Book Review: Voyage by Stephen Baxter

As I have said many times before, good things often come to those who wait long enough. This is certainly true when it comes to audiobooks. Sometimes, if you’re very lucky, your patients is rewarded in a big way. Without further preamble, let’s get into it. We’re taking a look at Voyage by Stephen Baxter.

Voyage takes place in a world where John F. Kennedy survived his assassination attempt. Although, it did render him paraplegic, and Mrs. Kennedy got killed in the crossfire. The Apollo 11 landing is a success just like in our world. However, Kennedy challenges NASA to land a manned mission on Mars by the 1980s. The novel follows an ensemble cast of NASA employees as they work to meet Kennedy’s challenge.

This was another of those books I’d been hoping would become an audiobook. For a few years, I had to settle for the BBC radio adaption that came out in 1999. It is certainly excellent, and I do plan on reviewing it at some point. Well, I need to to come up with a name for the column. I want something that is consistent with The Audio File and The Alt-Hist File. The A-Ticket File? Ticketed Attractions? I’ll think of something eventually.

Still, I longed to listened to a straight-up audiobook adaptation of Voyage. Then, in 2021, Voyage finally came out as an audiobook. In fact, so did Stephen Baxter’s entire NASA Trilogy. The NASA Trilogy isn’t exactly a series per se. It is three standalone books that all involve NASA in some way. Voyage and Moonseed are alternate history. Titan was set in the near future, for the time it was published, but I guess it has retroactively become alternate history. I’m very pleased that all three books have finally become audiobooks.

To start, let’s talk about the audiobook. Voyage is narrated by Kevin Kenerly. Initially, I wasn’t sure how I felt about Kevin as a narrator. But remember, I listened to the full cast BBC radio adaption first. So, I guess I was, consciously or not, comparing Kevin to the full cast version. That wasn’t fair to Kevin, and I did get past this thinking eventually. All things considered, I did enjoy Kevin’s narration. He reminds me of the sort of narrator you hear narrating science fiction books from the 1990s and/or 1980s. Which is fitting, because Voyage was published in 1996. So, no complaints as far as narration goes.

Okay, now lets talk about the plot itself. I should begin by discussing the structure of the novel. It alternates between two points in time. One section begins with the launch of the Ares 1 mission in 1985, and follows its voyage to Mars. The second section begins in 1969 with the Apollo 11 landing, and follows all of the work that went into creating the Ares mission. Eventually, the second section gets to the launch of Ares 1 in 1985, thus bringing the two segments together. We know that Ares will ultimately fly, but it is the journey, not the destination, that really counts. Baxter certainly manages to keep things interesting. What sacrifices will have to be made, and what challenges must be overcome, so that Ares can fly?

Like I said, this book is very much an ensemble cast, and doesn’t really have a main character. The closest it has is Natalie York. She is a geologist who is obsessed with Mars, and all the potential geological discoveries it has to offer. She helps to train astronauts for the Ares mission, but isn’t a big fan of astronauts. Too much dumb fighter jock stuff, as she phrases it. NASA’s astronauts were initially selected from members of the Air Force, and it appears the practice lasted even longer in the world of Voyage. Ironically, Natalie is initially opposed to sending humans to Mars. She feels that far more science could be achieved using unmanned robotic probes. Unmanned probes would also be cheaper, and more probes means more science. Despite this, as the years go on, she becomes a prime candidate for the Ares mission.

The closest thing to a secondary protagonist would be Joe Muldoon. He was the second man to walk on the Moon, and goes on to become a director at NASA. He’s pretty clearly a thinly-veiled stand-in for Buzz Aldrin. I’m not entirely sure why Baxter didn’t just use Aldrin. Maybe using a fictional character gave more flexibility in characterization and storytelling? Of course, Aldrin is still alive, so maybe Baxter had to worry about slander and libel laws? But the threshold for that is pretty high when it comes to public figures, which Aldrin certainly is.

This isn’t the only time Baxter uses a fictional stand-in for a real person. There’s also the character Hans Udet. He is a former Nazi rocket scientist, but that’s hardly unusual. Project Paperclip brought several German scientists, most famously Werner von Braun, to America. Many of them found work at NASA. Unfortunately, Udet used to be in charge of Mittelwerk. It was a Nazi rocket factory that used slave labor. Eventually, Udet’s past catches up with him. This is a clear parallel to Arthur Rudolph, who had a nearly identical backstory. The American government agreed to drop the charges against Rudolph, provided that he renounced his American citizenship and return to West Germany. Something similar happens to Udet.

