5 comments about Tales of Grand Tour.

1. Awesome sci fi! Hard to put down. I cant wait to check out his other books.



2. I want to mention one of the stories in here. It's buried and without fanfare or a clue about what it's really about and it's a gem. 'Fifteen Miles' would represent the Moon part of the 'Tour' and it is a beautiful human story. An astronaut finds himself having to undertake a highly risky mission on the Moon to save a colleague who is stranded - and finds that the man he is trying to save somehow seems to know of the terrifying secret he has hidden in his past. This is not so much science here as a great psychological tale and it will touch the reader in a way the other stories won't.



3. This is a tasty collection of stories and excerpts from Bova's Grand Tour series. You get a little bit of everything including a Sam Gunn story and a snippet of JUPITER, MARS, and VENUS. I think the Grand Tour Series has shown Bova to be a writer who has clearly matured in his later years rather than peaking very early (such as Heinlein and Bradbury). His writing gets better and better. This is an excellent introduction to both Bova's writing and this particular series. I should also say that this "series" is not serial in any manner. You don't need to read one story ahead of another, though many characters overlap. This, of course, is what William Faulkner did throughout his career. Bova is no Faulkner and I'm no Harold Bloom, but this is science fiction at its absolute best.



4. I was rather disappointed. Instead of a book of shorstories, all this book is is reprints of chapters from each of the "Grand Tour" books. Quite a let down



5. Over the years, Ben Bova has become famous for his "Grand Tour" novels about the solar system. Through this fine series of books, Bova has introduced readers to numerous different characters, including Jamie Waterman (Mars), Van Humphries (Venus), Lars Fuchs (Venus, Asteroid Wars), and Sam Gunn (The Sam Gunn Omnibus). Each of these character has played an integral role in Bova's novels, and in "Tales of the Grand Tour", we get to revisit some of these characters' most exciting moments.
   
   Rather than a stand-alone novel, this book is a collection of short stories from the entire Grand Tour series. The reader gets to experience once again Van Humphries' harrowing descent through the atmosphere of Venus with his ship breaking up all around him only to be rescued by none other than Lars Fuchs. Also, Jamie Waterman's experience on Mars, along with Dex Trumball and his future wife Vijay is retold again. I was also introduced to some characters I haven't read about before, including Sam Gunn and the Great Rolando. Some of these characters were introduced before the more well-known Grand Tour novels were written, so I especially enjoyed reading about them.
   
   Some of the material in this book is simply re-printed directly from the novel from which it originally came, namely Jamie Waterman's and Van Humphries' adventures on Mars and Venus respectively, but I still enjoyed re-reading this material a second time, because I really enjoyed these characters originally. The added chapters with the characters I hadn't read about before are enjoyable and contain Bova's trademark style of writing, which includes strong character development and excellent storytelling.
   
   I recommend this book to all fans of Ben Bova's "Grand Tour" novels. Sure, the reader might end up re-reading some material but, as I did, they may encounter some new adventures along the way as well.

5 comments about The Rock Rats (The Grand Tour; also Asteroid Wars).

1. Ben Bova has written an exciting follow-up to "The Precipice". Once again, Martin Humphries and Lars Fuchs clash in this fast-paced novel.
   
   At the end of The Precipice, Humphries was exiled from Selene and forced to give up all of his shares in Astro Manufacturing. Despite this, he still crashes Lars' and Amanda's wedding and gives them Starpower I as a wedding present. Martin secretly hopes that Lars will head to the Asteroid Belt alone and leave Amanda on Selene where he can get his hands on her, but she surprises Martin by leaving with Lars.
   
   Martin has also developed a trading center on the asteroid Ceres. Here, Martin's company can supply the "Rock Rats" with all the supplies they need. In response, Amanda convinces Lars and Pancho to develop their own company to compete against Martin. Pancho's Astro company will provide the goods. Thus, Helvetia, Inc. was born and is now larger than Martin's company.
   
   Understandably upset by Lars' latest move, Martin sends some of his own thugs to raid Helvetia's warehouse. In the ensuing melee, Lars loses all of his inventory and some of his employees are killed. But Matin doesn't stop with the warehouse. Soon, ships are disappearing and Martin's company is laying claim to many different asteroids. Even the chief director of the habitat project is killed.
   
   Lars tracks down the killer and infuses a little frontier justice of his own. A court is convened, but Lars is found innocent. But Humphries is incensed. He sends Dorik Harbin, a hired assassin who's hooked on several different kinds of drugs, into the belt to hunt down Lars and kill him. However, Lars manages to give Harbin the slip, and Harbin is forced to return to Selene empty-handed. However, once there, he meets and begins a torrid affair with Diane Verwoerd, Martin's assistant. Martin has his own plan for Diane; namely, having her impregnated with his clone. But, Martin still has his sights set on Amanda and making her his own. Will he succeed?
   
   This is a very good book. Although I preferred "The Precipice" slightly more, "The Rock Rats" is loaded with action, and the conflict between Martin and Lars explodes with fury. Bova fans won't want to miss this exciting continuation of the Asteroid Wars.



2. Book one was great, but Rock Rats is missing something. In addition to a few grammatical errors the book is over simplified. I found that I despised the way Bova reintroduced the characters and plot lines from the first book. There was a tendency to use narrative instead of letting character dialogue and scene description tell the story. But hey, its got space pirates, that's good.



3. I purchased this book and it's predecessor together based on the author's name. Ben Bova. A fourth of the way through the first book I felt cheated.
   
   The progression of the story isn't smooth at all. It jerks and jumps and drags. The situations aren't believable and there are large gaps in the rationalization of "WHY". You know, "WHY" this or that happens. "WHY" these people do this or that. The reasons just aren't there. Worst of all, the characters don't behave like actual people, their decisions are obviously made to push along this stubborn mule of a story. And believe me, this mule doesn't wanna go anywhere.
   
   Like I said earlier, I purchased books I and II together. I forced myself to read the second book as punishment for believing the hype of a big name science fiction writer. Surprise, surprise, it was like trying to slog my way through mud. Mud that's up past your shins. You're forced to go slow, you can see all this mud in front of you and you just want to get to the end.
   
   I do not recommend this book.



4. Not being a major fan of Ben Bova, I was interested in the comments made by some reviewers who obviously are fans. The harsh criticisms levelled at "The Rock Rats" were quite interesting. While I would not lambast the book as complete rubbish, it certainly lacked something that the previous novel, The Precipice (The Grand Tour; also Asteroid Wars), had.
   
   The plot basically follows on from the first novel, (with some large jumps in time), and focuses on Martin Humphries' attempts to tighten his grip on control of the asteroid belt and its super-abundant resources and profits. Of course, being a rather morally challenged villain, he uses some nasty methods. Up against this behemoth of industry is Lars Fuchs, protege and beneficiary of Dan Rudolph. With a large number of subplots going on, there is much more to it than this simplistic summary.
   
   One reviewer commented that the story jumps about a bit. While this is true, with jumps of dossiers on characters and so on, I feel this does not detract from the novel itself. The brief episodes add an air of anticipation, I thought, as I wondered how these people would fit in. The only thing that annoyed me a bit was the so-called "dossiers" were in very novel-like language, hardly anything like that of real dossiers. They just didn't seem convincing.
   
