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Return to Mars  By  cover art

Return to Mars

By: Ben Bova
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
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Publisher's summary

Six years after the first manned Martian expedition, a second has been announced, this one motivated purely by its profitable potential. Half-Navajo geologist Jamie Waterman, a veteran of the first mission, feels his conflicted soul beckoning him back to the eerie, unforgiving planet. As commander of the new exploratory team, he will have to contend with a bitter and destructive rivalry, a disturbing new emotional attraction, and deadly, incomprehensible "accidents" that appear to be sabotage - all of which could doom the mission to failure.

But there are still great secrets to be uncovered on this cruel and enigmatic world, not the least being something he glimpsed in the far distance during his first Martian excursion: an improbable structure perched high in the planet's carmine cliffs...a dwelling that only an intelligent being could have built.

Listen to Ben Bova's complete Mars trilogy, including the first book, Mars, and the third book, Mars Life.
©1999 Ben Bova (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Bova makes the speculative hard science aspects of this novel vivid and appealing." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Return to Mars

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

this guy with his sex doll women

every single book so far is vapid women and all the mens inner dialog is toxic jealousy over women. it's insane to listen to

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • J
  • 10-07-13

Fun continuation of Mars, but has Editing Issues

Where does Return to Mars rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Middle of the pack. It was a fun continuation of the first book, Mars, but it ends kind of abruptly and there are some serious quality issues with the presentation. Any editing that was done is so painfully obvious.

What other book might you compare Return to Mars to and why?

Mars, the original book in this trilogy.

What three words best describe Stefan Rudnicki’s performance?

Very good.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The story was captivating and kept you wanting to listen but it started to get a little political which would push you away.

Any additional comments?

Rudnicki's performance was great but the editing absolutely sucked making any editing very obvious and actually obnoxious. I can't ding Rudnicki for that.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Nice story, leaden reader

Where does Return to Mars rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

On an A-F scale I'd give it a B or B-. It was a good story though it repeated several of the characters and elements of the first book, Mars. Unfortunately the reader spoke in a monotone throughout, which was a drawback.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The lead, Jaimie. I liked the concept of a Navajo astronaut, and his commitment to science rather than the commercialization of the planet.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

His voice was flat and inexpressive.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Neither, but I was drawn into it. The descriptions of the planet were vivid. The conflict between the powers back on earth was believable and the resolution was clever and satisfying.

Any additional comments?

The sexual tension was overdrawn and not really necessary. I can't believe that real Mars explorers with such personality flaws would have made it past the screening. But it was an enjoyable book nonetheless.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

It's not about the cowboy's and indians

It's not about the cowboy's and indians.
I don't think that there should have been so much Plot put on the Navajo part of this book ..

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Unrealistic characters and plot

The worlds best and brightest behaving like children and arguing about mission issues that would have been decided long before launch. Professional astronauts and scientists refusing orders. I couldn't believe it.

Rudnicki was great, as always, but not even Stefan could totally save this one.

Book 3 is off of my future list.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Absolutely AWFUL editing

This is a good story but the editing of the audiobook is very poor. There are frequent jumps in level, changes of the readers voice tone and at least one place where the same sentence was read twice.

There have obviously been a number of attempts at reading the volume and it's a slice and dice - but the recording settings and the acoustics of one of the versions were dreadful. A complete retake didn't stop someone from cobbling together a mess.

Plainly put, the quality control was non-existant. Someone should be shouted at... which is a pity because Stefan Rudnicki's performance was pretty good.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

same, but good

nothing much new...same as the first MARS book. I enjoyed it..mostly because the narrator is stef rudnicki

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Long and Boring

I found this book to be interesting in concept, but too full of intricate details that to me made it a bit boring.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great listen!!

I really enjoyed the continuing story of Jamie Waterman. Can’t wait to start the next book in the Mars series!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really makes you think

This makes me want to be alive when we explore the solar system for real.

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