Ph: A Novel - by Nancy Lord (Paperback)

About the Book

Bonds are forged among some delightfully quirky cohorts studying the effects of ocean acidification on sea butterflies, a tiny, keystone species, in this cutting-edge CliFi novel from renowned environmentalist Nancy Lord.

Book Synopsis

Bonds are forged among some delightfully quirky cohorts studying the effects of ocean acidification on sea butterflies, a tiny, keystone species, in this cutting-edge CliFi novel from renowned environmentalist Nancy Lord.

Review Quotes

"Anyone interested in or concerned about climate change knows that in many ways, Alaska is ground zero in the United States. . . The title 'pH' refers to the focus of the science at the heart of Nancy Lord's novel: the rapid changes in pH in our waters indicating an increase in ocean acidification.
In case you're one of those readers, like me, whose eyes often glaze over when there's too much science in a book, be assured that Lord's prose is always accessible. The science is skillfully interwoven with a compelling plot and a cast of well-wrought characters. Complex scientific ideas are cleverly reworked into clear dialogue between a scientist and a 'lay person'-often in conversations between the graduate students and other characters. Lord never 'dumbs things down' but instead puts complex ideas in plain language, all within a compelling story.
Moments of brilliantly etched natural beauty bring the reader into the powerful spaces and places that make up Alaska and our troubled oceans. . . It is this ability of Lord's to draw us into both the science and the sheer joy of witnessing the natural beauty of the ocean that makes this novel such a powerful read.
For those concerned that pH might be far too depressing with its dire warnings about climate change, or those perhaps not particularly interested in the cutthroat world of academic and scientific research funding, there is much joy to be found here, too. . . Lord gives us all hope: hope in the future and hope in our children to do a better job as caretakers of our world and our oceans than we have done.
Let us all hope that our children will get to write the next chapter in a world that still includes the tiny pteropods."
--Yvonne C. Garrett, The Brooklyn Rail

"Powerful bonds are forged among offbeat characters studying the effects of ocean acidification on pteropods, a tiny, keystone species, in this cutting-edge, deftly written novel. Of special note is the inclusion of an author Q&A and reading group discussion questions. . . very highly recommended, especially for community and academic library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections."

"Pteropods may look otherworldly, but they are a real and threatened species of minuscule marine snail whose appearance in Homer author Nancy Lord's new novel 'pH' makes the book not science fiction, but an example of science in fiction."

"The lives of a group of scientists-and one artist-are altered by an oceanography research trip in Nancy Lord's insightful novel, pH. Stubborn minds begin to appreciate the beauty that lies outside their comfort zones, and those who find their patience tested learn to balance logic with creativity. Whether approached with or without a science background, pH offers wisdom on how we learn and grow as people.
Upon returning from a weeks-long marine expedition, Ray Berringer, his grad-student team, and environmental artist Annabel begin the process of analyzing and interpreting their findings.
Ray, who researches pteropods (sea snails), resents his co-leader, Jackson Oakley, for his success in presenting his climate change discoveries; meanwhile, chemistry student Helen sees Oakley, her secret lover, distancing himself as his fame grows. Ray's flaws work against him to amp up both the suspense of the story and the realism of its progression.
When Helen and Ray stumble upon evidence that the elusive chemistry professor has betrayed his work, the team (including Annabel) unites in the name of loyalty to science, working against a hidden trend of academic corruption that extends beyond just Oakley.
The multilayered plot and myriad characters converge on the important themes of integrity and collaboration. Lord's dynamic language does it all. From fishermen-crowded bars to Helen's Inuit heritage, she brings alive the Alaskan setting within each character's arc of emotional development. Her writing reveals thorough research and literary skill.
Both art and science require 'creative minds, speculation and hypothesizing, experimenting, sometimes tedious detail work, a willingness to fail and try again, ' Annabel discerns. The characters in this novel exhibit all of these traits, making pH a wonderful success." --Foreword Reviews / AIMEE JODOIN (September/October 2017)

"Lord's book pays homage to the dogged dedication of scientists like Berringer. She seamlessly weaves into the story detailed, but not distracting, explanations of the ocean's chemistry, the biology of marine life, and scientific methodology, along with descriptions of Alaska Native life and customs. The novel, an anthem to saving the environment, is as educational as it is enjoyable. . . It raises an interesting idea, too. Lord argues that neither art nor science alone can save the planet. She makes a full-throated plea to understand and appreciate the interconnectedness of science and art. Both, she says through Annabel, require creativity, and one can inspire the other." --Washington Independent Review of Books

"Nancy Lord is an entrancing naturalist writer and a captivating storyteller whose factual knowledge of her beloved Alaska is impeccable. So fascinating to see how she weaves a fictional tale to remind us of the ecological and cultural issues we face on this planet." --Jean-Michel Cousteau, Founder and President, Ocean Futures Society

"Sometimes it takes fiction, more than facts, to hear the hard truth. In Nancy Lord's pH, a cli-fi (climate fiction) novel about climate change and its evil cousin, ocean acidification, we met likeable and quirky characters dedicated to science and art while trapped in a system seduced by money. I learned a lot from this daring novel. And I laughed. Not a bad way to spend one's time: buried in creativity, learning and laughing." --Kim Heacox, author of Jimmy Bluefeather and John Muir and the Ice That Started a Fire

"Very few novelists remember that we live on an ocean planet, and none, as far as I know, have tracked the emerging science of ocean acidification, a threat of almost unparalleled dimension. That Nancy Lord does all that and still provides a superb story is testament to her great powers as a writer!" --Bill McKibben, author Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet

"Widely respected and beloved Alaskan essayist Nancy Lord has written a dazzling novel, filled with wry, sly humor, wondrous science, and intriguing characters -- all driven by some of the most significant questions of our time. How can scientists defend the truth in a university corrupted by petrochemical profiteers? How can the lovely, life-sustaining creatures of the seas survive the corporate plunder of the planet? And this -- how can a book this important be such a joy to read?" -- Kathleen Dean Moore, author of Great Tide Rising and Piano Tide

About the Author

Nancy Lord writes from her home base in Homer, Alaska. Her work is informed by a deep connection to the landscape and culture of the place she calls home. As a commercial salmon fisherman for twenty-five years (now retired) and later as a naturalist and historian on adventure cruise ships, she takes a particular interest in coastal Alaska and the sustainability of its resources and communities. She served as the Alaska Writer Laureate from 2008-10 and is the author of nine books of nonfiction, short fiction, and memoir. pH is her first novel.