   The plot itself takes longer to wind up than the previous novel of the series. For about the first 100 pages, I found it a bit of a chore, to be honest. Once I got into the second century of pages, things started to move, finally. The adventure was back and the conflict reached a new level.
   
   I would also add this: Lars Fuchs seems an odd sort of main character for this type of role. He just seems a bit more wishy washy than most, and seemed less than adequate. When he finally gets some substance, the novel ends. This might be overly critical, but I thought the character of Dan Randolph had much more substance, as did many of the subsidiary characters.
   
   While not as good as "The Precipice", I still enjoyed this installment of "The Asteroid Wars". The read is simple and does not require lots of brain power. It is a good relaxing jaunt through the solar system neighbourhood that Earth is in.



5. ***SPOILER ALERT***
   Ben Bova is a good story teller, no doubt. His writting will keep you turning the pages and finish the book in no time. The futuristic discription is gloomy, yet possible. He also does a decent job with technology, a must in any sci-fic book.
   
   What he lacks is a better character development and a cheerer (that's not a word, right?) ending. Amanda, the sexy yet intellengent wife of Lars, devoices her husband in order to protect him from Humphries?!? What?! I thought this girl was supposed to be INTELLENGENT!!! And then there's George; dude was saved by Lars, probably his best friend, from a hopeless situation, and how does he thank him? By exiling him from Ceres, the moon, and the Earth....what?! I know Ben wants to keep the story open for the next book, but dude, at least make some sense!
   
   Anyhow, besides the terrible ending the book is pretty decent and entertaining. I personally didn't read book One, I might, but book Three is out of the question, I read the review and can't stand any more mishape of Lars and Amanada (she stayed with Humphries, the man she hates, for years?!...well guess she's not so smart after all)

5 comments about Mars (Library).

1. A fascinating sci-fi novel about the first manned expedition to Mars. The story's more about the science than the fiction, which makes it very interesting to this reader, who suffers from a deplorable case of science deficiency. My only complaint was the poor development of the characters. I just didn't really care if anyone lived or died, which is a shame in an otherwise interesting novel.



2. This book fell far short of the standards I had for it. The narrative jumped not just between characters, but also between planets and time periods. There's very little adventure or excitement and what really enraged me was that a character description in the book lied about one professional who is enraged and plots to make the protagonist pay for ruining his life's dream to study the Martian volcanoes, but yet he does nothing! He fumes and is enraged, but that is it!
   
   Parts of the book seemed too much like a textbook for my taste, and even got redundant with the author constantly reminding the reader that Mars' sky is not blue.
   
   Add it all together with stereotypical cardboard characters and it makes for a most dissatisfying read, not as bad as Allen Steele's Coyote Trilogy though.



3. With the Martian rovers Spirit and Opportunity driving around Mars and sending us back some thousands of pictures you have to ask yourself if a book on the first manned trip to mars makes sense. Strangely enough, even though this book is now 17 years old, the answer is yes.
   
   To be sure there are some problems with the book that has made it outdated. In the book, for instance the Soviet Union is still around and part of earthly politics. And in the book Mars is a much nicer place than we see now.
   
   But all in all, I didn't find that these things mattered. After all, we still haven't sent any people to Mars. And the politics of a multi-national crew composed of both men and women is still an open question. So far as we know, there hasn't been any sex in space. In the book there is, and the crew has taken their Earth bound attitudes with them. This includes all the petty problems you would expect of having people cooped up together for a long time.
   
   These are just a couple of the interesting points about the book. Forget the forbidding, desolate pictures from Spirit and Opportunity and have a good time with this book.
   
   This is the first book in the Mars series recorded by Stefan Rudnicki. (See also Return to Mars and Mars Life) It is complete and unabridged, almost 20 hours of recording on 15 compact disks. He's a great reader.



4. I would give this book 3.5 stars if I could. It's got the standard Ben Bova elements such as:
   1. Interesting characters
   2. Multiple points of view, and multiple stories overlapping
   3. Politics, I mean real political machinery at work.
   4. Good pacing. He makes standard, mundane human activities very interesting and readable.
   5. Real good hard science.
   
   The only problem that I find is that the story has not exciting climax, to me. Once it's a forgone conclusion that they will find the remnants of life on Mars, the last 1/4 becomes a bit anticlimatic. I find that I need a little more space opera-type action for me to give the book 4 or 5 stars.



5. Many of the Native Americans share the belief that "The People" came from a hole in the ground. This book explores that theory and with all of its subtle overtones. It was my first work from Ben Bova but not my last I hope to read.
   
   Buy it. Read it. Love it.

5 comments about Return to Mars.

1. Perhaps that was a spoiler. Other reviewers have already mentioned that the protagonist of this novel was a Navaho Indian. I think that gives a unique slant to what could have been another "hardware opera". (For the record, I don't usually read realistic novels about space exploration because I'm not that interested in descriptions of rovers, landers etc.)
   
   For me, what made this novel unique was that for once, the money-hungry developers DIDN'T get their way. Another unique touch was Jamie's real love for the planet Mars. Can any of us imagine WANTING to live on Mars? I can't. Jamie's protectiveness and reverence for the Red Planet are unusual in space fiction. Some reviewers are calling this "leftist" but I think this sort of consciousness is parallel to an increased respect for Earth as a living organism (Gaia). Call me mystical but I wonder whether all planetary bodies have some sort of integrity which ought not to be violated by money-hungry developers.
   
   But what I enjoyed most was the portrayal of the discovery of the Martian village. We see a lot of ET's and aliens in space opera fiction, but it is another thing to imagine actually discovering intelligent life, or its remains. Bova handled this glorious moment wonderfully.



2. Navajo geologist-astronaut, Jamie Waterman, blasts off to the red planet for a second time as the leader of a privately funded follow up expedition to the earth's first foray to Mars which ended on a literal cliff-hanger. the discovery of pueblo-like cliff dwellings that seemed to indicate Mars had been inhabited in the past by intelligent life.
   
   The crew, an eclectic blend of nationalities and experts in a variety of scientific and technical fields of endeavour, direct their efforts to the completion of three distinct projects - the examination of the lichen type biology and the geology of the caldera of Olympus Mons, a volcano and the highest mountain in the solar system; the recovery of a priceless artifact from the much earlier Mars Pathfinder expeditions; and the detailed investigation of Jamie's pueblo dwellings with a view to proving once and for all whether Mars had ever been home to an intelligent species of life.
   
   Aside from the hard sci-fi themes of the Martian environment, the research, the overwhelming dangers and difficulties of extraterrestrial exploration in a fundamentally hostile environment, "Return to Mars" also examines two other central themes - first, the almost insurmountable difficulties of the costs of big budget science and the conflicts that inevitably arise when capitalism attempts to force fundamental research into profit-oriented motives; and, second, the inherent dangers of contaminating a pristine environment such as Mars with untrammeled, loosely controlled exploration, travel, business and (gasp!) even colonization or, worse yet, tourism!
   
