Interestingly, another reviewer at the same paper loved it as much as Bartley hated it:

http://is.gd/5Aodz

The writing in both pieces makes me cringe.

Well, I was curious, so I forced myself to read the Bartley piece. Yeesh.

He would've saved himself some time by just writing, "Well, sure, I'm guilty about how white settlers treated the Native Americans during the 19th century, but damn that James Cameron for reminding me about it!"

He also said that science-fiction isn't supposed to make him feel "dumb and hopeless" and yet, that's just how I felt after reading "Stranger In A Strange Land" -- a book written by someone that Bartley appears to be a fan of (or at least he seems to hold a higher opinion of Heinlein as opposed to Cameron).

In my opinion, sometimes the best sci-fi makes me believe we have a long way yet to go as a species/civilization/etc.

Unfortunately, this Bartley piece makes me feel the same way.

His "review" might be the first time I've ever read (something like), "Yes, we should be aware of Earth’s limited resources. Yes, we only have one planet. Et cetera." and then, in my head, heard the words "Yadda, yadda, yadda."