A Friend of the Earth

by T.C. Boyle
A Friend of the Earth cover
Good Books rating 3.83
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
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  • ID: 10177
  • Added: 2026-01-16
  • Updated: 2026-01-16
  • ISBN: 9781408826836
  • Publisher: A&C Black
  • Published: 2011-08-01
  • Reviews: 3

T.C. Boyle's 'A Friend of the Earth' is a surreal and provocative vision of the future, set in 2025, where 75-year-old Ty Tierwater, once a radical environmental activist, now manages a pop star's private zoo in southern California. This zoo is crucial for the cloning of its captive species, a task Ty undertakes with a mix of bleak determination and dark humor. The novel explores Ty's complex relationships, particularly with his ex-wife Andrea, who re-enters his life, and his daughter Sierra, whose lives he once endangered in his zeal for environmental causes./n/nCritically acclaimed for its razor-sharp prose and fertile imagination, the book is both a modern morality tale and a gripping exploration of a world cursed by storm and drought. Boyle's work is praised for its compassion and daring, making it a standout in contemporary fiction.

Reviews
Amazon · 2026-01-16
good 4.00

The book is well-observed and generous, with truthful and extremely human characters. It avoids soapboxing, making it a relatable and engaging read.

This book is well-observed and generous, with characters that are truthful and extremely human. It avoids the pitfall of soapboxing, which would be easy in a novel of this nature. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making the book an engaging read. The book's strength lies in its ability to present complex environmental issues in a way that is both accessible and thought-provoking. It's a unique take on environmentalism that challenges the reader to think deeply about the issues at hand.

Quick quotes

    Well-observed and generous

    The characters are truthful and extremely human

    There is no soapboxing here which would be easy in a novel

ClimatePeople · 2016-12-28
brilliant 4.00

The book is a satirical exploration of environmental destruction, cleverly developed around the protagonist's growing disgust with humanity. It offers a dark yet humorous take on the consequences of climate change.

This book is a rollicking, satirical read that delves deep into the environmental destruction caused by humanity. The protagonist's life story is cleverly woven around his growing disgust at the relentless damage to nature. It's a dark yet humorous take on the consequences of climate change, offering a unique perspective on the environmental movement. The book's strength lies in its ability to balance humor and depth, making it an enthralling read.

Quick quotes

    A rollicking, satirical read

    Boyle cleverly develops Ty's life story around his growing disgust at humanity's relentless destruction of nature

    A dark yet humorous take on the consequences of climate change

The New York Times · 2001-07-05
intriguing 3.50

The book presents a disconcerting marriage of farce and prophecy, turning a squinting attention to environmentalism. It's a quiet, unflattering look at the failures of the environmental movement.

In this book, Boyle turns his attention to environmentalism, creating a disconcerting marriage of farce and prophecy. It's a quiet, unflattering look at the failures of the environmental movement, presenting a realistic and somewhat disturbing view of the state of our planet. The book's strength lies in its ability to blend humor and seriousness, making it a thought-provoking read. It's a unique take on environmentalism that challenges the reader to think deeply about the issues at hand.

Quick quotes

    A disconcerting marriage of farce and prophecy

    Turning a squinting attention to environmentalism

    A quiet, unflattering look at the failures of the environmental movement

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