What do You think about Escape From Kathmandu (2000)?
I don't really consider this book to be Science Fiction... it's more "Fantasy". Robinson has written 4 novellas (or long short stories), about "George" and "Freds", who become friends after meeting as tourists and climbers in the Himalayas. Together they look for a Yeti, look for the body of Mallory, try to save "Shangri-La", climb mountains, and almost overthrow the government of Nepal. The stories are inter-related, but could stand on their own. They book is quite humourous and fairly light reading... I have to assume this was one of Robinson's first books. I don't know if I would have enjoyed it as much without my long-standing interest in climbing and Everest, so your enjoyment may vary depending on what you like to read about.
—Leigh-ann
This book was a best seller back along and it is in a lighter genre than the usual Nepal Guidebook. I read it while I was in Nepal on my third trip there. The author has a wonderful sense of the ridiculous and a great sense of humor.... but there are kernels of truth about the country m the customs, the culture and the people, which make this a really fun read for anybody contemplating travel to Nepal. In particular, the part where he describes the bureaucracy is maddeningly accurate. It's a loosely collected set of stories and lots of fun....
—Joe
I love Kim Stanley Robinson and have read almost everything he has ever written. The style I love is here but I found the theme a bit less interesting than his other stories. The apparent level of research and understanding in most of Kim Stanley Robinson's books is stunning but here things seemed fantastical. Part of the charm of The Mars Trilogy and other works is the dreaming and predictions about the future that are amazingly, logically consistent. In this book however, the imaginative additions went too far to feel well supported. That just takes the edge off of the story for me.
—William
