The Terranauts, by TC Boyle

A privately funded science experiment plans for teams of eight ‘terranauts’ to spend two years in a glass domed Ecosphere, living self-sufficiently as if colonising another planet. The second group of terranauts is determined to weather any crises and surpass group one, who repeatedly broke the sacred seal of the airlock to obtain outside help. The story is told from three different perspectives, two insiders and one jealous outsider. A slow start is not helped by some confusion as to who is who, with a plethora of interchangeable names and nicknames for no discernable reason. The timeframe is also unclear at first – later it is said to be the late 20th century, which belatedly explains the lack of technology. It gradually builds to a more compelling narrative as the tensions and triumphs of eight people living under glass – and the media spotlight - are explored. It holds echoes of the worst kind of reality TV – exploitation under the guise of environmentalism – Survivor meets Big Brother, only no-one gets voted off. The most interesting character, if the least likeable, is outsider Linda – who is both best friend and betrayer with a high degree of self-delusion. In one moment of clarity she describes the program as a cult, which is the only logical explanation for what these fanatics sign up for and allow themselves to be subjected to. Apparently based on a similar real-life experiment, it is possible that truth is stranger than fiction, but the ludicrous closing chapters collapse all suspension of disbelief and it’s just good to be done with these stupid people.