In other characters we have Ralph Gershon. He’s a black Air Force pilot, and a Vietnam War veteran. He’s not based on any real figures, but he does provide an interesting parallel. In our world, Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. was also a black Air Force pilot. He was under serious consideration to be part of the Apollo program. Unfortunately, he died when an experimental aircraft he was testing crashed. Ed Dwight Jr. was also a black Air Force pilot who was under serious consideration for Apollo, but never made the cut. Thankfully, Gershon does get selected to be part of Ares. You could also see Gershon as somewhat similar to Guion Bluford, the first African-American astronaut from our timeline.

There are other characters, but I’ll leave them for you to discover. Now, it is clear to me that Stephen Baxter wishes that manned spaceflight was more advanced than it is. He also wishes that NASA was better funded, and that it had already sent a manned mission to Mars. However, he also realizes that, in order for that to be possible, it would require some serious sacrifices. And just what are these sacrifices? Allow me to ask you a question: what is the most important part of a space mission?

I’ll save you the trouble. Money is the most important part of a space mission. The money has to come from somewhere if you want to get to Mars by the 1980s. That means you’ll have to start making cuts and canceling programs to free-up funds. Right off the bat, Apollo 16 and Apollo 17 are canceled. Apollo 15 is also canceled, but the crew of Apollo 15 fly on Apollo 14. So, its almost like Apollo 14 got canceled, but not Apollo 15. Apollo 13 has an accident exactly like our world, so no science happened on that mission. Apollo 17 getting canceled was a particular blow, because that was the only mission where scientists got to go to the Moon. The Space Shuttle is also cancel in favor of reusing Apollo tech. Though, Skylab lasts longer than in our world, and another space station called Moonlab, which orbits the Moon, is constructed. Albeit, Skylab and Moonlab are well past their prime when they’re decommissioned.

Oh, but we’re just getting started. The Viking landers are canceled, and this is a particular sore spot for Natalie. In our world, Viking taught us a lot about the composition of Martian soil. Later, Mariner 10, Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11, Pioneer Venus, and the Voyager probes are all canceled. Let’s go through the list, shall we? Mariner 10 went on a flyby to Venus and Mercury, and was the only probe to visit Mercury until the MESSENGER probe in 2004. Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 were the first probes to visit Jupiter and Saturn. They also famously carried the Pioneer Plaques, which serve as messages to any aliens who find the probes after they’ve left our solar system. 

The Voyager probes famously went on a grand tour of the Outer Planets. In fact, some of the most famous pictures of the Outer Planets, and their moons, were taken by the Voyager probes. Voyager 2 is thus far the only probe to visit Uranus and Neptune. Both of the Voyager probes also contain the Golden Records. They are recordings of sounds and music from Earth, including messages in several languages. Like the Pioneer Plaques, they’re for if aliens find the probes.

This has a rather unfortunate side-effect for the world of Voyage. Yes, humans walk on Mars by 1985. However, humanity’s knowledge of the solar system, including Mars, is far less than in the 1985 of our world. Be careful what you wish for indeed. But it isn’t just the lack of knowledge and science regarding the solar system. Who among us hasn’t been in awe at the images brought back by probes such as Voyager 1 and Voyager 2? How many people were inspired to go into science because of those images? Who hasn’t been moved by how the Pioneer Plaque attempts to reach other to other intelligent life forms? All of that would be lost in the world of Voyage.

Natalie frequently complains about how much more data could be obtained with unmanned probes. Ares 1 does a flyby of Venus to use the planet’s gravity to slingshot to Mars. They drop an unmanned probe to the planet’s surface. Natalie should be in awe of actually orbiting another world, but all she can think is about how little science they’re getting out of the probe. She’s a geologist at heart, and is frustrated at how the little probe can’t expand upon the tantalizing glimpse of Venus’ geology it offers. Rather ironically, scientists become some of NASA’s biggest critics. They feel that NASA is too laser-forced on the manned Mars mission. They feel that the money would be better spent on scientific research. For her part, Natalie strongly agrees.

Voyage essentially extends the Apollo era mentality of NASA into the 1970s and 1980s. Science wasn’t neglected during Apollo, but it wasn’t the primary focus. The main goal was simply to go places for the sake of going to them. In our world, after Apollo, NASA put more emphasis on scientific work, both via probes and via manned missions to orbit. It wasn’t as glamorous as Apollo, but it did produce a lot of projects that did benefit people back on Earth. 

