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The Effort

Claire Holroyde (Goodreads Author)

3.85 · Rating details · 39 ratings · 24 reviews

When dark comet UD3 was spotted near Jupiter’s orbit, its existence was largely ignored. But to individuals who knew better — scientists like Benjamin Schwartz, manager of NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies — the threat this eight-kilometer comet posed to the survival of the human race was unthinkable. The 150-million-year reign of the dinosaurs ended when an aste ...more

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Hardcover, 368 pages

Published January 12th 2021 by Grand Central Publishing

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Dec 31, 2020 Tammy rated it really liked it

The nitty-gritty: A thought-provoking tale of survival, The Effort raises interesting questions about life in the face of impending disaster.

The Effort is an ambitious debut about a comet that is hurtling towards Earth and the team of scientists who are tasked with stopping it. There are all sorts of directions you can take with this type of scenario, and I have to say that The Effort surprised me and did not go where I thought it was going. This isn’t a bad thing by any means, and I enjoyed Hol The nitty-gritty: A thought-provoking tale of survival, The Effort raises interesting questions about life in the face of impending disaster.

The Effort is an ambitious debut about a comet that is hurtling towards Earth and the team of scientists who are tasked with stopping it. There are all sorts of directions you can take with this type of scenario, and I have to say that The Effort surprised me and did not go where I thought it was going. This isn’t a bad thing by any means, and I enjoyed Holroyde’s take on it, although there were a few negatives for me, mostly due to the story’s structure and focus. For those readers who enjoy lots of "science" in your science fiction, there are plenty of details to keep you happy, but this is mostly a high stakes, human story about the emotional effects of a possible extinction event.

The story follows several main characters in different parts of the world. One day, a “dark comet” is discovered, a rather large one, in fact, and soon scientists conclude that it will hit Earth in less than a year. The size and speed of the comet, called UD3, suggest that unless it is stopped, Earth and its billions of lifeforms will be destroyed when it hits. NASA sets up a base of operations in South America—nicknamed "the Effort"—where scientists from all over the world convene to work nonstop until a solution is found. Leading the team is Dr. Benjamin Schwartz from NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. Ben arrives in South America with his girlfriend Amy, and along with hundreds of other team members, they immediately get to work building a spacecraft that will intercept the comet and destroy it.

Halfway around the world, the Arctic icebreaker Healy is embarking on its final expedition. Jack Campbell is a photojournalist who is lucky enough to be on board, but his excitement is tempered by the news of the approaching comet. Once the ship is underway, Jack meets a woman named Maya, and they begin a romantic relationship, but what sort of future will they have if the end of the world is coming?

Love Mwangi lives in New York with her girlfriend Rivka, but she must leave Rivka behind when she’s asked to work as an interpreter for the Effort. Rivka finds herself alone and facing a terrifying future: as the months go by and panic and terror over the impending fate of the planet set in, the streets fill with gangs and looters, and food becomes scarce.

And Zhen Liu is a talented Chinese engineer with a big secret. As the days slip by and the Effort realizes they are running out of time, Zhen reveals that the answer to saving the planet could be stashed in a Chinese cargo plane, if only they can get to it.

The clock is ticking, and the future of Earth hinges on a select few with the knowledge and ability to stop the comet.

I found this to be a fascinating and thought-provoking look at a “what if” scenario: What if a massive comet were to strike the Earth? Rather than focus on the event itself, which is what I was expecting to read about, Holroyde takes a look at how people might react to the impending disaster. We get to see reactions from several different groups of people. First, the Effort team is closest to the danger, as they understand first hand just what’s happening. Most of them stop sleeping and try to work around the clock, only taking catnaps when they really need to. This starts to affect their mental health, of course, and the focused group dynamic they have starts to break down. From Rivka’s point of view, we witness what’s happening “on the ground” with civilians, as panic sets in and people’s survival instincts kick in. In a matter of months, food has virtually disappeared due to looting and food production shutdowns, and people begin dying of starvation. Even worse, gangs are roaming the streets and breaking into homes and killing people for their remaining food. It’s the type of apocalyptic scene you’d expect to see in a horror movie, but Holroyde makes it feel like a real possibility.

