The Terranauts was published by Ecco in 2016. The novel is based on the real Biosphere 2 experiment (1991–1993), in which eight people were sealed inside a three-acre enclosed ecosystem in the Arizona desert for two years. Boyle fictionalizes the experiment as “Ecosphere 2” (or “E2”), following eight “terranauts” — four men and four women — as they attempt to live self-sufficiently while the world watches.
The sealed environment becomes a crucible for human nature: sexual tensions, power struggles, resource hoarding, jealousy, and the corrosive effects of constant media attention all emerge. Boyle tells the story from three perspectives: a woman inside, a woman who failed to be selected (watching enviously from outside), and the megalomaniac visionary who designed the project.
The Real Biosphere 2
The real experiment (1991–1993) in Oracle, Arizona, was both a genuine scientific endeavour and a media circus. The participants struggled with declining oxygen levels, crop failures, and interpersonal conflict. The facility still exists as a research centre operated by the University of Arizona. Boyle’s fictionalisation captures the mixture of idealism and absurdity that characterised the original.
Collecting The Terranauts
First edition (Ecco, New York, 2016): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket: $20–$35
- Very good: $10–$20
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit Biosphere 2? Yes. The facility in Oracle, Arizona, is now operated by the University of Arizona as a research centre and is open to the public for tours. The enormous glass structures are architecturally striking and the site remains one of the most unusual science facilities in the world.