   Certainly, Bova was not shy about using "Return to Mars" as a forum for espousing his own political views on the matter and, for some readers, the strength of the expression of these opinions was seen as a shortcoming in the novel. But, I felt that using Jamie, in particular, a highly educated scientist with an underlying aboriginal Navajo cultural mindset, as the fundamental mouthpiece for these opinions, the left-leaning political statements seemed to come across as heartfelt and completely natural. While some readers might disagree with some of what Jamie had to say, it seemed completely reasonable to hear him and the other scientists express these views. Their disgust and complete antipathy to the notion of tourism directed at the Martian cliff-dwellings was particularly understandable in the context in which it was presented.
   
   Highly recommended.
   
   Paul Weiss



3. It has been six years since geologist Jamie Waterman set foot on Mars for the first time. Now, he's going back again, this time as mission commander in Ben Bova's great follow-up novel.
   
   In this installment, Jamie has been installed as mission commander. He hopes to be able to further explore the rock formation he discovered in the Tithonium Chasma on the first expedition. He's in charge of seven other members in this expedition. Included in the mission are Stacy Dezhurova, Dex Trumball, Possum Craig, Trudy Hall, Vijay Shektar, Mitsuo Fuchida, and Tomas Rodriguez. After a five-month flight from earth, the crew had finally reached their destination. Dex is the son of Darryl C. Trumball, an American billionaire who has put up most of the funding for the mission. He had hoped that his son would be named mission commander and only reluctantly accepted Jamie as commander. Dex and his father hoped to exploit possible commercial and tourist activities on Mars, while Jamie hoped to keep the planet pristine and explore its vast amounts of uncharted wilderness.
   
   Almost immediately, tensions begin to flare between Jamie and Dex. To make matters worse, Dex and Jamie both seem romantically interested in Vijay. Despite their rivalry, Dex and Jamie begin to work together and, as the book goes on, even develop a strong friendship. Dex begins to have serious doubts about his father's grand scheme of making Mars into a tourist destination. As time goes on, he reveals more and more of his true feelings to Jamie. Jamie wants Mars preserved as is and slowly, Dex begins to believe that Jamie's course of action is best. Vijay's and Jamie's relationship deepens as well.
   
   Studies are carried out at the Tithonium Chasma and it is discovered that Jamie's rock dwelling is indeed the remnants of an ancient civilization of Martians. Upon analysis of rock samples taken from the site, it is determined that the structure is approximately 65 million years old; the same age as the earth was when the dinosaurs were wiped out. This discovery leads the expedition members to believe that life on Mars ended at about the same time.
   
   Problems have arisen for the expedition as well. Fuchida believes that there is a saboteur among the group. Several strange occurances have happened that cannot be explained as simple coincidence. Now, the group must watch out for further acts of sabotage. Unfortunately, another takes place, this time with devastating consequences.
   
   Dex's father is still determined to see his dream of having Mars as a tourist destination fulfilled. So, he gets a seat on a re-supply ship destined for Mars. Mr. Trumball hopes to "claim" the part of Mars being researched as his own. That way, he can proceed with his vision. However, Jamie, with Dex's help, has decided to stake a claim for the Navajo nation in hopes of leaving Mars as is. Jamie also learns that he must remain behind after the others leave in order to enforce his claim. So, after the final act of sabotage forces the rest of the group to leave for Earth early, Jamie has decided to remain until the re-supply ship arrives to stake the claim for the Navajo nation. But, he's not alone; Vijay has decided to stay as well.
   
   This is an excellent book. The story is well-conceived, and the development of the characters is first-rate. I've read several of Bova's books, and I've enjoyed "Mars" and "Return to Mars" the most. I hope that there will be a third installment to finish the story. This book and its predecessor are must reads for sci-fi fans.



4. Here's a line of dialogue in the first few pages of the story. One of the astronauts, a character named Peter "Possum" Craig, a Texan, is noting his approval of the Mars mission commander. He says this: "We're lucky to have Dr. Waterman headin' up this rodeo."
   I've lived in Texas my entire 52 years, and I have never met any Texan with the nickname "Possum". Or, for that matter, "Gopher" or "Bobcat" or any other colorful animal name. Nor have I ever heard any Texan refer to a scientific expedition, or anything else -- except a rodeo -- as a "rodeo".
   So this might give you an idea of the shallowness and stereotyping of Bova's characters.
   Having got that off my chest, I did enjoy the story enough to finish it. If you've read the predecessor story "Mars", most things in this book will be predictable. But I like my science fiction with a healthy dose of science, and this story satisfied that requirement and was interesting enough.



5. With the Martian rovers Spirit and Opportunity driving around Mars and sending us back some thousands of pictures you have to ask yourself if a book on the first manned trips to mars makes sense. Strangely enough, even though this book is now 10 years old, the answer is yes.
   
   To be sure there are some problems with the book that has made it outdated. But it is a lot more current than the first book in the series called simply Mars.
   
   But all in all, I found this book to be better than the first. There aren't as many characters and thus the story is somewhat tighter with more time available to define their personalities.
   
   These are just a couple of the interesting points about the book. Forget the forbidding, desolate pictures from Spirit and Opportunity and have a good time with this book.
   
   This is the second book in the Mars series recorded by Stefan Rudnicki. (See also Mars and Mars Life) It is complete and unabridged, approximately 16 hours of recording on 13 compact disks. He's a great reader.

5 comments about Titan (The Grand Tour).

1. Not up to the usual standards, keep up with the science fiction and keep politics out of space, one idiot in america is enough , we don't need the same sort of arrogant , cleptimaniac portraying (Bush) in space.



2. . . . Ben Bova is veering all over the map in the quality of novels currently being produced (from a high in "Mars" to an embarassingly pathetic low in "Venus".)
   
   This effort, "Titan", is a direct sequal to the misnamed "Saturn" and it features (as one might expect) the giant moon of Saturn by the same name.
   
   Ben Bova may be a decent Sci-Fi writer (and even, possibly, a competent scientist) but a social scientist he ain't -- and this novel, only marginally better than its prequal -- certainly demonstrates this.
   
   As in "Saturn", the science takes a back seat to the socio-political machinations on board the giant habitat heading for the Ringed Planet. Most of the characters are flat and many are unsympathetic at best. The interpersonal relationship issues are utterly predictable and the social dynamics are typical to what one sees in an oversexed high school.
   
   Nevertheless, the book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, leaving room (of course) for more books in the series.
   
   As an aside, Bova has, in the past, occasionally ("Mars", "Jupiter") introduced believable and sympathetic religious characters. Not in "Titan", though. Like "Saturn" before it, Bova seems to regard every person of faith as some sort of ultrafundamentalist zealot wacko. This does get tiring.