Then you have the crew of the Healy, who appear to be cut off from everything, and yet they are feeling the panic as well. The captain of the ship must make some tough choices that will affect everyone on the ship. There’s also a brief section that deals with the International Space Station and the crew who end up being trapped there. I won’t tell you the reasons behind their fate, but I thought this was one of the most heartbreaking sections.

Holroyde creates an almost unbearable tension as the story progresses, a sort of slow burn that makes the reader uncomfortable for various reasons. You have the political tension of the Effort, where fraught relationships among Americans, Chinese and Russians must be carefully navigated, but because time is running out, they have to work out their differences quickly. And then there is the day-to-day survival scenario where people are starving to death and even turning to cannibalism in order to survive. These sections had more of a horror feel to them, especially when Rivka and a man from her apartment building are trying to get to Harlem from Manhattan. Finally, there are the quieter moments when people realize that they are separated from their loved ones and will probably never see them again. That horrible feeling of not knowing whether someone is alive or dead and not being able to do anything about it really struck a chord with me.

But as much as I enjoyed the thoughtfulness the author put into her story, I felt at times it was overly ambitious and crumbled in places under the weight of too many ideas and characters. I have to admit I didn’t like Ben at all—he’s almost a caricature of an over-the-top mad scientist—and this worried me because his character seems so important in the beginning. Some of the characters’ stories simply dwindle away without any resolution, which was frustrating. I especially wanted to know what happened to Rivka (she ended up being one of my favorite characters), but after an exciting scene where she’s almost killed by militia, we never really find out what happened to her. Jack and Maya are also forced to run for their lives, but again, their fate is never really stated. And I'm still not sure how I feel about the ending. Holroyde jumps ahead in the future to show the lasting effects of the comet on civilization, and although I loved this idea, I'm not sure how well it fit with the overall story.

Ultimately, The Effort focuses on human behavior and how people come together (or don’t) in the face of a global crisis, and I think the author did a great job tackling such a big story. I found Claire Holroyde’s ideas intriguing, and she certainly gave me a lot to think about. Don’t pick this up expecting a sci-fi thriller filled with non-stop action (although don’t get me wrong, it does have its moments!), but if you are a reader who appreciates the emotional implications of the end of the world, I think you’ll enjoy this too.

Big thanks to the author for providing a review copy. ...more

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Nov 12, 2020 David Heska Wanbli Weiden rated it it was amazing

I was fortunate to get an early copy of this book, and I'm happy to share what I wrote about it--do yourselves a favor and pick this book up.

Page-turner of the year! In the grand tradition of Stephen King’s THE STAND, Pat Frank’s ALAS, BABYLON, and J.T. McIntosh’s ONE IN THREE HUNDRED. Call it a techno-thriller, call it apocalyptic fiction—I call it great writing. This is an important and provocative novel, one that should be read by all who care about the future of the planet and humanity’s rol ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 Scott Hines rated it it was amazing

The Effort is a beautiful and thought-provoking book that deserves a place alongside the very best world’s-end fiction; it seeks to understand who we are by considering how we might end.

The story follows an interwoven set of stories as the world grapples with the discovery of an eight-kilometer-wide “dark comet” that, if not stopped, will likely annihilate all life on Earth in a matter of mere months. A fractured world scientific community desperately plans a last-ditch effort to divert the proj ...more

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Dec 20, 2020 Sarah Jeng rated it it was amazing

The gorgeous cover on this one snagged my attention right away. Basic summary: a comet is on a collision course with Earth, and a team of scientists, engineers, and other professionals assembles in order to redirect or destroy it. But this debut addresses much more than just The Effort, which is the code name given to the massive undertaking to save humanity. This is a big book, with a large number of characters providing insight into issues such as climate change, exploitation and genocide, and ...more

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Dec 23, 2020 J.S. Dewes rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, female-authors, pre-ordered

A smart, authentic tale about humanity, friendship, and survival, THE EFFORT offers a unique and unexpected take on apocalyptic fiction that will stay with me for years to come.

