pitsy's review
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
ronschae4's review against another edition
4.0
Mars is a great story with some good scientific/technical insights to what a human expedition to the Red Planet might entail - as well as a plausible political scenario as well! This is a well-written story with good characterization and plot continuity and depth. Not a five-star favorite, but something I would recommend to a SF reader who is looking for a well-written story based in hard science.
wdkilpackiii's review against another edition
5.0
A lot of sci-fi writers look into the far future, where science is more like magic. Few seem to look at those interim steps, particularly of the not-so-distant future. Bova does just that in Mars, where he takes a look at early exploration of Mars, counterbalanced by looking at it through the lens of a scientist born on an Indian reservation. The story takes hard science fiction and blends it with something of a detective story, taking smart characters who have to figure out the mysteries of what life deals them on Mars. Love the characters, love the story. Highly recommended!
javamamanc's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
chuckeddy's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
spinnerroweok's review against another edition
4.0
Sometimes it's nice to read a book in which the fate of the entire world is not in jeopardy. Bova has a nice straightforward style without a lot of flash. This is the second of the "Grand Tour" series that I have read, and I definitely enjoyed it.
jonmhansen's review against another edition
4.0
Story of an international exploration of Mars. Interesting, and holds up pretty well. When you've got a large multinational cast, there's the danger of veering into stereotypes, but it avoids pretty well.
weaselweader's review against another edition
4.0
A realistic vision of the first manned mission to Mars
The theme of Mars, Ben Bova's extraordinary vision of a first manned expedition to Earth's planetary neighbour, is hardly unique and imaginative. In fact, it's been pounded into submission on hundreds of previous occasions. Bova succeeds nonetheless and has served up a particularly compelling and realistic entry into the pantheon of space exploration sci-fi that unflinchingly explores the politics, the psychology, the emotion and humanity as well as the danger and excitement of an extended exploratory space mission that would in fact last almost two years. A healthy serving of science and day to day scientific realism rounds out this exciting and eminently readable story of a group of planetary explorers that are ultimately shown to have "the right stuff".
Nominally the hero of the tale, Jamie Waterman is a Navajo geologist selected to be part of the multi-national scientific ground team that will explore the red planet. The story opens as Jamie steps onto the surface of Mars and, overwhelmed with the power and emotion of the moment, he utters his first words to a waiting populace on Earth in Navajo instead of the carefully scripted English he was supposed to use. The resulting political firestorm that erupts on Earth is somehow sadly predictable in its powerful and dramatic realism.
Told primarily from Jamie's perspective, the main plot line unfolds around a debilitating and almost certainly fatal illness that every single member of the ground crew except the doctor contracts. While the forensic medical investigation into the illness is told with an urgent drama that will have every reader on the edge of their seat right to the literally cliff-hanging climax, it's the ultimate discovery of its cause that will leave readers slack-jawed with amazement at Bova's brilliant imagination and the almost absurdly humourous irony of the problem.
The Iron Curtain and the US-Russian Cold War are now relegated to the pages of history so the political structures and international rivalries portrayed in the story clearly date the writing of Mars to the latter part of the 20th century. But that takes nothing at all away from Bova's masterful development of full, complex characters whose well-being and success will matter to the readers. What more could a happy science fiction fan ask for - characters, plot and a heaping plate full of informative, entertaining and realistic science!
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
The theme of Mars, Ben Bova's extraordinary vision of a first manned expedition to Earth's planetary neighbour, is hardly unique and imaginative. In fact, it's been pounded into submission on hundreds of previous occasions. Bova succeeds nonetheless and has served up a particularly compelling and realistic entry into the pantheon of space exploration sci-fi that unflinchingly explores the politics, the psychology, the emotion and humanity as well as the danger and excitement of an extended exploratory space mission that would in fact last almost two years. A healthy serving of science and day to day scientific realism rounds out this exciting and eminently readable story of a group of planetary explorers that are ultimately shown to have "the right stuff".
Nominally the hero of the tale, Jamie Waterman is a Navajo geologist selected to be part of the multi-national scientific ground team that will explore the red planet. The story opens as Jamie steps onto the surface of Mars and, overwhelmed with the power and emotion of the moment, he utters his first words to a waiting populace on Earth in Navajo instead of the carefully scripted English he was supposed to use. The resulting political firestorm that erupts on Earth is somehow sadly predictable in its powerful and dramatic realism.
Told primarily from Jamie's perspective, the main plot line unfolds around a debilitating and almost certainly fatal illness that every single member of the ground crew except the doctor contracts. While the forensic medical investigation into the illness is told with an urgent drama that will have every reader on the edge of their seat right to the literally cliff-hanging climax, it's the ultimate discovery of its cause that will leave readers slack-jawed with amazement at Bova's brilliant imagination and the almost absurdly humourous irony of the problem.
The Iron Curtain and the US-Russian Cold War are now relegated to the pages of history so the political structures and international rivalries portrayed in the story clearly date the writing of Mars to the latter part of the 20th century. But that takes nothing at all away from Bova's masterful development of full, complex characters whose well-being and success will matter to the readers. What more could a happy science fiction fan ask for - characters, plot and a heaping plate full of informative, entertaining and realistic science!
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
nickfourtimes's review against another edition
1) '''Because it draws me,' he said. His voice was low but as firm as the mountains themselves. 'Mars is drawing me to it.'
Al gave him a puzzled, almost troubled look.
'I mean,' Jamie tried to explain, 'who am I, Al? What am I? A scientist, a white man, a Navaho---I don't really know who I am yet. I'm nearly thirty years old and I'm a nobody. Just another assistant professor digging up rocks. There's a million guys like me.'
'Helluva long way to go, all the way to Mars.'
Jamie nodded. 'I have to go there, though. I have to find out if I can make something of my life. Something real. Something important.'''
2) ''Let me go in beauty, he found himself thinking. Let me find harmony and beauty out there.''
3) ''Jamie's words died in his throat. His heart began to pound. The sky was shimmering, glowing faintly as a spirit hovering above them, flickering colors so pale and delicate that for a breathless moment Jamie could not believe his eyes.
'Mickhail...'
'I see it. Aurora.'
'Like the northern lights.' Jamie's voice was hollow with awe, trembling. The lights pulsed and billowed across the sky, exquisitely ethereal pastels of pink, green, blue, and white. He could see stars through them, faintly.''
Al gave him a puzzled, almost troubled look.
'I mean,' Jamie tried to explain, 'who am I, Al? What am I? A scientist, a white man, a Navaho---I don't really know who I am yet. I'm nearly thirty years old and I'm a nobody. Just another assistant professor digging up rocks. There's a million guys like me.'
'Helluva long way to go, all the way to Mars.'
Jamie nodded. 'I have to go there, though. I have to find out if I can make something of my life. Something real. Something important.'''
2) ''Let me go in beauty, he found himself thinking. Let me find harmony and beauty out there.''
3) ''Jamie's words died in his throat. His heart began to pound. The sky was shimmering, glowing faintly as a spirit hovering above them, flickering colors so pale and delicate that for a breathless moment Jamie could not believe his eyes.
'Mickhail...'
'I see it. Aurora.'
'Like the northern lights.' Jamie's voice was hollow with awe, trembling. The lights pulsed and billowed across the sky, exquisitely ethereal pastels of pink, green, blue, and white. He could see stars through them, faintly.''