Mass Market Paperback, 560 pages
English language
Published June 1, 1993 by Bantam Spectra.
Rounded up from 2.5 stars.
Mars is typical Bova, in that the bulk of the novel focuses on descriptions of machinery and landscapes, racial and sexist stereotypes, and interpersonal relationships straight out of middle school, while a minimum of the plot is actually given over to science fiction concepts or, indeed, storyline. It was not his worst, but it was not good.
1) '''Because it draws me,' he said. His voice was low but as firm as the mountains themselves. 'Mars is drawing me to it.'
Al gave him a puzzled, almost troubled look.
'I mean,' Jamie tried to explain, 'who am I, Al? What am I? A scientist, a white man, a Navaho---I don't really know who I am yet. I'm nearly thirty years old and I'm a nobody. Just another assistant professor digging up rocks. There's a million guys like me.'
'Helluva long way to go, all the way to Mars.'
Jamie nodded. 'I have to go there, though. I have to find out if I can make something of my life. Something real. Something important.'''
2) ''Let me go in beauty, he found himself thinking. Let me find harmony and beauty out there.''
3) ''Jamie's words died in his throat. His heart began to pound. The sky was shimmering, …
1) '''Because it draws me,' he said. His voice was low but as firm as the mountains themselves. 'Mars is drawing me to it.'
Al gave him a puzzled, almost troubled look.
'I mean,' Jamie tried to explain, 'who am I, Al? What am I? A scientist, a white man, a Navaho---I don't really know who I am yet. I'm nearly thirty years old and I'm a nobody. Just another assistant professor digging up rocks. There's a million guys like me.'
'Helluva long way to go, all the way to Mars.'
Jamie nodded. 'I have to go there, though. I have to find out if I can make something of my life. Something real. Something important.'''
2) ''Let me go in beauty, he found himself thinking. Let me find harmony and beauty out there.''
3) ''Jamie's words died in his throat. His heart began to pound. The sky was shimmering, glowing faintly as a spirit hovering above them, flickering colors so pale and delicate that for a breathless moment Jamie could not believe his eyes.
'Mickhail...'
'I see it. Aurora.'
'Like the northern lights.' Jamie's voice was hollow with awe, trembling. The lights pulsed and billowed across the sky, exquisitely ethereal pastels of pink, green, blue, and white. He could see stars through them, faintly.''
