Questions About Red Mars (Mars Trilogy, #1)

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Just bought it... Still deciding whether to read this book or Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke....Any thoughts anyone?

Rodzilla Hmm, I found Rama much better. The science in the Mars trilogy is fantastic (I'm a science professor, so...). But the plot and characters never drew m…moreHmm, I found Rama much better. The science in the Mars trilogy is fantastic (I'm a science professor, so...). But the plot and characters never drew me in. Frankly, the characters were remarkably unstable and annoying, and the plot was annoying as well.

But I wouldn't read the Rama sequels. They aren't really Clarke books anyway. And there's nothing wrong with a book ending without everything answers (which is what happens in Rama).(less)

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I am currently slogging through Heinlein's "Farmer in the Sky," which seems more like a travelogue than a novel. At least one of the descriptions of "Red Mars" has me worried it may be the same kind of book. So, does "Red Mars" have an actual plot - one that runs through most of the book - or is it just a description of what it would be like to colonize the planet?

Sheila Jenné I didn't feel like it had much of a plot. At least, not *one* plot. Each section had some kind of conflict, but it's mostly a lot of driving around lo…moreI didn't feel like it had much of a plot. At least, not *one* plot. Each section had some kind of conflict, but it's mostly a lot of driving around looking at stuff.(less)

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Fiction leading fact?

Andrew I'm not sure I understand the question completely but I would argue that fact is given priority over fiction here. Characters are thin and the story, …moreI'm not sure I understand the question completely but I would argue that fact is given priority over fiction here. Characters are thin and the story, while interesting, sort of plays out like any colonial history. Fascinating for me as a history buff, but maybe not for someone who prefers literary narrative.(less)

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It seems the story is a vehicle to showcase theories about terraforming Mars. It's very educational in an engaging way about that and, by extension, the geological history of Mars. But I do feel the characters could use more story time. I'm a quarter of the way into Green Mars and I don't feel much of a connection with the remaining players. Does that change later on?

Alex Shrugged I thought Green Mars was better than Red Mars, but eventually the author's characters change. It can be a little depressing. In Blue Mars they become …moreI thought Green Mars was better than Red Mars, but eventually the author's characters change. It can be a little depressing. In Blue Mars they become nihilists, living for their own pleasure and without long-term purpose. The characters are also used as political voice for true socialism in Blue Mars. I don't like it when authors preach. I mind it less when the authors are correct, but true socialism fails every time it is tried in big groups. It only works in small homogeneous groups (less than 250) if it works at all.(less)

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This book was written 25 years ago...how does it hold up?

Alex Shrugged Since we haven't actually tried to colonize Mars yet, it holds up well. Once reality sets in, it is hard to say. No doubt there will be people who wil…moreSince we haven't actually tried to colonize Mars yet, it holds up well. Once reality sets in, it is hard to say. No doubt there will be people who will oppose terraforming Mars. They will probably win that argument in the short term since terraforming is expensive and hard to do.
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