Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Bantam Spectra (New York, 1992). 1st edition, 1st printing. 502 pages. $20.00.
Description
Mars, "the bloody planet," is a world shrouded in mystery. As the source of endless fascination, Mars offers us the most promise for finding evidence of life. Half Navajo American Jamie Waterman is a geologist whose dream comes true when he is selected for the first landing team on Mars. He endures the rigors of training, the personality conflicts and political intrigues, as well as the dangers of travelling over 100 million kilometers in space. Once the international crew lands on Mars, they discover they must battle not only the alien land they have invaded but earthbound bureaucrats as well. As they head toward a chasm that is ten times larger than the Grand Canyon, the twenty-five astronauts come face-to-face with the most shocking discovery of all.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member TurtleBoy
If you can squint past the pancaked layer of sexism and other brazen stereotypes that pepper this book that could be no more clearly written for 15-year-old boys than it is, the story is a passably interesting and relatively scientifically accurate account of what a peopled expedition to the Red
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Planet might actually be like. The story kept me reading, even while the dialogue was tired and the characters made me want to smack them. Show Less
LibraryThing member geordicalrissian
A great example of realistic science fiction! I thought that this was a very good read. A little slow at times (as others have stated), but Mr. Bova keeps the exploration and discovery aspect very well balanced with character development. I especially liked the background chapters (how did this
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person get into the Mars program, what drove them to become the best in their field). I've not read all of the Grand Tour series, but if the remaining books are of this quality, then I have a lot to look forward to. Show Less
LibraryThing member SonicQuack
I imagine that the dusty ball of rock that we call Mars will remain the subject of stories until we have actually explored the planet in reality. Ben Bova takes this scientific urge and moulds a realistic approach to our potential first manned mission. The mission is fraught with potential dangers,
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not only from the hostile planet itself, but from the stretched emotional states of the scientists and astronauts that will make the journey and ultimately set foot on the dusty Red Planet. Bova weaves a clever mix of science, politics and human psychology around a setting which is both mysterious and exciting. With the books grounding in a realistic approach the action is not required to be non-stop and Bova's approach is to use the unexpected to draw the reader in, creating tension, rather than a more gung-ho approach to fiction. A very good sci-fi read indeed. Show Less
LibraryThing member meerka
I used to think Beb Bova dry, but I don't know what book gave me that impression. I read the second book first and was captivated by it. After reading the first book, it's not only a longing for the story not to end, but a desperate wish that the sf would become reality. I haven't been quite so
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passionate about a book for quite some time. Show Less
LibraryThing member jphillips3334
I had read this book years ago, and I don't remember too much about it. What I do recall is that I especially liked how he described the first manned expedition to mars having a hard time adapting to being in such an isolated environment: more isolated than on any place on earth. Nothing for miles
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around, no trees, insects, etc. Just rock and dust as far as the eye can see. I remember it also being a bit too long, but liked it never-the-less. Show Less
LibraryThing member Vvolodymyr
Read the book some time in 2009, and although it was written in 1992, it didn't feel dated (barring minor instances).
The book is a solid hard science fiction about a first manned expedition to Mars.
Although I am more of a fan of near-dim / mid / mid-far future scifi, I did enjoy the "solidity" of
The main character was reasonably developed and could be related to easily, the secondary characters where just there, although there was interesting character interaction.
All-in-all - a solid expedition to mars book.
The book is a solid hard science fiction about a first manned expedition to Mars.
Although I am more of a fan of near-dim / mid / mid-far future scifi, I did enjoy the "solidity" of
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the book - one could imagine the trip happening within a decade in a similar manner described in the book (again, barring some technical features).The main character was reasonably developed and could be related to easily, the secondary characters where just there, although there was interesting character interaction.
All-in-all - a solid expedition to mars book.
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LibraryThing member CharityBradford
I liked it, but I kept waiting for something more to happen. I just picked up Return to Mars and hope it will have what I felt was missing the first go around.
LibraryThing member pgiunta
Jamie Waterman, part Navajo, geologist, Mars explorer and hero. The latter two almost did not happen but for a few serendipitous events that promoted Waterman from backup geologist to primary team member. He is eventually chosen to be among an international crew of 25 scientists, astronauts, and
In doing so, the scientists, astronauts, and cosmonauts find themselves battling more than the planet's harsh conditions and treacherous terrain. Waterman finds himself in hot water with the bureaucrats on Earth when he fails to recite his rehearsed speech upon arrival on Mars, lapsing into a brief Navajo greeting instead.
Days after their arrival, a micro meteor storm damages their inflatable domicile, and causes another issue that comes back to haunt them later in the story. A few weeks later, when one of the Japanese scientists working on Deimos has a stroke, the media goes into a feeding frenzy, swarming Alberto Brumado, the public face of the mission and it's most ardent supporter. Is Mars too dangerous for us to explore? Is it worth risking human lives? Brumado's daughter Joanna is among the scientists on the planet, working closely with Waterman. At times, a bit too closely perhaps.
When he is convinced that a formation in a cliff wall of Tithonium Chasma might be the remains of an ancient civilization, Waterman pushes against authority to have the mission planned changed to allow a return to the area. However, a mysterious illness and a crash of their Mars rover prevent Waterman from reaching his target. Against orders from mission control to evacuate the base, two of the Russian cosmonauts and the base's British chief medical officer set out to rescue Waterman's team in another rover only to find themselves unable to cross a massive sand filled crater. It's up to a sick and weakened Waterman to take charge by leaving his stranded rover and walking miles around the crater with a steel cable to connect the two vehicles.