Speaking of probes, the Soviet Union does slightly better with it unmanned Mars probes. In our world, almost every Soviet probe sent to Mars ended in complete failure. The probes were named the Mars series. The Soviets were very creative when it came to names. For example, Mars 2 and Mars 3 attempted to map the Martian surface from orbit. Unfortunately, the area they mapped was covered by a massive dust storm, and their trajectories couldn’t be reprogrammed. They had landers, but the Mars 2 lander crashed, and the Mars 3 lander stopped transmitting after ninety seconds.

Mars 7 had a rover, but its computer malfunctioned, and the lander was launch prematurely, completely missing the planet Mars. In the world of Voyage, however, the Mars 7 lander successfully makes it to the Martian surface. Perhaps the butterfly effect is at work? Then again, outside of the space program, history doesn’t seem to change very much. All of the American presidents occur in order, Watergate still happens, no big dramatic differences.

Well, there are a few minor changes. Gene Roddenberry, inspired by the Ares 1 mission, scraps his plans for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Instead, he comes up with an idea for a crew on a smaller ship exploring uncharted space. He plans to call it Star Trek: Explorer. Damn, if only it had been called Discovery instead, that would have been very amusing. There is a short story set in the same world as Voyage called “Prospero One.” It follows an alternate British Space Program, which actually manages to launch an astronaut into orbit and return him to Earth safely.

Interestingly, the scenes in Venus orbit make no mention of the Venera probes that the Soviet Union sent to Venus. Yet there’s no mention of any further Soviet Mars probes, so the money didn’t get diverted or anything.

Baxter does make a strong case that it might have been for the best that things turned out the way they did in our world. And yet, wouldn’t it be something if humans had already walked on Mars? There would be serious downsides and sacrifices, but at the end of the day, it would still be quite the spectacle. It would be one of those moments that would go down as a major milestone in human history. There’s a brief afterword where Baxter explains his thought process, and way he made the changes to history the he did. He concludes more or less what I’ve stated.

Even the naysayers are in complete awe when Ares 1 finally launches. I have heard that rocket launches are quite the spectacle to behold. There’s only one chapter actually set on the surface of Mars; most of it is devoted to preparation for setting foot outside the lander. I know some people didn’t like that, but it makes sense from a thematic perspective. It’s right there in the title. This is a book about the journey, not the destination. Not just the interplanetary voyage of Ares 1, but all the work that happened back on Earth to make it possible. And none of it ever feels boring or dry. We see political dealings, negotiations for production contracts, and other behind the scenes details. We also get very detailed descriptions of how the various spacecrafts work. Baxter makes it all sound quite interesting. I’ll also add that Mangala Valles was a nice choice for a landing site. You don’t see it in fiction too often compared to other locations on Mars.

So, there you have it. Voyage imagines a manned Mars mission, in 1985, launched an alternate NASA. It truly is a novel about the journey, not the destination, and all the better for it. I love alternate history that involves manned spaceflight, and this did not disappoint. I’m glad that my patience has been rewarded once again, and you certainly shouldn’t wait to give Voyage a try.

Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.

Book Review: Lake on the Moon by H.E. Wilburson

I've already given my spiel about my policy with reviews. As such, let's cut right to the chase with this one. We'll be taking a look at Lake on the Moon, book two of The Martian Diaries, by H.E. Wilburson.

Lake on the Moon picks up the actions a few years after the previous book. Ogilvy the astronomer has come to a freighting conclusion: the Martians' collective conscious is spread via the mysterious red weed. He knows because he sampled some of the red weed, and made contact with the Martian hive mind. Worse, the red weed has infiltrated the water supply, meaning the Martians might gain the ability to take over human minds. Ogilvy and George, our narrator, are going to have to push themselves to the limits of their knowledge to find a solution to this impending crisis.

In my pervious review, I noted that The Day of the Martians, had a few issues. So, how does Lake on the Moon do addressing these? It's a bit of a mixed bag. As per usual, let's start with the positives. Lake on the Moon has much better pacing than The Day of the Martians. Lake on the Moon is twice as long as its predecessor, and it certainly benefits from the additional length. I also liked how the music was a much better fit for the time period of the story than last time round. The sound-effects were also somewhat better integrated into the story.