I fell in love with every one of the characters, each alluring and relatable in their own way. The diverse locations and circumstances of each perspective give the reader a sweeping yet intimate look at the collapse of society as seen first-hand from those living it.

THE EFFORT takes a hard look at issues of internationa ...more

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Jan 02, 2021 Lori L (She Treads Softly) rated it really liked it

The Effort by Claire Holroyde is a highly recommended apocalyptic tale that starts with an end-of-the-world-by comet scenario and morphs to a novel about human nature.

When the 8 km dark comet UD3 was spotted on a trajectory to hit the Earth one of the first people recruited by the U.N. to help with what will be called The Effort is Benjamin Schwartz, manager of NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. He and his girlfriend Amy Kowalski are flown to French Guiana in South American to help as The Effort by Claire Holroyde is a highly recommended apocalyptic tale that starts with an end-of-the-world-by comet scenario and morphs to a novel about human nature.

When the 8 km dark comet UD3 was spotted on a trajectory to hit the Earth one of the first people recruited by the U.N. to help with what will be called The Effort is Benjamin Schwartz, manager of NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. He and his girlfriend Amy Kowalski are flown to French Guiana in South American to help assemble a team of experts to neutralize the extinction threat. One of the brilliant scientists assisting is China’s Dr. Zhen Liu. The gifted and intelligent UN interpreter Love Mwangi also joins The Effort. The large team is fighting against time and sleep deprivation in order to try and prevent an extinction level event.

At the same time a Coast Guard polar ice breaker is traveling is traveling north right as the comet is discovered. On board is a group of marine biologists, including Maya Gutiérrez, who are collecting scientific data.. There are two additional passengers invited on the mission. Jack Campbell is a photographer for National Geographic who is tasked with capturing the beauty of the Arctic before it disappears and Gustavo Wayãpi, a Nobel Laureate poet from Brazil who is expected to write about the experience.

The quality of the writing in The Effort is excellent and the novel is well pace to create an increasing sense of tension and danger as the novel progresses. While the pull to read the novel is the end-of-the-world comet, the overwhelming themes become less disaster scenario and more focused on the panic and subsequent breakdown of civilization, as well as the failings of human nature and morality. The novel alternates between following the scientists of The Effort in French Guiana, the other notable main characters, and a myriad of other minor characters. Naturally, the character development was slightly lacking simply because of the sheer number of characters and the limited pages. The Effort almost needed another hundred plus pages to fully develop the characters and follow all their story arcs to the end. Thankfully we do get to follow several characters into the future, but, alas, not all of them which I would have preferred.

Everyone loves a good disaster novel and The Effort fits the bill. There were a few little niggling details that detracted from an otherwise excellent novel. Holroyde didn't stop herself from including little details, personal opinions, and comments in the narrative that point to the novel being penned in 2018-19. It's always better to leave very current political controversies out of a novel in order to give it some longevity, especially in light of a subsequent pandemic hitting before publication. I have enjoyed many apocalyptic novels over the years and most of them I could easily reread and note that only technological advancements date them to being penned years or decades earlier. (My review copy was downloaded at the beginning of June.) There were also a few characters that we didn't get some closure on and the focus of the narrative sort of switched mid-novel and became more social commentary. But, these were little qualms that most people will easily overlook.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Grand Central Publishing
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2021/0... ...more

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Jan 10, 2021 Shannon (It Starts At Midnight) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2021, january-2021, read-for-review

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

I find that these days, I enjoy being prepared for all the possible apocalyptic scenarios, as one does. But The Effort went ahead and reminded me that we needn't bother, because human nature is to devolve into chaos and anarchy and frankly, the author is right. This is the commentary that is less hopeful, but more rooted in reality, and I am here for it.