Bova does an exemplary job of chronicling an expedition to Mars in a scientifically sound story. This is a solid "hard SF" tale that does a fair job of exploring the human element in each of the main characters but only Waterman truly has any depth. In his usual style, Bova will pull the readers out of the storyline every so often to spend a brief chapter describing the background of a particular character. These days, some people call that "info dumping" and would prefer to see characters develop and reveal their backgrounds as the story progresses. I'm not particularly bothered by it, however, as these flashbacks are only about a page and a half long.
Bova tends to gloss over some of the hardships and temptations that might exist when two dozen people are cramped in a small living space in rough conditions for two months. There are the occasional arguments, lustful desires, plotting and scheming, fears, and backstabbing, but they are superficial and often dwindle away as the story progresses. Exploration and science are at the forefront of Bova's MARS.
Bova returns Jamie Waterman to Mars with his sequels Return to Mars and Mars Life. I think he did a better job on the human elements in those stories.
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cosmonauts who embark on an eighteen month round trip to Mars and spend 60 days on its surface gathering rock samples, recording climate changes, searching for water...and life.In doing so, the scientists, astronauts, and cosmonauts find themselves battling more than the planet's harsh conditions and treacherous terrain. Waterman finds himself in hot water with the bureaucrats on Earth when he fails to recite his rehearsed speech upon arrival on Mars, lapsing into a brief Navajo greeting instead.
Days after their arrival, a micro meteor storm damages their inflatable domicile, and causes another issue that comes back to haunt them later in the story. A few weeks later, when one of the Japanese scientists working on Deimos has a stroke, the media goes into a feeding frenzy, swarming Alberto Brumado, the public face of the mission and it's most ardent supporter. Is Mars too dangerous for us to explore? Is it worth risking human lives? Brumado's daughter Joanna is among the scientists on the planet, working closely with Waterman. At times, a bit too closely perhaps.
When he is convinced that a formation in a cliff wall of Tithonium Chasma might be the remains of an ancient civilization, Waterman pushes against authority to have the mission planned changed to allow a return to the area. However, a mysterious illness and a crash of their Mars rover prevent Waterman from reaching his target. Against orders from mission control to evacuate the base, two of the Russian cosmonauts and the base's British chief medical officer set out to rescue Waterman's team in another rover only to find themselves unable to cross a massive sand filled crater. It's up to a sick and weakened Waterman to take charge by leaving his stranded rover and walking miles around the crater with a steel cable to connect the two vehicles.
Bova does an exemplary job of chronicling an expedition to Mars in a scientifically sound story. This is a solid "hard SF" tale that does a fair job of exploring the human element in each of the main characters but only Waterman truly has any depth. In his usual style, Bova will pull the readers out of the storyline every so often to spend a brief chapter describing the background of a particular character. These days, some people call that "info dumping" and would prefer to see characters develop and reveal their backgrounds as the story progresses. I'm not particularly bothered by it, however, as these flashbacks are only about a page and a half long.
Bova tends to gloss over some of the hardships and temptations that might exist when two dozen people are cramped in a small living space in rough conditions for two months. There are the occasional arguments, lustful desires, plotting and scheming, fears, and backstabbing, but they are superficial and often dwindle away as the story progresses. Exploration and science are at the forefront of Bova's MARS.
Bova returns Jamie Waterman to Mars with his sequels Return to Mars and Mars Life. I think he did a better job on the human elements in those stories.
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LibraryThing member Bruce_McNair
Jamie Waterman is a half Navaho geologist who wants to be among the final selection for an expedition to Mars. There are two other geologists in front of him, but somehow he makes the final team. Then his dream journey begins. Along the way, he upsets some of his team, the expedition leader, and
I feel that there are some common themes and major differences with Kim Stanley Robinson’s Red Mars, which was first published shortly after Ben Bova’s book. I suspect that Andy Weir may also have borrowed some ideas for his book, The Martian.
Unfortunately, the technology portrayed is dated for a story supposedly set around 2020, especially with the mention of floppy disks and tape recorders. Surely a noted science fiction writer should have seen the demise of such devices. However, in my opinion, there is enough drama here to make it a good read despite its shortcomings. I gave it 4 stars out of 5.
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the politicians back on Earth. But then a series of discoveries are made that cements his position.I feel that there are some common themes and major differences with Kim Stanley Robinson’s Red Mars, which was first published shortly after Ben Bova’s book. I suspect that Andy Weir may also have borrowed some ideas for his book, The Martian.
Unfortunately, the technology portrayed is dated for a story supposedly set around 2020, especially with the mention of floppy disks and tape recorders. Surely a noted science fiction writer should have seen the demise of such devices. However, in my opinion, there is enough drama here to make it a good read despite its shortcomings. I gave it 4 stars out of 5.
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LibraryThing member ikeman100
This is my first Ben Bova book. It's a good mix of hard science and fiction. I Really enjoyed it. It gives a good feel for a trip to a real planet and the innovations required to make it happen. I'm looking forward to more books by this writer.
LibraryThing member MatthewFrend
Great story-telling.
LibraryThing member Treebeard_404
Having read (listened to) this book for a second time, I'm raising my rating from three stars to four. This time around, I appreciated much more the characters' depth and the accurate science and presentation of Mars.
Subjects
Awards
Locus Award (Nominee — Science Fiction Novel — 1993)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1992-07
Physical description
502 p.; 9.4 inches
ISBN
0553078925 / 9780553078923
Local notes
Ex-library copy (Channing House Library).
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