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New York 2140: A Glimpse into the Future of the Big Apple

Robbie Carter

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Published in New York 2140 Kim Stanley Robinson

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New York City Skyline In 2140, With Lush Greenery And Floating Gardens New York 2140 Kim Stanley Robinson

New York 2140

by Kim Stanley Robinson

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1989 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	788 pages

New York City, a bustling metropolis known for its skyscrapers, iconic landmarks, and vibrant culture, has been a source of fascination for generations. But what will the Big Apple look like in the year 2140? Kim Stanley Robinson, in his thought-provoking novel New York 2140, offers a glimpse into the future of this ever-evolving city.

Set 120 years from the present day, New York 2140 envisions a world that has been dramatically altered by climate change. Rising sea levels have inundated coastal areas, forcing the city to adapt to a new reality. The once-familiar cityscape has been transformed, with floating gardens, rooftop farms, and vertical forests becoming integral parts of the urban landscape.

The novel follows the lives of several characters as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of this transformed world. There's Detective Kevin "Deacon" Walsh, a veteran NYPD officer grappling with the complexities of policing a city that has become both more vulnerable and more resilient. Francie, a young woman from the tenements of Old Brooklyn, struggles to find her place in a society that is increasingly divided along economic lines.

As the characters' stories unfold, Robinson weaves together a complex and nuanced portrait of a city that is both familiar and utterly foreign. The familiar landmarks of New York City are still there, but they have been adapted to meet the demands of a changing climate. The Empire State Building, for example, has been retrofitted with solar panels and wind turbines, and its roof has been transformed into a community garden.

But alongside these familiar landmarks, there are also new structures that reflect the city's evolving character. The High Line, once an abandoned elevated railway, has been transformed into a lush urban park. Floating gardens, suspended above the flooded streets, provide fresh produce for the city's residents. And vertical forests, towering structures covered in vegetation, help to purify the air and provide habitat for wildlife.

Robinson's vision of New York 2140 is not a dystopian nightmare. It is a city that has been forced to adapt to a changing climate, but it is also a city that has found ways to thrive in the face of adversity. The challenges that the city faces are real, but so are the opportunities. And it is up to the people of New York to determine what kind of future they want to create.

New York 2140 is a thought-provoking and ultimately hopeful novel that challenges us to think about the future of our cities and the world we want to live in. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in climate change, urban planning, or the future of human society.

New York 2140

by Kim Stanley Robinson

4.1 out of 5