This Other Eden is a very funny book. It takes things to the extreme about what could happen if rich businessmen wanted to make money out of the end of the world. Based some years in the future, Ben Elton creates the scene of a world in environmental chaos, where the human race has destroyed the earth, and the end is nigh. Plastic Tolstoy, a rich businessman has the answer: buy a Claustrophere. A dome-shaped, self-contained new home, which can provide air and water, and recycle human waste, and where you can grow your own food; and which even has a day and night-cycle. The advertising campaigns begin, and people are urged to buy these safe-houses, which could be used when the end finally comes. Everyone who is anyone, owns a Claustrophere. It is big business, but a business that had its ups and downs and needs continued advertising to stay afloat. Mother Earth, a terrorist group, and Natura, an environmental campaign group, are against Claustropheres, claiming that by buying these domes people have given up on trying to save the environment, and are just accepting that there is nothing that can be done to stop the rot. Plastic Tolstoy has a plan to ensure the success of his product... an evil plan
We meet many hilarious characters along the way, including: Max, a famous Hollywood actor who doesn’t even recognise his own wife because she has had so much plastic surgery; Nathan, a struggling writer who is depressed because he is still in love with his wife who has left him, and mentions her whenever he has an opportunity; Rosalie, an unlikely Mother Earth terrorist; Jurgen Thor, the most famous environmental campaigner, who has a dark secret; and Judy Schwartz, an FBI agent who is a man with a woman’s name.
A great book with well-developed characters and an interesting story line that makes you think, and laugh, at the same time. ( )

Ben Elton cleverly extrapolates current trends into future scenarios and weaves a story of "what might be" in his usual humorous satirical fashion.
Pollution has become so bad that quality of life is dependent on living in artificial atmospheres. "Claustropheres" have been developed and marketed in anticipation of Earth being unable to sustain life because it is so degraded. It is argued that these bolt holes are encouraging people to care less about the environment rather than tackle the problems. ( )

bens usual deep dark funny but oh so true style ( )