You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
If you have a significant other who appears everytime you even think about reading, wait on this book. It needs your full attention, not them.
Sociologically-heavy look into colonizing Mars. Told through the perspective of a different person at a different in each part, presents different stages of humans getting to and living on Mars. Focuses on the human element rather than the scifi element.
'Red Mars' is a detailed, granular novel exploring the scientific, sociological, political, and economic ramifications of colonizing Mars.
Alas, it isn't a very good novel.
The author shows us the results of his no-doubt exhaustive research. He really makes us think about the nuts and bolts of how Martian colonization could actually work. He fails to craft a compelling narrative or generate much tension in the reader. Consequently, the novel reads more like "this happened, then this happened, then this other thing happened" than a journey with a compelling challenge and satisfying story arc.
Still, I think my friends in the hard science fiction community may love 'Red Mars.' Unfortunately, it didn't happen to be for me.
Alas, it isn't a very good novel.
The author shows us the results of his no-doubt exhaustive research. He really makes us think about the nuts and bolts of how Martian colonization could actually work. He fails to craft a compelling narrative or generate much tension in the reader. Consequently, the novel reads more like "this happened, then this happened, then this other thing happened" than a journey with a compelling challenge and satisfying story arc.
Still, I think my friends in the hard science fiction community may love 'Red Mars.' Unfortunately, it didn't happen to be for me.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
More of a 3.5, but for 1993 it set a story with some things in motion that are still relevant today. This has been in my to-be-read for over 20 years, but I’m glad I didn’t read it earlier, I probably would have been more disappointed.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Loved the first 200 pages, disliked everything after it became about society.
Between reading the Martian Chronicles, Childhood’s End, and Stranger in a Strange Land, this book is incredibly slow and derivative, and the first in a trilogy. I got out before I got in too deep.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious