A review by thejoyofbooking
The Sirens of Mars: Searching for Life on Another World by Sarah Stewart Johnson

5.0

Part memoir, part history of humanity's interest in Mars, part meditation on what it would mean for us to find life outside of earth - and whether we would recognize it if we did. Johnson's writing is both cogent and lovely, introducing me to a history of exploration first via wondering, then telescope, and finally rover. The saga of missions that failed had me holding my breath. The anecdote that will probably stick with me the longest is a story by Voltaire that I had never heard of, about a 120,000 foot tall being that visits Earth and nearly misses the variety and value of the life that exists here. The references to literature, to great thinkers and philosophers, and the deep musings about how much we know and how much more we don't give me much to think about for a long time to come. The immensity of the space program really became real to me during this read. I know we've sent men to the moon and rovers to Mars, but realizing how complicated that really was, how far away it really is, and how much we can learn from these efforts is really awe-inspiring. Thanks to the publisher for a NetGalley early reader's edition. I read this during COVID-19 lockdown, a time during which I have found it challenging to focus on reading at all, but I absolutely couldn't put this down.