An example of a subgenre of science fiction, Termination Shock is a sci fi take on climate change. Taking place a short time in the future, since countries are not taking action against global warming, a rich Texan decides to take rogue action under the radar of government restrictions. T.R. Schmidt uses his chain restaurant wealth to build a massive underground gun that fires sulfur-filled rockets into the stratosphere, generating sulfur dioxide to deflect the sun’s rays, similar to a large volcano. Known as solar geoengineering, this is intended to buy time and stem rising sea levels, until a solution can be found for reducing carbon in the atmosphere. T.R. tries to enlist the support of sea-level threatened regions, such as Netherlands, Venice, and Singapore. He does not account for climate side effects, and the aggressive attempts of other affected nations to shut him down.

A Stephenson novel requires that you are in for the long haul, coming in at 707 pages. He has done his research, so you will get a detailed background on the gun, as well as many other unrelated subjects. One subplot involves the series of skirmishes between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and the wanderings of a Canadian Sikh named Deep, nicknamed Laks, trying to find his identity and purpose, winding up involved in supporting the Indian Army efforts to maintain and advance the LAC. A practitioner of gatka, a Sikh martial art involving stick fighting, Laks travels to India to reach a higher level of proficiency, and grows to believe his destiny lies with using his skills to help India. After initial success, he suffers terrible injuries, only to be taken in by the Indian Army and used for their new climate insurgency.

Frederika Mathilde Louisa Saskia, queen of the Netherlands, is invited to attend the demonstration of T.R.’s inaugural gun firing. Saskia’s country is dealing with the threat of rising sea levels and stronger storms than have ever been experienced. While their dikes and sea walls are the country’s engineering marvels, they suffer the attack of climate terrorists, a country that would like to see Netherlands get on board with T.R.’s plans. Countries negatively affected by geoengineering (India) pursue covert means to destroy the effort, while countries seeking an upper hand over their adversaries (China) use brute force to bring other nations on board. Smaller coastal nations are treated as pawns in the climate struggles, a new form of Cold War and covert geopolitical battle. The hope of countries coming together for common cause looks impossible, as nations pursue their own interests, and seek to undermine their rivals.

Stephenson shows us a realistic picture of how nations will likely respond to climate initiatives. Geoengineering efforts will likely favor some regions and harm others. Nations will be more than reluctant to set aside self-interest in favor of a global solution. The author takes this a few steps into the future, as conditions worsen, private experimental efforts are tested, and countries and corporations take sides and respond aggressively. Individuals have no control over their lives, and all will be affected, since efforts to reduce sea level rise could lead to droughts in farming regions. While the first half of this book is a slog, it gives necessary background and set up for what follows. We are already seeing and hearing about such independent initiatives, so this story is close to home and highly relevant. Recommended.