Mother of Storms

For the 1989 fantasy novel Mother of Storms, see Adrian Cole.

Mother of Storms is a 1994 science fiction novel by American writer John Barnes. It was nominated for three major science fiction awards.^[1]

Mother of Storms

First edition
Author	John Barnes
Cover artist	Bob Eggleton
Language	English
Genre	Science fiction
Publisher	Tor
Publication date	July 1994
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (Hardcover)
Pages	432
ISBN	0-312-85560-5

Plot summary

In the early 21st century, the Earth suffers from a giant hurricane spawned by the release of clathrate compounds, as the result of a nuclear explosion. The hurricane spawns hundreds of progeny, which kill at least 1 billion people by the novel's end. Two massively computer-augmented human intelligences (both of whom witness their organic bodies die) race to corral a comet from beyond Pluto's orbit. They use the ice from the comet to reduce the Earth's surface temperatures, and quell the mother of storms.

The novel is written in the present tense, and jumps between the viewpoints of many characters, some of whom recur while others appear only once or twice.

Scientific ideas referenced

The clathrate gun hypothesis is the basis for the origin of the hurricane.

Award nominations

• 1995 – Locus Poll Award, Best Science Fiction Novel nominee
• 1995 – Arthur C. Clarke Award, shortlist
• 1995 – Hugo Award, Best Novel nominee
• 1996 – Nebula Award, Best Novel nominee

Translations

• French
  • La Mère des Tempêtes, translated by Jean-Daniel Brèque. Le Livre de Poche (2001), ISBN 2-253-07235-4
• Romanian
  • Uraganele, translated by Gabriel Stoian. Editura Nemira (1999)