Santa Paul Conquers the Martians!

[Náriël Telemnar]

Finally! I've been reading these books since around mid-April with several abortive attempts before that. It actually feels longer, like I've been reading them for a year.

What a fantastic epic. This should be required reading for anybody thinking about going to Mars or terraforming it. Incredible detail, engaging characters (aside from the schmuck at the very beginning). Kim Stanley Robinson must be some sort of maniac to have researched and thought about these issues to this degree.

Highly recommended, but don't think it is lite summertime fair. Be prepared for some serious digestion.

[Smiling Jack]

Wow!  You finished all four?

[Spark]

Wow., you can be really mean.

[Smiling Jack]

Whatever can you mean?  Yellow Mars is a wonderful novel.  All about martian wheat.

[Náriël Telemnar]

Whatever can you mean?  Yellow Mars is a wonderful novel.  All about martian wheat.

I thought that was when the Chinese led by Fu Manchu finally took over Mars.

[Smiling Jack]

Okay, Paul.  I have started Red Mars and am about 50 pages into it.  It's pretty good so far, not as much scientific techno-babble as I was afraid of.  I also don't have a problem with Frank Chalmers (I assume this is the schmuck you were referring to).  He's definitely not a likable character, but my initial reaction was one of curiousity--what made him the way he is.  I also found him to be more likable than John Boone.  That said, I am less than a tenth of the way through the first book, so my impressions may change as the book progresses.  Good stuff so far!