great writing and great style of this tale about a scottish family in space on a different planet. 5 stars, tysm for the arc

I really enjoyed this book! I'm a sucker for multi-generational stories, so it was right up my alley. I think that this style of storytelling worked well for this topic. Watching climate change rapidly alter the lives of a family over the course of a few generations helps emphasize the severity of the problem and the rate at which it can change life as we know it. I liked seeing the ways that one character's decisions impacted their children and grandchildren, as well as how interconnected everything was.

I found the characters compelling, especially Roban. I loved his first chapter and the exploration of definitions/the evolution of language. It was a fresh way of considering ways in which living on Mars would impact specific aspects of society that are not commonly mentioned (in this case: language).

In terms of bigger themes, Terrestrial History delved into a lot of pressing questions regarding climate change. For example: how should we leverage technology in the face of this crisis? How do we adapt (or do we take another path altogether?). How do politics and climate change intersect? How do we go on living in the face of an issue like this? What makes a life well-lived; what makes a decision a good one? I appreciate how this book prompted me to consider these questions, while also immersing me in an engaging narrative.

While there is a lot of sorrow in this story, I finished the book feeling hopeful and grateful. In many ways, I found Terrestrial History to be a love letter to Earth. It made me want to lay in the grass with my eyes closed and soak up every moment I have on this planet.`

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Slow and quirky. Interesting time jumps and technology/visions of future societies. Would recommend to sci-fi fans!