Red Mars (Mars Trilogy #1) – Book Review

Published Date: October 1, 1993

Publishing Co.: Spectra Books

Pages: 572

Goodreads Synopsis.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

There have been many times that I have said, “The more actual science in science fiction, the better the book,” but, I have met my match it seems. This is the first book that I encountered where I can say that there was too much science and it really dragged me down.

Red Mars explores the possibilities of what will happen when the human race has finally destroyed Earth beyond repair and how they might attempt to terraform and colonize Mars. We follow this idea as they send the first 100 scientists to the planet and they begin the dangerous adventure of building a world that humans can come to. The story is told from the perspective of several different scientists who’s expertise varies and opinions on how things should be done, varies even more. There is conflict but also love and friendship, but preparing a planet for the arrival of a whole other planet, weighs heavy on shoulders on a planet with less gravity.

This book tread the line of being horribly boring and then quickly turning around and being terribly fascinating.

After almost a month and 572 pages of reading, that’s all I really have to say about the book. It was an okay read but not a series that I will be continuing.

The Martian – Book Review

4 out of 5 stars

“My asshole is doing as much to keep me alive as my brain.”

Mark Watney has just been accidentally abandoned by his crew on Mars. The next mission to Mars won’t happen for another four years. It’s either find a clever way to survive until then or give up.

If that were me, I would have just shit my spacesuit.

But I’m not an astronaut, botanist or on my way to Mars for any reason, so for now spacesuits are safe from me.

At first, I was worried that I would get bored with the style of this book. It begins as a journal of Watney realizing he’s been left behind and trying to find a way to survive. A diary style novel is hit or miss with me. That protagonist better be damn entertaining if I’m going to read their every thought. Thankfully, Watney is sarcastic and humorous. Had the author written him any other way, I don’t think I would have kept on. It then shuttles back to Earth and gives us the point of view of NASA scientists doing everything they can to bring an abandoned astronaut home. And for a little extra space love, it also tunes you into Watney’s crew mates, who think they’ve left a team member dead on Mars.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the best science fiction has actual science in it. This has butt-tons. Metric butt-tons of science. So not only was this an enjoyable escape to read, I also learned more about rocket science and potatoes than I ever thought I would know.

A Princess of Mars – Book Review

4 out of 5 stars

Finally. Finally, a classic that lives up to the hype. I had almost given up on catching up on all the classics that I have missed but my faith has been renewed.

I loved the memoir style in which it was written. Memoirs have a tendency to become a little plain or boring in my general opinion of such things. But, when the memoir is about your adventures about waking up unexpectedly on Mars, well what could possibly be boring about that?

Burroughs’ creation of the Martian races and civilization were inspired and fun. Great vicious Martian beasts that really only craved a little love from their masters should teach cold hearted humans a thing or two about the animals in their own lives.

My only issues with the story was the easiness with which the hero accomplished some of his more difficult tasks and the love-at-first-sight relationship with the princess. There lies a trope that I’ve always had issue with, but I can manage to overlook it should the story itself prove worthy.

Of course, when I really enjoy a book they always leave off in a cliffhanger fashion.