We also get an explanation for how Ogilvy is here, despite having died in The War of the Worlds. Lake on the Moon begins with a flashback to the first Martian invasion. Turns out he was only mostly dead when he got hit by a Martian heat-ray. That is, his body was covered in third degree burns, he was in quite a bit of pain, but he survived. I liked that this segment because it really focused on what it was like for average people caught-up in the invasion. At one point it is mentioned that the hospital had to start rationing medication because of the massive influx of patients. I mean, ouch, that can't have been fun.

One of my complaints with The Day of the Martians was that it played things safe in terms of plot, and that much of it felt like little more than glorified battle scenes. I appreciated that Lake on the Moon was willing to take more risks and try new things in terms of plot. The red weed being used not only as part of a Martian hive mind, but also as a mind control plot, was certainly a unique angle. In addition to the pacing, I felt there was much more solid plot structure than in The Day of the Martians. We didn't just get action scenes; it felt, for the most part, like the proper progression of a novel's plot. I also really like how it is revealed that the Martians are returning to Earth because of the connection that Ogilvy inadvertently established with their hive mind. I also liked how the early segments of the novel had the feel of a Victorian mystery novel, with even some slightly Gothic elements to them. 

I should have mentioned this last time, but I got a slight chuckle every time Crewe was mentioned. As a lifelong fan of Thomas the Tank Engine, I remember Crewe as being the place Henry the Green Engine was sent to so he could be rebuilt, and wouldn't need his special coal anymore. Admittedly, I didn't know that when I was a kid, since I grew up with the American version narrated by George Carlin. It was just a little something that probably only mattered to me.

Once again, Harry Preston returns as our narrator. He did slightly better this time round, but he still came across as a bit too flat and monotone. For example, there's a part where the main character's wife gets crushed to death by a tripod. This is a major emotional moment, but Harry's flat and monotone delivery undermines the moment. This might be an audiobook, not an audio drama, but that's no excuse for lackluster narration. If anything, an audiobook narrator must be even more committed, and have more range, because they alone are tasked with carrying the book all by themselves.

With all of this having been said, Lake on the Moon still has a few issues. We finally get an answer for how the Martian invasions effected World War I. Oh, it was delayed by a few years, but it went pretty much as it did in our world. The Spanish Flu also went basically as it did in our world. Really now, two invasions by aliens from Mars, and that had absolutely zero impact on geopolitics? I would be more willing to accept there still being a war if there had been at least a few changes. Maybe a few changes in alliance, neutral nations picking a side, or participants from our world choosing to sit the war out. Or, maybe instead of Entente vs. Central Powers, we could have the alliances be based on something else.

Spanish Flu, maybe it could happen, but it still seems a bit unlikely. The name is a misnomer. Spain was neutral during World War I, so their newspapers were uncensored. As such, they were one of the only nations that talked about the flu before it got really big. This resulted in the flu becoming associated with Spain. It used to be believed that it came from either Kansas or Mexico, but now experts think it might have originated in China. So, would it have happened in the world of The Martian Diaries? Maybe, but still seems odd it went more or less as it did in our world.

So, what about the titular lake on the Moon. It is discovered by our narrator early into the novel. It is a liquid water lake located on the surface of the Moon. Does this mean humanity is going to develop a space program and take the fight to the Martians? Are we going to have an adventure on the Moon? Nope, turns out it was a bit of a red herring. Though the main character does advocate for humanity going into space at the end of the novel. So, I suppose it was setting things up for book three.

The Day of the Martians suffered from having too simple of the plot, but Lake on the Moon has the opposite problem. I felt that the plot became a bit too complex and convoluted for its own good. Apparently, Ogilvy believes that they need to somehow go back in time and ensure the Martians never invade Earth in the first place. When I first heard this, I got very excited. It sounded like it was setting up a crossover with The Time Machine, another of HG Wells' novels. Unfortunately, this does not happen, which is a shame because that was a serious missed opportunity. Apparently, the time travel is mental in nature, and is achieved by consuming the red weed...I think. It was all very confusing and difficult to follow.

Then the plan gets changed to possibly changing things so that Mars was never habitable to multicellular life...somehow. Again, it was confusing and hard to follow. It seemed like it was going to setting up alternate timelines and history, but we didn't get that...or maybe we did, but if so, it was hard to tell.