3. It's funny how passionate readers can be. For some who didn't like this novel, you'd get the impression that the author has committed some sort of crime against humanity. Truth be told, TITAN is a fine adventure story and it kept me interested all the way through. It's true that TITAN is a sort of sequel to SATURN, but where SATURN bogs down in several subplots relating to the new theology that haunts the background to the Grand Tour novels, TITAN does not. This is one of Bova's strengths. When he is dealing with people working in space, he succeeds remarkably. He is less adroit in dealing with religion and its social causes and effects. This isn't a crime (though it's clear that some reviewers think it is). Religion isn't handled all that well in science fiction, but when it is (as in Blish's A CASE OF CONCIENCE, Miller's A CANTICLE FOR LIEBOWITZ and Del Rey's ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT) it's handled extraordinarily well. I found it hard to believe than any human in space (in the Grand Tour Novels) would let themselves be influenced or commanded in any way by a religious group on the earth. (I understand the fear of nano-technology by the people on the earth in these novels. Bova renders that real and palpable.) I just don't see humankind becoming more obedient to religious groups; I see just the opposite. But that's just me. This is SATURN's only failure. I couldn't believe that the religious zealots on the orbiting colony ship around Saturn could hold sway in a cultural climate where people are heading off to the planets.
   
   Still, TITAN is an excellent book and I recommend it. (And you needn't, really, to have read SATURN). Bova is one of the most dependable authors in the science fiction field, a field that's slowly being taken over by the alternate-history novel (a form of fantasy, though no one wants to admit it) and the multi-novel saga which is designed only to make money.
   
   The OTHER thing that recommends Bova's Grand Tour are the covers which are done by John Harris. He's one of the very best science fiction cover illustrators and a genuine artist. For no other reason than getting the Harris covers, I'd recommend Bova's books to you.



4. I enjoyed reading this novel -- good, light, summer kind of reading with a sci fi bent that is satisfying.
   
   But weren't some of the plot lines just a bit too reminiscent of "2001: A Space Odyssey"? To wit:
   
   (1) A computer malfunctions because of conflicting programming, which is mysterious and deeply frustrating to its creators and eventually leads the machine to attempt to kill humans (in 2001, HAL succeeded, whereas Titan Alpha does not).
   (2) A mysterious race of extraterrestials has placed artifacts in the solar system that may be sending off a massive "we've been found, there's intelligent life here" signals (the obelisk and Jupiter in 2001; the nanomachines and Saturn's rings and the electromagnetic every-16-days pulse in the Bova series).
   
   Because these are such core elements of the plotline, the result is that there's just a bit too much of a "been there, read that" feeling with "Titan." A fun read, but not much more.



5. Ben Bova has written another exciting story that is loaded with action and adventure. This time, he takes the reader to Titan, the largest of Saturn's moons.
   
   After months of travel, the colony ship Goddard is finally in orbit around Saturn. This habitat is loaded with 10,000 dissidents, rebels, scientists, and visionaries who were exiled from Earth for one reason or another. Aboard the ship is Eduoard Urbain, a scientist. More importantly, Urbain is in control of Titan Alpha, a probe which has been placed on the surface of Titan to gather data. However, once on the surface, the probe stops transmitting data to Goddard. Although data is being collected, the probe has stopped transmitting. It is as good as dead. Now, Urbain faces the dilemma of fixing the unresponsive probe.
   
   Meanwhile, Malcolm Eberly, the habitat's chief administrator, is facing re-election. He has been in power for only a year, but he now faces a stiff challenge for re-election from Holly Lane, Eberly's former head of human resources. The main point of contention is the habitat's policy of zero growth. Eberly maintains that, unless the rings of Saturn are mined for their water molecules, the habitat has no room for expansion. Holly, on the other hand, disputes this point, saying that the habitat has room for many more people (namely, children). She begins a petition drive to have the ZPG amendment removed. From the start of the election, it appears that Eberly will win easily. He even promises to remove the ZPG amendment once the mining of the rings begins. However, scientists have discovered what they think are living organisms in the rings. If this is true, the rings cannot be mined for their water. Eberly is determined to mine the rings regardless, but Holly comes up with another plan which really shakes up the election.
   
   Back on Titan, the scientists are having little luck re-starting Titan Alpha. The only way to get the probe moving again is for someone to go to the surface and fix it manually. Manny Gaeta, a former stuntman, has volunteered to fix Titan Alpha. He also ventured into Saturn's rings to discover the bugs (later found to be nanomachines placed by some alien civilization). Once on the surface of Titan, Manny gets more than he bargained for from the probe. It appears that, while on the surface, the probe has begun learning on its own, and the probe is convinced that any contact from humans will result in contamination. Now, Manny has the task of trying to fix the probe, while the probe sees Manny as a threat and, to make things worse, the probe has its laser pointed directly at Manny.
   
   This is an exciting book to read. Ben Bova writes with a very readable style that draws the reader immediately in to the story. His knowledge of science is apparent, and he always devotes a chapter in his books to actual scientific information about the item he is writing about.
   
   I recommend this book very highly. The story is excellent and the characters are well-developed, and the reader can instantly identify with them. Read this exciting installment in Bova's grand tour of the solar system; Bova fans won't be disappointed.

5 comments about The Aftermath: Book Four of The Asteroid Wars.

1. After a fairly slowly paced second volume and a more intense third volume, "The Aftermath" leaves many of the characters of the first three volumes in the background. Gone are Pancho Lane, Lars Fuchs and Martin Humphries, except for some incidental mentions. The main focus is on the Zacharias family and Dorn, (formerly known as Dorik Harbin), a cyborg repaired after an attempted suicide and trying to atone for a life of murder and death.
   
   Essentially, the plot follows different threads as they intertwine with each other and come together with the Artefact on the asteroid forming something of a centre point. Victor Zacharias chases his family across the Belt, trying to find them after being attacked by Harbin. George Ambrose still tries to run the habitat near Ceres, though he is not one of the main characters. Valker and his crew are thrown into the mix as something of the bad guys, and there is the HSS flunkies who are hunting down Dorn and his companions to prevent their speaking out about Martin Humphries little episode with the Artefact.
   
   The book moves with a very good pace, and I have to admit that I enjoyed the simple, no nonsense style that Bova writes with. Unlike some authors, he keeps details to a fair minimum to allow for a heightened pace to the story. It serves the book well, though sometimes I was a bit confused on how to imagine certain things working. An example is the wheel shaped ships and how the command pods fit into it.
   
   Overall, I enjoyed the series a lot and it was a good read. I would recommend Ben Bova to anyone who likes the idea of near-future sci-fi, and enjoys a good action filled yarn. I definitely enjoyed this one and it kept me absorbed until the last page.



2. I got books one through three of Ben Bova's Asteroid Wars series at a clearance price and when I finished them I realized that there must be a fourth so I scooted out to Amazon and sure enough there it was. Bought it!
   
   I enjoyed the audios a lot. The series is laid out in an epic format with interesting characters if a little thin and one dimensional in motivation. But this is space opera after all. The fact that I popped the full price for the fourth tells you how much I liked the first three ...
   The good thing is something is always happening, but Bova writes episodically in a way that overlaps themes and characters ... so I'm still wondering what happened to some of the characters and there's a kicker in the 3rd volume (don't want to put in a spoiler) which is only partly resolved in the fourth volume. Another issue is that some characters are left dangling and even those that are tied up without too many loose ends, there are unresolved issues -- Pancho Lane's clean up had the feel of "... I can't kill her off, but I want to move on, so I'll just do something quick and expedient to get her out of the story line." So right now, too many loose ends for a five star review, but for keeping me interested for four volumes and entertained the whole way ... four stars are well earned.



