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alina_leonova's review against another edition
5.0
Characters
Anna Kubrin - a geologist and artist who has been sent to Mars - is the main character. As is typical of all the Planetfall books, the story is told in the first person through her point of view. It's also a typical thing that Anna is struggling with some issues and is brilliantly fleshed out. We get to know her intimately thanks to the depth of Emma Newman's writing. Other characters are the crew living on the Mars base, each of them is unique and feels real.
World-building
Emma Newman has created an immersive, well-researched world, depicting various aspects of living on Mars. A lot of the tech is common for the Planetfall world, some of it is specific to Mars. Again, extensive world-building and interesting technology is something I've come to associate with author's style. The book can be classified as hard sci-fi.
Plot
The plot is straightforward, even though it's told in a non-linear way and a lot of information is provided through flashbacks, memories and immersive recordings that Anna watches (which is again something typical of Emma Newman's style, at least in the Planetfall series).
Impressions
I loved the book. Even though I deduced part of the mystery early on from the previous novels in the series, it still had a lot to offer and surprise me with. The book can be read as a standalone, and I believe it can be more unpredictable this way.
The flaws and struggles of the main character are the focus of the story along with the Martian mystery. Anna Kubrin struggles with her motherhood and marriage. Through her, the author creates a compelling and profound portrayal of postnatal depression.
You might enjoy the book if you are into Mars, high-tech, sci-fi thrillers and liked other Planetfall books. You can also start with this book and see if you want to proceed with the series.
Check out my website about sci-fi by women and non-binary authors for more reviews, lists, interviews, short stories and more.
Anna Kubrin - a geologist and artist who has been sent to Mars - is the main character. As is typical of all the Planetfall books, the story is told in the first person through her point of view. It's also a typical thing that Anna is struggling with some issues and is brilliantly fleshed out. We get to know her intimately thanks to the depth of Emma Newman's writing. Other characters are the crew living on the Mars base, each of them is unique and feels real.
World-building
Emma Newman has created an immersive, well-researched world, depicting various aspects of living on Mars. A lot of the tech is common for the Planetfall world, some of it is specific to Mars. Again, extensive world-building and interesting technology is something I've come to associate with author's style. The book can be classified as hard sci-fi.
Plot
The plot is straightforward, even though it's told in a non-linear way and a lot of information is provided through flashbacks, memories and immersive recordings that Anna watches (which is again something typical of Emma Newman's style, at least in the Planetfall series).
Impressions
I loved the book. Even though I deduced part of the mystery early on from the previous novels in the series, it still had a lot to offer and surprise me with. The book can be read as a standalone, and I believe it can be more unpredictable this way.
The flaws and struggles of the main character are the focus of the story along with the Martian mystery. Anna Kubrin struggles with her motherhood and marriage. Through her, the author creates a compelling and profound portrayal of postnatal depression.
You might enjoy the book if you are into Mars, high-tech, sci-fi thrillers and liked other Planetfall books. You can also start with this book and see if you want to proceed with the series.
Check out my website about sci-fi by women and non-binary authors for more reviews, lists, interviews, short stories and more.
georgina_bawden's review against another edition
4.0
This may be my second fave Planetfall novel. I loved that the protagonist was a less than perfect mother, and I liked all the characters and how they knit together. I am a sucker for a good Mars Base story anyway, so this was always going to be up my alley. Definite shades of the movies Moon and Oblivion in here, playing with some staple tropes of the genre but with a twist. I am excited about where the series seems to be going! Can't wait for more!
jj_tj's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Death and War
charlibirb's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite scifi series yet! Hope more are coming!
Amazing characters, fantastic plot, incredible world, and beautiful writing. This book has it all!
Amazing characters, fantastic plot, incredible world, and beautiful writing. This book has it all!
tyrshand's review against another edition
3.0
Well, I guess since I read this before Ariadne, I guess I'll have to write an actual review this time! So, once again, this series follows a completely different set of characters (though there are mentions of familiar ones) and takes a different kind of story and a different example of mental trauma in a protagonist. (well, actually, several examples in this one!)
Newman does an excellent job with characterization and with exploring the mental states of her protagonists, as well as the causes and possible paths to healing. The story itself, however, didn't work for me very well. Now, while thrillers are typically hard sells for me, the bigger issue is that I understood almost every secret before it was revealed. It's partly because the clues seemed rather obvious, but also because events of the prior book also provide plenty additional clues. (I wonder if this would be more satisfying for me if it were read as book two? But then aspects of book two would be spoiled by this one...) I believe it would have been a more satisfying read for me if the curtains were pulled earlier and the ramifications explored at more length.
That said, the book certainly sets up yet another intriguing plot thread that should connect to the climax of the series... It makes me wonder how many novels are planned for the series and how things will work out once each thread meets. Will it become a tangle or a tapestry? And which would be more satisfying?
Newman does an excellent job with characterization and with exploring the mental states of her protagonists, as well as the causes and possible paths to healing. The story itself, however, didn't work for me very well. Now, while thrillers are typically hard sells for me, the bigger issue is that I understood almost every secret before it was revealed. It's partly because the clues seemed rather obvious, but also because events of the prior book also provide plenty additional clues. (I wonder if this would be more satisfying for me if it were read as book two? But then aspects of book two would be spoiled by this one...) I believe it would have been a more satisfying read for me if the curtains were pulled earlier and the ramifications explored at more length.
That said, the book certainly sets up yet another intriguing plot thread that should connect to the climax of the series... It makes me wonder how many novels are planned for the series and how things will work out once each thread meets. Will it become a tangle or a tapestry? And which would be more satisfying?
awishman's review against another edition
4.0
I expected a sci-fi mystery and this delivered. I didn't expect a treatise on feeling like a bad mom but this was so relatable.
lisagray68's review against another edition
emotional
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
elusivity's review against another edition
3.0
This one left me cold, most due to how little patience I have for the main character. So much anger, denial, waffling back and forth, struggling with guilt and denial of guilt, when she was the cause of at least half of her troubles.
It is well written, intricately plotted, peopled by real humans, and is a beautiful story. This is definitely a case of wrong book for the wrong reader.
Anna flies to Mars upon corporate orders to paint and be a geologist. In fact, she was sent there to investigate why extra supplies are being sent to a relatively small Outpost. However, she immediately found a note left herself by herself, everything feels like deja vu, and the AI is hiding and changing information.
Turns out there is a second Martian base nearby, where Gabor was building a spaceship to follow the first space ship, which left earth forty years ago on a mission to seek God. When Anna (and the other 3 members of the Outpost) found the second base, Dr. Arnolfi wiped their memories and recreated/restarted events to Anna's initial arrival. Meanwhile, Earth is half destroyed by nuclear bombs hurled between America and Noropean. The team spends 2 years building a spaceship to follow the other spaceship, and Dr Arnolfi stays behind in atonement, so their journey will have a chance to be more successful.
It is well written, intricately plotted, peopled by real humans, and is a beautiful story. This is definitely a case of wrong book for the wrong reader.
Turns out there is a second Martian base nearby, where Gabor was building a spaceship to follow the first space ship, which left earth forty years ago on a mission to seek God. When Anna (and the other 3 members of the Outpost) found the second base, Dr. Arnolfi wiped their memories and recreated/restarted events to Anna's initial arrival. Meanwhile, Earth is half destroyed by nuclear bombs hurled between America and Noropean. The team spends 2 years building a spaceship to follow the other spaceship, and Dr Arnolfi stays behind in atonement, so their journey will have a chance to be more successful.