Vincent's Reviews > Green Mars

One of the chapters of Green Mars is called Long Runout. I think it would make a good subtitle for this book. Be prepared to spend dozens of pages reading about our protagonists driving around Mars. Just driving, driving and thinking, sometimes getting out and walking around. I swear if they get into that Rock-Mobile one more time! At times a labor to read.

I enjoy the wonderful detail of science and speculation and nothing pleases me more than when an character goes on a rant about a concept. I’ve included my favorites in the list below. These moments are few and far between and they are interspersed by a lot of non-action, chow-chow, and drawn out characterizations.

There are wonderful concepts and explorations here.

1. Planetary Population control. Everyone alive has a birthright which entitles them to parent three quarters of a child. So a pair of adults can birth 1 and ½ child. They can then sell the rights to the other half or purchase rights to have more children. pg 82

2. Terraforming. Gardens vs. natural growth. They discuss fellfields on Mars that consist of aided growth and not something naturally taking root. Chapters are devoted to discussing CO2 levels, controls and ecological balancing through science.

3. Space Elevator. That wonderful, wonderful space elevator. Detailed again, not long enough, explores and discusses the viability and logistics of capturing an asteroid, anchoring it to a planet and using it as a glorified elevator. Heady stuff.

4. Transnationals. Corporations so powerful they purchase countries and governments.


A surprisingly disappointing sequel to Red Mars; still worth reading for the nuggets of speculative science.