Destination Mars

Chris Godfrey of U.N.E.X.A. #6

by Hugh Walters

When the first human passes close to Mars he is driven insane by strange 'voices' he hears on his radio but are unable to be recorded. U.N.E.X.A. (United Nations Exploration Agency) send their crack team (Chris Godfrey, Serge Smyslov, Morrey Kant and Tony Hale) to investigate.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Horror, Adventure, Childrens

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1963

Reviews

[Terry Weingart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when I was a child and it made a deep impression on me. Found it again on Internet Archives and had to reread it. No, it does not stand up to the passing of time but it was fun to reread.

[Timothy Keable · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another rip roaring adventure with Chris Godfrey and friends.

[Daniel Potts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scared me when I was 12.

[Kifflie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been so long since I first read this installment that I had forgotten that the boys actually encounter Martians!! Disembodied Martians, but still...

And we get our first use of the ion drive! When I was a kid, I thought ion engines were as fantastical as warp engines, but Hugh was actually describing feasible technology.

Space station Alpha makes its first appearance, and Commander Hendriks is mentioned in passing as an unpleasant personality. Foreshadowing!! I think Hugh was already plotting the next book.

Who would have thought that a cacophony of voices from space would save the day??

Plus, radiation is dangerous, kids. Every book to the point stresses it. But 50s and 60s kids certainly understood that.

[Kent Archie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story. I didn't like that there was another radiation band that could block communication where the Van Allen belts don't.
I seem to recall another story where people found that Mars had an old civilization but I can't recall the details.
I'm hoping some later book has an alien life form that isn't hostile.

[Tom Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Godfrey is back in his 6th adventure, this time getting ready to head to Mars. He and his four companions (introduced over books 2-5) have been sleeted to set foot on Mars as mankind's first visitors. But, a strange warming from the one man who traveled closest to the red planet without actually getting there has everyone on edge.

The decision to GO is made and they take off in an ion-powered ship launching from a space wheel orbiting Earth. Their first objective is to pass through a strange radiation belt part way to Mars. Once through they are assailed by strange noises coming from their radio. It is enough to drive them crazy until they shut the radio off.

The landing seems to go well and they begin exploring their surroundings but find an incredible mystery.

I can say no more without giving a spoiler, so suffice it to say they have a great struggle to get back off from Mars and home.

This is a fairly good book in the juvenile science fiction genre and certainly stands up to a lot of such stories. The author is good about describing things and keeps the action going at a good pace so just about any reader of any age over 12 will find this an interesting "ride."

The only fault I can really find in any of these stories by Hugh Walters is that some things resolve themselves a little too neatly at the penultimate moment. But, having said that a nd knowing the actual audience, this 61-year-old sci-fi buff can't complain!

[Susan Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

For young readers, but none the worse for it. "Expedition Venus" may be exciting, but this one's really spooky. Terrifying voices from the stars, not-quite-dead Martians, and zombified astronauts make the story hard to forget if you read it at the right age (in my case, eight). Which is probably why it costs so much to buy a first edition these days. My favourite Walters book.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series was one of my favourites from childhood. I probably would have read them when I was about 10 years old.
I was in love with all the characters and spell bound by their adventures and I have never forgotten them...

[Marko]

I have the german edition: Der Chor der Verdammten