39 pages 1 hour read

Ernest Callenbach

Ecotopia

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1975

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach is set in a timeline where Washington, Oregon, and Northern California have seceded from the U.S. to form Ecotopia. Reporter William Weston visits, aiming to explore and reestablish ties. His articles and journals reveal his growing appreciation for Ecotopian sustainability and equality. His experiences, including a relationship with Marissa, ultimately lead to a profound change in his outlook.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Ernest Callenbach's Ecotopia garners praise for its pioneering vision of a sustainable society, appealing to environmentalists with its innovative ecological concepts. Critics appreciate its hopeful outlook but note its dated aspects and occasionally implausible scenarios. Some feel character development is lacking, while others commend its inspirational narrative. Overall, it's a thought-provoking read with mixed execution.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Ecotopia?

Readers who enjoy Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach are often interested in environmentalism, utopian fiction, and progressive social ideas. Comparable to Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin, they favor exploring speculative societies and ecological sustainability.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Themes

Natural World: Environment

Genre

Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

Education

Fantasy

Topics

Education

Science / Nature

Politics / Government