I would be remiss if I didn't say that Lake on the Moon is a much stronger novel than The Day of the Martians. Even if the execution didn't work out, it was at least willing to take chances, take more risks, and try new things. It also had a stronger sense of pacing, and integrated music and sound-effects into the audiobook much better than its predecessor did. That all having been said, it still has quite a few issues, and perhaps bit off a bit more than it could chew. Although, if there is a third book, I would very much like to think that all of this is a sign that said third book will be even stronger than this one.

Well, I think that should do it from me for now. I will see you guys next time.

Book Review: The Day of the Martians by H.E. Wilburson

 I'm more than willing to review any works of audio fiction that are requested. However, as I have stated many times before, I maintain a policy of strict honesty. As I have said, if anything doesn't work I will not hesitate to call it out. With all of that having been said, this brings us to the book that we're going to be reviewing today. We're taking a look at The Day of the Martians, book one of The Martian Diaries by H.E. Wilburson.

Day of The Martians acts as a sequel to War of the Worlds. It picks up the action in 1913. A new comet has been sighted, and the British government is fearful that it means the Martians are returning for another invasion attempt. An unopened Martian cylinder has been discovered in Wales, and our protagonist has been sent to investigate, with his wife Laura in tow. They'll have to be quick about it, as the fate of the world could hang in the balance.

You can purchase this audiobook on Audible, or you can listen to it in three parts over on Moonlight Audio Theater. 

I was asked to give this book a review by my associate Anita Dow. We know each other through various audio drama related groups that we are both members of. She has been a faithful reader and follower of my audio drama reviews for quite some time now. As such, I was more than happy to review Day of The Martians for her.

Now, books that serve as sequels to public domain works always start off with a considerable uphill climb. Right out of the gate, they're setting themselves up to be compared to the original. Most of the time, these sequels just don't measure up to the greatness of the originals. Perhaps it is because the writing is lackluster, or the authors misunderstands, or underutilizes, the themes of the original. Now, that's not to say it is impossible to create great works of fiction using the public domain. One way is to create crossovers with other public domain works. The League of Extraordinary Gentleman and Anno Dracula do this to great effect. Another is to remix and reinterpret the source material. Works such as Pride, Prejudice and Zombies and Sense, Sensibility, and Sea Monsters do this to great effect. Yet another method is to retell the story from the perspective of another character. Famous examples of this include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Song of Achilles.

That having been said, this isn't always a guarantee of success. There have been plenty of lackluster works that attempted to cash-in on the success of Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Likewise, another method that is popular with works based on mythology is to strip away all the magic and gods and show the "true" story of what happened. Basically, showing the alleged history behind the legend. This has a tendency to backfire, as authors all too often forget that you have to make the characters compelling despite the lack of gods and magic. Still, this can be done well in the hands of a skilled writer. Successful examples include the comic Age of Bronze and, to an extent, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. 

So, where does Day of The Martians land? Well, I'd say somewhere in the middle. Let me start with some of the things that I enjoy about it. I did appreciated that at least somewhat stay true to the spirit of the original. It is emphasized just how hopelessly outgunned the British are as the Martians prepare to return. It is also mentioned that British scientist have only the faintest of ideas about how to reverse engineer Martian technology. I also like that the tripods didn't have force fields, like many other works depict them. In the original novel, that tripods main defense was that they were extremely fast, which made it near impossible to land a blow on them. This was quite a feat, as the British military is widely considered the best military of the 19th century.

War of the Worlds was written, in large part, to be a satire and critique of colonialism and imperialism. H.G. Wells was trying to show the British public what it would be like if the shoe was on the other foot. In many ways, the British, and other European colonial powers, might as well have been Martians to the various peoples they conquered. They came with advanced technology that must have seem fantastically advanced to many of the inhabitants of Africa and Asia. Though that isn't to say it was completely inaccessible. Japan, for example, is rather famous for how well it was able to adapt Western technology. So, I can see Day of the Martians at least somewhat paying respect to the themes of the original.

We also do have at least a few characters from the original novel. For example, Ogilvy, an astronomer from the original book, is working with the British government to find a way to disable the tripods. Granted, he shouldn't have been there, as he died in War of the Worlds not long after the Martians arrived. Still, I thought it was a nice touch. And I would assume the unnamed narrator of Day of the Martians is supposed to be the same one from War of the Worlds.

