I've read every book that T.C. Boyle has written.  There are at least 16 novels and many collections of short works.  For me, the quality varies, and I expect that from an author that I value enough to read their entire bibliography.  The last books, three of which focus on the ecology and history of the Catalina Islands and this one that focuses on synthetic ecology in the Biosphere, are not up to his previous standards.  

The Terranauts fictionalizes the Biosphere enclosures in the mid 90's and is based on the journals of participants.  Despite a compelling situation (four men and four women sealed off from the outside world for two years) the characters are flyweight, the plot simplistic and it drones on and on -- all 500 pages.  Full disclosure: I skimmed the last 100 pages just to get through it.  In its review, The Washington Post called this book,“The Bachelor: Terrarium Edition.”  There you have it! 

Can't recommend this book.  If you want T.C. at his best, pick up The Tortilla Curtain or A Friend of the Earth.