Franzen and Fracking

Back in 1991, Jonathan Franzen published a book that would foreshadow one of the big environmental controversies of our time -- 2012.  How did he do it?  Probably, like all great writers, he did his research on an issue and based his book on solid facts.  Nevertheless, Franzen highlights "Fracking" in this text and its results set the stage for all sorts of happenings.  The text:  Strong Motion.

It's not the story, really that moves me.  It's the characters.  Franzen's characters are your neighbor, your college roommate, possibly even you.  Not a close approximation, the real thing.  By writing this way, he puts you IN the novel.  You can't escape wanting to know more about what happens to these people you know - you really know. 

His writing is descriptive, fluid, wonderful.  At times, nearly perfect in the way a scene is described.  At times, exactly perfect. 

I first found Franzen via The Corrections and fell in love with his writing style and with the characters he writes so well. 

Strong Motion is a beautiful, elegant read well worth your time. 

                                                             

Fracking and Strong Motion

So, I saw this and was reminded of this.

How is it that 20 years ago, Jonathan Franzen wrote about what is essentially fracking and now...now, we're having a big, national debate over fracking?  Dumb luck? Good research?