The Mad Planet


Read by Roger Melin

(4.1 stars; 209 reviews)

It is 30,000 years following dramatically changed climate conditions on earth which had let massive amounts of carbon dioxide belch from the interior of the planet into the atmosphere. Over the millenia this would have quite devastating effects on life as it had once been known. Much of the human and animal population would not survive the climate change, and indeed those few humans who did survive knew nothing of all which their predecessors had learned and built. Indeed, they knew not even of their existence. On the other hand insects and fungi would flourish over time. (2 hr 45 min)

Chapters

1 - Section 1 42:44 Read by Roger Melin
2 - Section 2 32:56 Read by Roger Melin
3 - Section 3 50:01 Read by Roger Melin
4 - Section 4 40:06 Read by Roger Melin

Reviews

love Leinster but this low on the totem pole


(3 stars)

Exploring what happens to mankind with ecosystem upheaval had promise but how mankind would recede into small pockets of survival isolated etc and somehow all evolve and regress same planet wide is too much of a miss. The adventure part and tool discovery of the future hominid provides some interest but also a little tedious in order to further the thesis. The reading was good quality. This a good bedtime tale cause you can sleep through swatches and pretty much pickup anywhere. I do like that Leinster even in this primitive tale tries to include romance - LOL.

Entomology fudged a bit.


(3.5 stars)

The story itself wasn't bad. [possible spoiler] It kind of reminded me of the JM Auel series watered down, and thrown into the future. Man's regression to begin his climb again, was a bit disconcerting, however, it is plausible. The one detraction I have, is how he missed the fact spiders have 8 eyes. Also, it'd've been interesting (gross) to mention how flies vomit up their stomach onto their food, then suck it back in.

Scary even if impossible


(3 stars)

This book and The Red Dust were conflated and somewhat rewritten as The Forgotten Planet. I think Leinster's idea was that if insects were the size of mammals and birds, humans wouldn't stand a chance against them. Unfortunately, he gets almost all of the science wrong; but then, that's why it's called science fiction. The descriptions of insect behavior are truly hair-raising and scary.


(5 stars)

I loved this book. I'm no biologist, and maybe for that reason the future described here seems altogether plausible, and all the more fun if you can bring yourself to approach it with a mind untainted by modern woes about climate change (and CO2 in particular). The character development was very satisfying, and the environment thrilling.

Amusing book that paints a vivid story


(4.5 stars)

The writing invokes an elaborate picture of 'forrest' life that reminds one of a prehistoric world of giant mushrooms and insects in a constant flurry, as a guy starts to understand, survive and think his way in the wildlife. Very well written and read!

The Mad Planet


(1.5 stars)

This is just a shortened version of The Fogotten Planet (which was very good) . I guess this is his way of showing his ecological conscious of man destroying the earth . I think the original was better (showing man trying to build planets).

interesting thought experiment


(4.5 stars)

Life in a brutal, insect dominated world. One man journeys though places he's never been and comes back to his tribe changed. Great reading. Loved the random scientific names added to describe flora and 'fauna'.


(5 stars)

Sad and also hopeful tale by a very good author. Coupled with Roger Melin's usual excelence in narration I believe it deserving of the famous five stars. Thank you.