The book opens with news of a come You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

I find that these days, I enjoy being prepared for all the possible apocalyptic scenarios, as one does. But The Effort went ahead and reminded me that we needn't bother, because human nature is to devolve into chaos and anarchy and frankly, the author is right. This is the commentary that is less hopeful, but more rooted in reality, and I am here for it.

The book opens with news of a comet that appears to be heading toward Earth. A team is to be assembled to try to save mankind, but no one is sure what the chances of success are, even the experts. The Effort, as it is dubbed, brings the best and brightest from all over the world to a base in French Guiana where the great minds will have to work basically nonstop, leave behind everything and everyone they know, and devote what remaining time is left to saving humanity.

Meanwhile, back in civilian territory, society is straight up devolving. It's interesting, how humanity would approach such an event. I am not sure if I agree that we'd shut down- I'm more inclined to think that as we have with the pandemic (especially in the United States), we'd remain woefully in denial. Either way, it would be a mess, so the author sure got that right. And in a third locale, scientists and a few artists find themselves on an Arctic sea voyage, trying to study the climate before its gone. I mean, finding out the world may end while you're stuck in the arctic? Not ideal.

As you may have gathered, we have quite a few points of view in this story. Some, I flat out loved. Some... I maybe could have lived without? But mostly I found them great. My personal favorite was the female Chinese scientist who is the actual best and also has a cleft lip/palate (I think the author perhaps confused a lip and palate repair, as the latter doesn't leave a scar but the former does, but it's an advanced copy, so I shall digress). Finally, finally, seeing a hero with a cleft instead of a villain, for the win! The female characters are especially strong and well-developed, and I was invested in both what happened to the characters and what would become of humanity as a whole.

Bottom Line: In the end, does it even take a disaster to undo mankind? Or will we just do it ourselves? These are the incredibly thought provoking questions The Effort asks, with a great cast of characters trying to prevent the apocalypse. ...more

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Jan 11, 2021 Margaretta rated it it was amazing

This is a thoughtful and thought provoking novel. It is far from simplistic, but easy to read with welcomed moments of levity, and much of it will stick with me for quite some time. The opening lines drew me in, and then Claire Holroyde's characters had me hooked, rooting for them and consequently all of "us." The race against the comet's impending impact is the acute tension throughout the novel, commanding the world's attention, but not far under the surface is Holroyde's commentary of the no- ...more

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Jan 08, 2021 Katherine Forrister rated it it was amazing

"The Effort" is a fantastic example of apocalyptic sci-fi. The sweeping global perspectives, told through a diverse set of characters (both of origin and life experiences) creates a very real sense of how individuals might react to a world-ending situation. It's easy to fall into the pessimistic stance of how humanity as a whole could descend into chaos and self-destruction as a foregone conclusion, but Holroyde dissects the reason why that reaction would occur with a thoroughness that invokes d ...more

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Dec 28, 2020 M.J. Kuhn rated it it was amazing

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book and let me tell you guys, you do not want to miss this one. I read almost the entire thing in one day, I could not put it down.

THE EFFORT is by far the most real-feeling disaster event book I have ever read. First of all, I cannot even imagine the amount of research Holroyde must have done for this story. Not just the science, but the politics and the cultural information present in the story. THE EFFORT takes a wholistic view of a disaster, not a " ...more

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Jan 13, 2021 Goran rated it liked it

Reads like The Lady Astronaut meets Von Trier 's Melancholia. What would happen if news of a humanity-eradicating comet were to spread worldwide?

This book has many of the same old tropes you've come to expect from similar titles, but is very much a product of our time. A solid read, even if its characters didn't work for me and the ending didn't entirely convince me. ...more

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Nov 02, 2020 Carrie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Review coming soon.

