A review by celiapowell
Arabella of Mars by David D. Levine

3.0

Is there a word for the genre of if-things-we-thought-about-space-hundreds-of-years-ago-were-true SF? Apart from classic SF? Anyway, this is part of the ITWTASHOYAWT genre - space travel in the late 1800s, the atmosphere on Mars is breathable, beetle-like Martians live on the planet, transport between Earth and Mars is on ship-like spacecraft with sails and rigging, and automata that assist the ships in catching the interstellar winds. And Arabella, who grew up on Mars, needs to find a way back there to try and save her brother. This has a very deliberate rollicking classic adventure tone that goes well with its setting - it was jolly fun, very enjoyable.