3. I will not add anything to the summaries given by other reviewers, but I will state that I, like most of them, found this novel an excellent read and well worth purchasing.
   
   For those of you who do read this book, pay particular attention to Bova's approach to murder, justice, and self-defense; he develops this theme towards the end of the novel. He seems to lack a moral distinction between the three concepts, while I am utterly certain there are very real differences. Read what he has to say, then think about what you believe.
   
   Kudos to Ben Bova for writing a novel that does not merely entertain, but also poses extremely worthwhile moral questions for his readers' consideration. The best sort of storyteller!



4. I'm a big Bova fan now. This is up there with Jupiter. I loved the story of Dorn and sculptor, and the Zacharias family. It was just good from beginning to end.
   This is the 4th book of the Asteroid Wars. I read The Precipice, the 1st book and enjoyed it, but it was too much like a soap opera- who is in love with who?. And from reviews, I saw that the next few books had the same characters and the same bubble-gum soap opera throughout. In fact, I was so tired of the characters created in The Precipice, that I wanted all of them, except for Pancho and Ambrose, to just die or go away. I just wanted no part of that of the original cast.
   
   I am happy to say that this book starts with a clean slate of new characters and it is well done. The best thing about Ben Bova's books is the pacing. I like the constant scene changes and different perspectives. With several story lines going on and coming together. It's keeps the book very readable. It's a nice format for him. Sometimes Bova writes average quality books and sometimes he hits home runs. In this book, Bova is at his best. Well played Ben Bova.



5. The Aftermath (2007) is the seventh SF novel in the Asteroid Wars series and the fourth in this sequence, following The Silent War. In the previous volume, an alien Artifact was found and worked its changes upon various humans. It brought out the insanity in Martin, but changed Dorn and Elverda in other ways. The Artifact was moved to hide it from the rest of humanity.
   
   In this novel, Victor Zacharias is a former architect from Earth who has become a belter. He and his family operate the ore ship Syracuse, buying ore from rock rats and transporting it to the smelters.
   
   Pauline Osgood was born on Luna. She met Victor in Selene and then married him on Earth. She has borne two children for him.
   
   Angela is the eldest child of Victor and Pauline. Angie is about eighteen and has a boyfriend on Chrysalis, the habitat at Ceres.
   
   Theo is the second child in the Zacharias family. He is almost sixteen and interested in science and technology. Yet he is a terrible klutz.
   
   Dorik Harbin was born in the Balkans and became a soldier in his teen years. He also became a drug addict to escape his dreams of death and destruction. Eventually he attempted suicide and was rebuilt as a cyborg. Since his exposure to the Artifact, he has changed his name to Dorn.
   
   Elverda Apacheta is a sculptress from an Andean background. She is very well known for carving The Rememberer, a two kilometer long asteroid in Earth orbit. After her exposure to the Artifact, Elverda became Dorn's partner.
   
   In this story, Victor is having problems adjusting to the teenage Theo. He forbids Theo from touching any of the ship controls because of his destructive way with machines. Theo believes that his father doesn't trust him at all.
   
   Pauline points out the problem to her husband and Victor lets Theo watch the controls as long as he doesn't touch them. Theo is standing watch one day and notices a confrontation between an attack ship and Chrysalis station. He summons his father and they watch as the attack ship destroys the station.
   
   Victor tries to change course away from the station like the other ships around Ceres, but somehow attracts the attention of the attacker. It fires on the Syracuse and damages the antennas and releases most of the fuel. Victor drops his cargo to shield the Syracuse from the attacker's weapons.
   
   Then the attack ship moves around the released rocks to approach them. Victor jettisons the control pod from the Syracuse and flees to draw the attack ship away from his family. The attacker follows the pod and leaves Pauline and her children stranded in the Syracuse.
   
   The ore ship is moving toward Jupiter without any communications. Theo cuts thrust and determines their orbital parameters. The Syracuse will return to the vicinity of Ceres in slightly more than eight years. The ship only has sufficient fuel to reduce the orbital delay to about four years.
   
   Theo and Angie cease their juvenile bickering and learn to cooperate during their long voyage. Angie even learns to do technical tasks and to backup Theo in his spacewalks. They become a team.
   
   This tale frustrates Victor for years after his rescue from the control pod. It provides Theo and Angie with an opportunity to mature as they try to keep their family alive in the slowly returning Syracuse. It also takes Dorn and Elverda out to reclaim bodies from the Asteroid Wars.
   
   The story portrays the immediate aftermath of the Asteroid Wars. It brings all these characters -- and a few others -- together in a grand conclusion. Read and enjoy!
   
   Recommended for Bova fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of space misadventures, persevering parents, and the maturation of young folks. If anyone has not yet read this tetralogy, the first volume is The Precipice. See my listmania for other books in the Asteroid Wars Series.
   
   -Arthur W. Jordin

5 comments about The Precipice (The Asteroid Wars) (The Grand Tour).

1. This is my first read of Ben Bova, and considering other people's comments about his books, expectations were high. I had not had any exposure to Bova, except that he is famous and considered a big gun in sci-fi literature.
   
   "The Precipice", the first of the "Asteroid Wars" novels, is really the lead in to the next novel, though it can certainly be enjoyed alone. The plot itself follows the machinations of Astro Corporation's boss, Dan Randolph, and Martin Humphries, of Humphries Space Systems, in their attempts to outdo each other and open up the asteroid belt for exploitation. Both men are motivated by very different causes.
   
   The story takes place in the relative near future, when the Earth has been savaged by a series of human-caused natural disasters that have resulted from Earth reaching a greenhouse gas "climate cliff". Massive floods have radically altered the landscape, with many cities underwater, the economy, with the collapse of a lot of infrastructure, and the population, with millions dead. In this setting, humanity's ventures into space are still fledgling and in their infancy. The moon has people living there and there are bases on Mars. That is it.
   
   The book itself is not all that detailed, such as something Iain M. Banks might write, and it is set in a time when humans are just starting to get into deeper space. In that sense, it carries the primitiveness of the technology quite well, I thought. Ships are basic, (compared to other sci-fi juggernauts), and there is a very real sense of pioneering that comes through the book. Bova keeps the pace moving along solidly, not bogging the reader down in huges swathes of detail and background information.
   
   This novel had me gripped from the start, and I was very quickly sucked into the plot. It has been one of the few sci-fi novels that I found tough to put down and walk away from. Life's routine became a constant inconvenience while reading this novel.
   
   For near-future stories and visions that have a earthy realism to them, "The Precipice" is hard to pass up. I thoroughly enjoyed it and have since started reading the other novels in the series. It is a good story with a good solid dose of adventure.



2. With the mindless inevitability and unstoppable madness of a great mass of migratory lemmings, mankind is hurtling over a metaphorical precipice. Global warming and climatic change has driven humanity to the brink of extinction. The greenhouse effect has taken hold, icecaps are melting, damage from superstorms is beyond calculation, ocean levels are rising, coastlines are flooding and famine and pestilence are endemic. The ultra-right wing self-serving religious group, "The New Morality", has stepped into the political void ruling earth with a vicious, dictatorial stranglehold insisting upon blind obedience to its dictums which include, among other things, a prohibition against new science such as nanotechnology that might be crucial to saving the earth.
   