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Nov 04, 2020 Jane Gilmartin rated it it was amazing

I was lucky enough to read an ARC of Claire Holroyde’s THE EFFORT and it is not a story I will soon forget. A fast-paced, sweeping tale of impending planetary doom, the novel manages to be both global in its setting (from The Bronx to the Arctic Ocean to Mexico City to Guiana) and intimate in its characters. As an asteroid hurtles toward Earth, we see the crisis through the eyes of many - from the scientists attempting a solution, to a family already mourning its own losses, to the crew of a pol ...more

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Nov 06, 2020 Michelle Taylor rated it really liked it

Solid hard sci-fi near-future imagining of life in the eye of an extinction level comet event. The gritty reality of a failing social system and scientific effort of survival is buoyed by strong and complex characters and relationships.

The book spools out like a film and grabs you with a fisted grasp. Joy, love, grief, pain, horror and hope all vie for attention as you plunge into a nightmare with these people. Holroyde weaves the narrative of people across the globe and across all levels of ex ...more

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Jan 11, 2021 Casey Berger rated it it was amazing

I got the chance to read an advance copy of this ambitious, compelling debut from Claire Holroyde, and I'm so glad I did. This debut is extremely ambitious -- from the stakes of a looming extinction event to the scope of a very large ensemble cast -- it showcases the hearts and souls of individuals against a backdrop of the very best and the very worst humanity has to offer.

The prose is clean and crisp, and the wide, global setting provides some bittersweet context: humanity is scrambling to sav ...more

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Jan 10, 2021 Elissa Dickey rated it it was amazing

This breathtaking book takes you on an unforgettable journey of humanity's last stand against an impending comet. Fans of Station Eleven will devour this masterpiece, which takes readers to the heart of The Effort itself, where scientists from around the world are racing against the clock on the countermeasure, code-named "The Effort."

But readers are also shown the heart-breaking, terrifying effects as normal life starts to crumble away for people on the Healy, a polar icebreaker in the Arctic, ...more

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Jan 03, 2021 Beth rated it liked it

3.25

What happens when a comet is destined to hit Earth? A secret international team is quickly cobbled together to try to figure out a way to deflect the comet's path. Meanwhile, a team of scientists are heading to the North Pole, with a poet and photographer in tow, to try to record the last vestiges of Arctic wildlife and the icy landscape before climate change finally wins.

We follow the individuals from these two groups as the countdown to either the comet's impact or the comet's destruction ...more

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Jan 15, 2021 Melissa rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Maybe this book was a victim of being read at the wrong time for me or maybe I've just read too many similar books over the years but I found it to be derivative and trope-filled.

The novel focuses on a scattered cast of characters experiencing the possibility of a comet hitting the earth. It almost feels like this should have been two different books: one focusing on The Effort (the group building the weapon that will deflect the comet from colliding with the earth) and another focusing on the ...more

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Jan 14, 2021 Karen rated it it was amazing

Claire is a masterful writer who uses sound science and the fragility of the human condition to lead us through the harrowing experience of an impending comet impact. Her characters are deeply relatable and you will find yourself rooting for them as they persevere in the most trying times. Two distinct but equally engaging story lines weave a tale of climate change, astronomical disaster, love, friendship, and survival. This novel pulls you in and doesn't let you go, even after the last page has ...more

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Jan 14, 2021 Cathy Abi-Khattar rated it it was amazing

Wow, this book is amazing. The characters are so interesting, you really get invested in their stories. I couldn’t put it down. The details and the way the science is interjected in without being overwhelming is masterful. Definitely recommend.

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Jan 12, 2021 Ashley added it

Full review to come.

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Nov 03, 2020 Matthew Brukman rated it it was amazing

This is a fast-paced apocalyptic/speculative fiction tale -- I would not call it science fiction -- stuffed with compelling characters who each provide valuable insights on human psychology and the fragility or strength of society at differing time scales.

The threat of a comet strike gives a window on the immediate term: Will society tear itself asunder in the span of six months as humanity loses hope?

The backdrop of ecological disaster offers a meditation on the long-term: How can society des ...more

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