempt to win a place in the second team to go under the dome. The first mission came a cropper so the pressure is on to make mission two a success. their mantra “Nothing out, nothing in,” no matter what, and total team dedication. When Dawn is chosen and Linda is left outside, a chasm is opened. How will the friendship survive and what are the true motivations of both? Was Linda sidelined because she’s not the right cultural mix, not a ‘natural beauty’ - because she wouldn’t make such great press? Because this is a world of PR spin (Ramsey’s role: Communications Officer/ Water Systems Manager), all media eyes are on E2, hoping for success but delighting in failure, tourists gawping from the outside. It’s one big fishbowl, and Mission Control is absolutely fixated on power and celebrity. But when you can’t get in except through telecommunications, how much control can be kept? As the first year goes by there are the expected highs and lows, petty jealousies, lack of freedom, absolute physical tiredness (it’s hard work being on constant rations and producing enough food for eight), yet there are euphoric moments when all goes well and even better than expected, when the team bonds, and even moments of relaxation and celebration. When Dawn becomes a catalyst for a division, the risk of whole mission blowing up is heightened, and the cracks begin to show. The second year rolls around and the team draws its lines in the sand with each other as well as with Mission Control. Who can be trusted and how far will they go to keep the faith? Ramsey is compromised by his close relationship with the Mission Control quartet, especially Judy - who will fight tooth and claw to keep the upper hand. As food becomes a constant issue, the Terranauts are pushed to their physical limits, but it’s their psychological health that may undo them, and their individual desires to be top dog and for glory. The humans become the greatest risk to the big experiment. T.C.Boyle creates a soap opera of an ecological experiment - this is satire at its best - tense, funny and often too close to the bone. 

{STELLA}