   Dan Randolph is the CEO of Astro Manufacturing, a business behemoth which, unlike so many of its other corporate competitors, realistically pursues its profits but does so with a healthy dose of optimistic compassion and altruism. Recent financial difficulties, caused by the restrictions imposed on Astro by The New Morality, have forced Randolph to seek a business partnership to finance the development of a practical fusion rocket- a rocket built with the most up to date innovations in nanotechnology that will allow mankind to reach the Asteroid belt, a virtually limitless supply of industrial resource minerals and, perhaps even more important, an unimaginably vast source of fresh water in the form of ice.
   
   The only pockets deep enough to contemplate bankrolling such a venture belong to Martin Humphries, a corporate baron who easily admits his only motives are wealth and power. While he also recognizes the likelihood that the fusion rocket is mankind's potential saviour, his only interest in the project is what it can do for his pocketbook. In the bargain, he positively lusts after the possibility of absorbing Astro Inc into his own corporate empire and putting Dan Randolph out onto the streets.
   
   Randolph and Humphries recruit the crew for the ship, Starpower I - Pancho Lane, a wily, strong-willed and often outspoken but very feminine woman who is nevertheless comfortable with her skills and top-notch abilities as a pilot; Amanda Cunningham, on the other hand, is an equally feminine but rather more shy soft-spoken woman who is most uncomfortable with her innate ability to suck the oxygen from a room merely by virtue of her outrageous beauty; Lars Fuchs is a dedicated scientist, an intense man who quietly focuses on whatever engineering or science problem has been placed in front of him that day. Against the direct orders of The New Morality and under Humphries' very nose, Randolph and his crew take off on Starpower I and begin their long voyage to the Asteroid Belt.
   
   Ben Bova has found a brilliant recipe that works and he certainly hasn't changed it in "The Precipice" - one part hard-core sci-fi; one part corporate potboiler; one part political intrigue; and one part primetime soap opera. His characters are wonderfully deep and realistic. Although that deeply entrenched sexism still seems to come through, it seems to manifest itself primarily in his male characters. The female protagonists are strong, talented, well-spoken and are pushovers to no man's whim. Humphries is the ultimate bad buy that every reader will love to hate and there won't be a single reader that isn't cheering Randolph on as he battles against Humphries and The New Morality.
   
   Ben Bova's science is wonderful, well-explained without being simplistic and used to great advantage in the development of the story - nanotechnology; fusion rockets; invisibility cloaks (for those that think this is unrealistic drivel, I would recommend you take a look at Machio Kiku's "Physics of the Impossible"; solar flares and gamma radiation; interplanetary space travel and its inherent dangers; the realities of permanent space bases on the moon and beyond; the structure of asteroids; the climatic effects of global warming; and much more.
   
   I have yet to meet the Ben Bova novel that I didn't enjoy and, for what it's worth, this is one of the best. "The Precipice" is part of the "Grand Tour of the Universe" series and the first in a sub-series trilogy entitled "The Asteroid Wars". I'm certainly looking forward to the second and third novels in the series, "The Rock Rats" and "The Silent War". Count me as a continuing fan, Mr Bova.
   
   Paul Weiss



3. I have read 4 or 5 books by Bova. I like the fairly straightforward near future sci fi writing style he has, and I particularly liked the two moon books. This book reminds me of the moon books except it has less of the beaurocratic new morality thesis and more of the ego-maniacal power hungry Humphries character. Humphries ability to have spooks everywhere and to know everything that is going on is a little far fetched, but not a major flaw.
   
   This book is basically abour Dan Randolph wanting to go the asteroid belt with a new fusion drive to mine asteroids to save earth. The downside is that there is 400 pages of this and at then end they only just get there. The in-between stuff kept me interested enough to plow through the book fairly quickly for me, but for some others I could see boredom setting in.
   
   I liked this book better than Jupiter, which I found really dull and drawn out. I appreciate Bova's prescience about fundamentalists controlling govt and the repurcussions of that, but sometimes these people annoy me just like they do in real life! But i have to give it to the guy, he wrote a lot of this stuff before the Bush years which tend to mirror his idea of the New Morality and "God" dictating science, and how people live.
   
   This book is average but an easy read...Enjoy!



4. I liked the book. This is my first Ben Bova book, and I like his writing. The things that I liked about the book:
   1. Solid science. From the description of the Lunar environment to the Fusion drive to the types of asteroids, Ben gets it right on the science in this fiction. Very plausible.
   2. Politics, Religion, and Business are part of the story and are treated seriously. We live in a complicated world. In the future, society will be just as complicate if not more. All three play a part in every meaningful endeavor.
   3. 3rd person narrative. I like complete descriptions of the environments and people and technology. I am weary of the 1st person narrative (see my review of "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress".
   4. Character development. Ben puts in a lot of effort to create 3-D characters. I appreciate that. All except for two characters seem realistic.
   5. This book is an absolute page turner. Very short, easily digestible chapters; lots of scene changes, and lots of plot twists; and complete descriptions make this an extremely readable book and fun book. Readability and the science are the best features of this book.
   
   
   What I did not like about the book:
   1. A tiny bit of implausible technology found in the __________ suit. This is too bad.
   2. Global Warming!!!! It helps drive the plot and the story, but it's a little over the top.
   3. The author's dislike of the religious right is palpable. Nice job Ben setting up the "New Morality" as a nice trusty prop (or strawman) for your characters to knockdown throughout the book. "Ooh look I was able to knock down the card board cut-out of religious people. Let's pick up the cardboard cut-out and knock it down again!!!!". Also, I find it interesting that the religious right in Ben Bova's future is powerful enough to ruin a scientist's career if they pursue their scientific endeavors. But in today's reality, a scientist's career is ruined by the scientific establishment if he/she even entertains the concept that life could have been started by an Intelligent Designer.
   4. Stop writing about love Ben. You turn the book into a soap opera. The soap opera works for one book but makes me hesitate to pick up the sequels.
   5. There is one character who is so apparently so BEAUTIFUL it's as if the goddess Aphrodite came down to earth to dwell with mankind. I've yet to even meet or see such a woman this beautiful, apparently. This woman is Jennifer Lopez + Angelina Jolie with enhancements. Ben you don't need a demigoddess to drive your story. Honestly, every other sentence goes "she would look voluptuous in an oversized eskimo's parka".
   The other unbelievable character is Humphries. "Humpheries is sooooooo evil." "How evil is he?" "Humphries is soooo evil that you can imagine him having the evil Vincent Price laugh after every scene." Let's compare him to another bad guy. Darth Vader is someone who is evil but he is also cool. Humphries is easy to hate, but he is not cool. Darth Vader is evil but you don't want him to die. For all I care Humprhies can be capped just as soon as he is introduced in this book. Perhaps that is what Ben intended to create, but I doubt it.
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   I started out giving the book 4.5 stars, but the soap opera knocks it down to 3.5 stars. I'll give it 4 this time, but I am not interested in reading about these same characters again in the sequel. I'll read an unrelated Ben Bova book next.



