Published: 14 Mar 2026
The Long Earth
- Release date: 2012
- Genre: Science-Fiction
- Themes/Moods: Slow-paced, Adventurous, Mysterious
- Rating: 1/5
Quick storygraph summary:
- Q: Plot- or character-driven? - A: Plot driven
- Q: Strong character development? - A: No
- Q: Loveable characters? - A: Its complicated
- Q: Diverse cast of characters? - A: Yes
- Q: Flaws of characters a main focus? - A: No
A fascinating premise to begin with, namely the existence of many ‘parallel’ Earths that can be ‘stepped’ between (using a rudimentary device powered by a potato), and all the fallout that comes with discovering that there are practically infinitely many Earth’s, subtly different in their own way, stretching out seemingly infinitely far ‘Eastwards’ and ‘Westwards’. What is done with this premise?… Well, not a whole lot. The overarching plot is a few head-hunted characters put together to explore to the ends of the Long Earth, and unfortunately for such a long journey, neither the characters not the surroundings are strong/interesting enough to support this main thread - while the supporting plot threads running alongside (a mass movement/depopulation of the original ‘Datum’ Earth to these new lands akin to a ‘manifest destiny’, how these Long Earth colonies were doing and what remained of the Datum Earth) are also surprisingly “grounded” (at least, in terms of being a sci-fi novel, the actual mass depopulation seems very unrealistic on the surface) and thus not all that interesting either, unfortunately. This is the first in a series, and whatever the reality is, it reads as written that a series was decided on before this book was finished, given the glacial pace, meandering writing and somewhat unsatisfying conclusion (although, by the end of the book, I was glad something happened), it all feels like one big world-building exercise as a launch pad for future books, all to the books’ detriment.
