Mars

By: Ben Bova

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Length: 18 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

This grand epic adventure from six-time Hugo Award - winning author Ben Bova tells the irresistible story of man's first mission to that great unconquered frontier, Mars. Technically plausible and compellingly human, Bova's story explores the political, scientific, and social repercussions of our greatest quest yet: the search for evidence of life beyond Earth's boundaries.

Half-Navajo geologist Jamie Waterman has been selected for the ground team of the first manned expedition to our mysterious neighbor planet. Joining an international team of astronauts and scientists, he endures the rigors of training, the dangers of traveling an incredible distance in space, the challenges of an alien landscape, and the personal and political conflicts that arise when the team must face the most shocking discovery of all.

Listen to Ben Bova's complete Mars trilogy, including the second book, Return to Mars, and the third book, Mars Life.

©1992 Ben Bova (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A bulging, impressive, all-you-ever-wanted-to-know, you-are-there Martian odyssey." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Space opera!

Space opera in the Arthur C Clarke tradition: impeccable science and high adventure. Lyric descriptions of Martian landscapes, death-defying heroes. Romance... but no sex, please!
I liked Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy immensely, and was a bit leery of anyone else trespassing. No need. Mars is fun!
Recommended.

The Backstory IS the story!

I've listened to several other books by Ben Bova, narrated by Stefan Rudnicki, so I was pretty excited going into this new book. That excitement was quickly short lived when I realized that there was very little detail into the science-fiction aspect of the story. The technical jargon that I have come to expect from Bova was relatively absent. Not to mention that the first hour or so of the book is told through various characters, leaving no clear protagonist. I was slowly getting lost in my expectations of the book when right around the 1 hour mark, the protagonist introduces himself. It's done very surreptitiously, and you almost don't even notice it. However, once the leading character steps to the forefront of the story, that is when and where, the story comes to life!

Well, not the story story, but the backstory. You know, the little nuiansces of events that have already happened, that provide a more comfortable atmosphere for the present tense......Well, not so much here. In a very short period of time, you come to the profound realization that the backstory is so much better than the story itself! Yes, it does make the present tense infinitely more interesting, but the backstory is filled with drama, anxiety, suspense, mystery, politics, and most importantly, the darker sides of human nature. Bova really does a superb job of getting you into the minds of alot of different people, spanning the globe in terms of cultures and habits, and what he shows you is quite intruiging.

Stefan Rudnicki again does a good job in this audiobook with his wide range and his seemingly authentic accents.

In the end, the backstory detailing the human side of the Mars expedition is more compelling than any technical detail!

Classic

☆ Ben Bova is a sci-fi master. Stephan Rudnicki has a voice made for interpret audio books. Ahhh ~ 'nuff said!

Solid, but a little slow, dated, and unrealistic.

A very enjoyable look at the political and scientific challenges involved in a program of exploration of Mars. Rudnicki is great, as always. He did a more than respectable job of voices and accents.

Some of the technological references are dated and the characters take actions that I found a bit unlikely, but I enjoyed it overall. If you like your SciFi near-future and with predictable technology, then you will consider Mars to be time and credit well spent.

Mars

Ben bova does a good job entertaining the reader and listener with story. I found the racial intolerance a bit exagerated and the profanity totally unnecessary. I know people use this type of language in real life but this is not about real life. Otherwise it is a very good listen. The science was good and the little insights into how the media works and the native american folklore was worthwhile.

A good read/listen.

Definitely a good book, especially with the renewed interest in visiting and possibly colonizing Mars lately.

Good, but others have done better.

Good Mars adventure, I enjoyed it a lot and I will continue the Grand Tour Series. however it did not come close to the Mars Trilogy from Kim Stanley Robinson. that series is the best look at the future of humans on Mars and is one of my favorite series of all time.

I will recommend this book to others, especially as part of this competent series.

Not working properly

Doesn't work properly in Audible. Also doesn't show up at all on Audible for CarPlay. Perhaps something went wrong with the process, bringing this older SF book forward. Pretty decent story. Especially what they find. It was a very big thing for me, many years ago, to think about a trip to Mars. I'm glad we're finally working to go there now.

It could happen, almost.

Although the politics seem weak in the reality of politics, even in 2008 when released, "Mars" is well written, suspenseful and well read. This is a very possible sci-fi drama and, for once, the ending does not muck up the suspense.

The Best Book of the series

The book is well written and the plot is interesting, The play between the characters and the political entanglements they
get in is our politics of today.