5. I've read Bova off and on for the last decade or so with mixed results. I've never been wowed by this author and my view of his books could best be described as tepid. But the back cover for Precipice was intriguing enough that I decided to give it a go. Unfortunately, in this case, I was wowed at the awfulness of this book.
   
   Truthfully, the first two-thirds of this book aren't bad. They aren't all that good, but they're not terrible. Sure you have Bova's repeated jabs at the Religious Right (oops, New Morality) and belaboring the consequences of global warming, that's the foundation of the story after all. I don't have a problem with global warming as a plot device, after all it's been done many times. But to say that Bova belabors the point would be a gross understatement. Still, it (again, the first two-thirds) was relatively entertaining.
   
   But that last third...it was interminably slow. I couldn't wait for it to end. Bova wrung out every single drop of tension and/or drama and instead swapped it for melodramatic fluff. And his characters were absurd caricatures. Humphrey's infatuation with Amanda (a peripheral character at best) seemed superfluous. Having her marry another peripheral character in a later scene could only be described as embarrassing. Bova could have stripped out the meaningless interplays by the minor characters (Amanda, Cardenas, George, et al) and the story would have suffered not a whit.
   
   And then there was the way it ended - a total let down. Obviously the intent was for this to be a series but I've never seen a first book in a series ended with a cliffhanger like this. I can almost imagine him saying, "Ha ha, now you HAVE to read the next book."
   
   I can forgive Bova for harping on the stupidity of ignoring global warming. I can overlook his continual railing against the Religious Ri...sorry, New Morality...even having his main character compare them, albeit obliquely, to the Nazis. What I can't forgive is the sloppy writing, soap opera-like characters, and tedious padding.
   
   Bova, you and me is quits.

5 comments about Able One.

1. The North Korean army launches a nuclear missile into space. When they ignite the missile the subsequent explosion causes electromagnetic shockwaves. Several key communication satellites are destroyed and global communication is devastated around the world.
   
   Intelligence is lacking and fearing an even further crippling of command and control communication, the American military prepare to launch ABL-1that can take out a missile though this laser system is untested. At the same time, POTUS tries to react to the crisis without starting World War III.
   
   This is an interesting tale based on scientific electromagnetic pulse bomb theory as deployed by a military unit that goes ironically rogue inside of the most probably rogue country in the world. The story line is loaded with action; too much as seemingly important threads are left dangling. Still in spite of the over abundance of subplots, Ben Bova provides his audience with a fascinating geo-political technological thriller.
   
   Harriet Klausner



2. I am currently about a Third of the way through the story, and while it is deftly written (as one would expect from a Professional writer of Mr. Bova's reputation), it nonetheless begins like your average movie-of-the-week; Complete with 2-dimensional characters and positively Reeking of Political Correctness.
   
   It's unfortunate when good writers are beholden to their ideologies and political beliefs. At least, it's unfortunate when it's at the expense of a good story.
   
   Will report further after I reach the mid-point and conclusion.
   -----------------------------
   
   Am now two-thirds through the story and I've improved my rating from 3 to 4 Stars. As thrillers go, it's first rate and Incredibly well researched. The author's command of political & military procedure, technology and nuance is clearly evident; and the Suspense has built to the point where one cannot easily put the book down -- and still, the tension and suspense continues to rise.
   
   Is it a perfect thriller? No, I can't say that, because despite a plot based upon the potential outbreak of World War III, it still feels a little mundane as thrillers go. And it remains troubling that so many characters appear to be little more than well written stereotypes.
   
   But at this point, who cares! The plot and situations have become so immensely intriguing that I'm caught in the writer's spell.
   
   btw, I describe the basic story as 'familiar' because it's a traditional storyline that's been done a million times before on television (and elsewhere). But that's not to necessarily fault the author, because it's certain that no TV show could likely do it to as masterful a level as done here.
   
   ****************
   Upon reaching the Climax, I've had to reduce the rating back down from 4 to 3 Stars. Simply put, Bova's skillfull pacing kept you in constant suspense, but upon reaching the climax the wind quickly leaves the sail, and you're left wondering, "Was that it?" Meanwhile, there's still a great deal of story and pages left to go -- and most of it quite ho-hum.
   
   To summarize, the book is very well put together, however the storyline starts out mundane and despite an exciting middle, it soon returns there. But I'm looking forward to reading more of Bova, and expect that with a more exceptional plot (and characters!) he'll be far more impressive.



3. Departing somewhat from his usual outer space sci-fi themes, award-winning author Ben Bova has kept the adventures closer to earth in his newest release.
   
   Rogue elements of the North Korean army have gained control of two nuclear missiles. After launching a separate warhead into space which managed to destroy most of the satellites orbiting the earth, this faction has targeted the United States and is making preparations for launch. Threatened with the onset of World War III, the Americans turn to their last hope: ABL-1.
   
   ABL-1 is a modified 747 jumbo jet that packs a laser capable of destroying missiles before they reach cruising altitude and begin their descent. In command of ABL-1 is Col. Karen Christopher. Having been demoted from her B-2 stealth bomber squadron after having an affair with an air force general, its become her job to position ABL-1 close enough to shoot down the remaining missiles before they can be launched at the United States. Also on board is engineer Harry Hartunian. He's been with the ABL-1 project since its inception and has witnessed the ups and downs of the program, including sabotage and the death of a close friend. Estranged from his wife and family, it's Harry's duty to make sure the laser works correctly.
   
   Col. Christopher manages to pilot ABL-1 into range to shoot down the North Korean missiles. But, the North Koreans have identified the plane and have launched intercept fighters to coax it to land. To make matters even worse, Harry has discovered that someone in the crew has deliberately tried to sabotage the laser. Will ABL-1 be able to shoot down the missiles, or will the North Korean terrorists succeed in striking the United States?
   
   I've been a fan of Ben Bova's for several years and have read many of his previous novels. All have been well-written, and he always adds a technical chapter to discuss the technological aspects of his books. I've found these chapters to be very helpful in understanding the technical language Bova uses in his books. As for this book, I would rate this as one of his best. The story is well-conceived and plausible, considering today's climate in certain parts of the world. The character development is good and, in typical Bova fashion, the story line keeps building throughout until the climactic conclusion is reached.
   
   I give this fine book my highest recommendation. Bova fans will not be disappointed.



4. This book deserves zero stars. I've read other Bova books that a little better than mediocre but this book doesn't even reach that standard. Fortunately, I borrowed this book from our excellent library so at least I didn't have to purchase it. The main characters of this book are liars, philanderers, or duplicitous politicians and these were the book's heroes. There is a sub-plot in this book about a guy getting stuck in the snow with his family. What this had to do with the main plot, I was never able to figure out. Maybe Bova was making a point about global warming? Who knows. I expected more from an author who has published many books.



5. This is the first book by Beb Bova that I have read. I was very impress by his writing and the format of the book, this book was easy to read, east to pick and start reading again with losing any action. I'm not into science fiction so this was just wright. I'm all ways looking for new authors.
   Michael

5 comments about The War of the Worlds With Audio CD: Mars' Invasion of Earth, Inciting Panic and Inspiring Terror from H.G. Wells to Orson Welles and Beyond.

1. With Spielberg's new film adaptation of WAR OF THE WORLDS in theatres, more attention is being paid to both the original Wells novel, and the infamous 1938 Welles radio broadcast. If you're interested in both, why not treat yourself to the best presentation of either version available today?
   
   THE COMPLETE WAR OF THE WORLDS is an excellent book. It reprint the complete, unedited novel; prints the entire script to the radio play; and comes with a CD containing the entire radio play broadcast, plus archival materials such as the only interview Wells and Welles did together on the topic. [The recording sound quality is the best I've ever discovered for this play, BTW.] In addition, the book has lots of great historical and biographical material, including articles looking at the lives of both Wells and Welles; the story of the radio broadcast and the panic it caused; and a survey of the many incarnations of WotW in literature, film, and television.
   
   If you have any curiosity about the book or the radio play, do yourself a favor and buy this book. It's worth it!



2. I ordered this book after hearing the 1940 radio interview where both H.G. Wells and Orson Welles appeared together. That was an amazing program as both men discussed the war that was looming in Europe--and that they felt would soon envelope the United States. Orson even mentioned that he was working on a movie called Citizen Kane.
   
   Unfortunately, only about two minutes of that hour-long interview is contained on the CD. The same is true for Orson Welles' press conference where he answered some of the controversy about his broadcast--the CD only has a couple of minutes of it. This was a major disappointment, because both recordings are fascinating and I was left wondering why we only get to hear short soundbites from them rather than the entire thing. Seriously, why bother at all?
   
   The book is much more comprehensive and worthwhile.



3. i bought this book as a gift for a war of the worlds fan and he liked it a lot. The CD was good and the book contained both the script and original HG Wels novel. So all in all the book was a good purchase that contained everything that you have ever wanted to know about the beginning of War of the Worlds saga.



4. After finding this book in a local library and checking it out, I soon realized that I had to have my very own copy. So, I jumped onto Amazon and thankfully found one! For those who love classic War of the Worlds, this book is a huge slice of wonderful. I was thrilled with the CD that came with the book, too. This is a great resource and it would make a fine product for a Sci-Fi literature and / or media class.
   
   Martians everywhere! The Invasion comes to you in the book and in the sounds. Worth the price!



5. 
   An enjoyable novel, an enthralling recording, and a valuable reference book
   The HG Wells novel is a fine piece of fantastic literature, but to combine it with a recording of the Orson Welles radio broadcast that panicked a nation, & to add a very well written scholarly text on that panic, is brilliant!
   
   Well-illustrated with ample photographs, maps & drawings, the reader/listener gains a full understanding of the novel, the broadcast, & the cultural significance of both.
   
   One can gain insight into the effect that news of terrorist strikes has on the public by careful, thoughtful reading of this text.
   
   Highly recommended.

5 comments about Mars Life (Third in the Mars Trilogy).

1. I've read just about everything by Mr. Bova because he does a good job of mixing a character-driven story with hard science.
   And I agree that this book is somewhat melodramatic, but I personally liked that part.
   I was also very drawn into the book because Mr. Bova didn't spend all that much time with the character of Jamie Waterman. This character always seemed so artificial and almost a stereotype of a Native American.
   I know a sequel is on it's way, but I hated the ending, though. I hope the next one wraps up the loose ends.



2. Whacked out sci-fi writer
   
   Just finished a novel, "Mars Life" by Ben Bova. Ruins found on Mars. Cliff dwellings like the ones in the Southwest. But in the novel, it is clear what the author is a big left wing moron. The President of course is an evil conservative, backed by fanatical christians, who do not want the population of the earth to know about these ruins because then it would mean that they would lose their hold on humanity if they are proved false in teaching we are alone in the universe. And of course, the fanatics are also terrorists who kill unbelievers. And of course global warming is flooding the Earth(the weather channel cannot even give an accurate forecast 3 days in advance, but the Earth is burning and it will flood 40 years from now) This novel takes place many years in the future. There is nano-technology, used to make protective domes on Mars for habitation and protective space suits, thin as clothing. But in one scene, a character is getting up out of his chair,(this is many years from now. Technology is moving very quickly even in 2009)and his knee hits the edge of the table, and almost knocks(get this) his laptop computer onto the floor. What the____?
   
   [..]



3. I've been reading Ben Bova's Grand Tour novels for a number of years now and while some of them are pretty bad (eg Saturn), most are reasonably good hard science fiction stories without reaching great heights. The books follow the human exploration of the solar system in the late 21st century and all have a number of features in common. Earth is being devastated by the effects of global warming and earth governments are being slowly taken over by religious fundamentalists. Each book also manages to find life in the most unlikely of places.
   
   "Mars Life" is the third book in the series about Mars and follows the continuing adventures of Navaho scientist Jamie Waterman. It's not necessary to read the earlier books to follow this one. A base has now been established on Mars to study the mysterious 65 million year old cliff dwellings discovered in the earlier books. The base is in danger of being closed down because of the religious fundamentalists and Jamie has to seek other sources of funding. The possibility of tourism is opened up but rejected by Jamie because of the damage it would do to the pristine Martian environment. While all this is going on, the scientists at the base, including disgraced anthropologist Carter Carleton, seek to discover as much as possible about the ancient Mars inhabitants before the base is forced to close up shop.
   
   The characterization in this novel is a considerable improvement over Bova's previous works and overall this is quite an entertaining read. The science is not bad although I think that Bova's views on the capabilities of nanotechnology are a bit optimistic. I thought the ending was a bit forced and, as an Australian, I didn't appreciate Bova's gratuitous interpretation of the Australian accent. In general though, I thought this book was pretty good value for money and I think it just makes the 4 stars category.



4. I'm about 1/3 of the way through Mars Life. What a slog!
   
   I read the 1st book in the series a while ago - I remember it ended with an irritating cliffhanger, but surely it couldn't have been as bad as this 3rd book.
   I missed the 2nd book of the series, which doesn't seem to matter (that should tell you something!) and at this point you couldn't pay me enough to go back and fill in.
   
   What a boring bunch of cliched dimwits! The main character, Jamie Waterman, who has been in science and science administration for at least 30 years, learns that the US President is withdrawing the US government's contribution to the Mars project. He says: "I'll go to Washington. I'll take this news of the fossil right into the Oval Office. I'll splash it all over the news media. I'll make them see that they have to continue funding us." - Oh yeah. Brilliant! You see project administrators using that technique ALL THE TIME to get their canceled funding back.
   The mission director on Mars? Insecure dimwit. The chief anthropologist on Mars? Purile egotistical dimwit. The head of the foundation that oversees the Mars project? Shortsighted, clueless dimwit. His board of directors - helpless, pathetic dimwits.
   
   I think if you put *any* of these people on Mars, they'd be dead within a week, probably from sticking their fork into the toaster.
   
   Actually, some of the women seem to have a few working brain cells - but Bova's got 280 pages left to prove me wrong. Or maybe I'll just go re-watch "Defying Gravity" - this book actually makes that TV series look both clever and deep! There! There's that sense of awe I like to get from science fiction...



5. I have read many of Ben Bova's books. He is one of the best science fiction writers ever. This one is no exception. I read through it very quickly. Also thanks to the seller that I got it from. Delivery was quick, book in excellent condition.