Having said all of that, this book has a few issues. This is a work of audio fiction, so let's start with the audio. Music and sound-effects are tool when it comes to audiobooks. They are neither inherently good, nor inherently bad. It all depends on how you choose to utilize them. Think of it like adding condiments to a sandwich, or spices to a soup. You don't want it took be so faint and limited that you might as well have not added it. At the same time, you also don't want to add so much, or overplay it, that it overpowers and drowns everything else. Unfortunately, Day of The Martians suffers from both problems at the same time.

The music felt incredibly out of place. The story is set in 1913, but the music primarily consists electric guitars and other bits of modern music. Using anachronistic music can work, but you have to fully commit your story. For example, the movie A Knight's Tale uses anachronistic music to show that people of the Middle Ages weren't so different than modern people. You can't just have the music be anachronistic without adding anything else, or it just comes across as jarring. The music was also very monotonous and repetitive. It was like listening to a song with only one cord. It kind of felt like the music had been selected due to being cheap or free, rather than because of quality.

It also felt like the music was also a bit too loud. Not that it was bursting my eardrums, or anything like that, but that it overwhelmed the narration. Of course, it could just be that the repetitive nature of the music made it feel that way.

The narration also suffered from monotony and lack of variation. The book is narrated by Harry Preston, with Terry Thompson providing the introduction. Harry's narration started out fine enough. It seemed reasonably appropriate to the time period and setting. Unfortunately, it quickly became rather flat and one-note. Harry made little-to-no attempt to differentiate between any of the characters. He also maintained the whole stiff upper lip demeanor, even in scenes where the characters should have been displaying stronger emotions.

The sound-effects, in contrast to the music, were severely under utilized. We get a few decent once at the start of the first third of the book, but the sound effects soon vanish. This is quite a shame, as they were sorely missed, and could really have added to the experience. We do get a couple more towards the end of the book, but it is too little too late.

Now let's talk about the writing and plot. Things started off reasonably well. The trip to Wales to investigate the cylinder actually makes for a fairly descent short story. The pacing was good, and it stay fairly true in style to the original novel while as being a fun adventure story. Unfortunately, the other two-thirds are where things fall apart. The Martians arrive on Earth, and we are treated to what I can best describe as a prolonged action sequence. There was very little introspection or pauses between the action. Well, there were some, but they felt misplaced.

The arrival of the Martians is supposed to feel like the climax of the action. However, due to the short length of the novel, it fails to make any emotional impact. If we had more build up, rather than jumping directly from the trip to Wales to the invasion, it might have worked. As it stands, however, the novel falls flat on its face. Overall, this novel feels too short for its own good.

I can't help but feel that Day of the Martians failed to make the most of its potential. It starts in 1913, just one year before the outbreak of World War I. Would the major powers of Europe have put aside their differences to present a united front against the Martians? Or would old rivalries have proved too strong? Would there even have been those who tried to collaborate with the Martians in parallel to how the happened in certain colonies, such as the Princely States of India? Or what if the invasion had occurred in the middle of the war, rather than before it? Even ignoring all of this, how did the rest of the world react to the first invasion? How have they been doing?

All are intriguing possibilities, which are sadly not explored by Day of The Martians. I'm trying to think of a more tactful way to put this, but Day of The Martians had a very amateur feel to it. It felt like everyone involved needed more time to hone their skills before releasing their final product. The whole novel felt like it needed more time to bake. I'll cut new audio dramas a certain amount of slack, but being new to the world of audio fiction isn't a get out of jail free card. I've seen plenty of audio dramas made by people who were just starting out, but had impeccable production values and story quality.

Now, I'm aware that I might sound harsh, but I do genuinely believe that Day of The Martians had potential within it to be great. Its just that there is considerable work that needs to be done to attain that potential. I understand that there is a second novel in the series, and I'd be willing to give it a review if asked.

And so that was my review of The Day of The Martians. I don't think there's much more for me to add. I will see you guys next time.

 

Movie Review: The Martian

Back when I review the book The Martian by Andy Weir, I said that I hadn't seen its movie adaptation.  Well I am happy to say that I have finally gotten around to fixing that problem.  So without further ado let's take a look at Ridley Scott's adaption of The Martian.

In the not too distant future the Ares III mission to Mars has had to return Earth prematurely due to surprise dust storm.  Unfortunately, Mark Watney has been left behind because everyone assumed that he died during the storm.  Now it's going to take everything Mark's got and then some to stay alive, reestablish contact with mission control and get back to Earth.

So how well does the plot stack up to that of the book?  It does an absolutely beautiful job of preserving and replicating the book's plot.  Sure, there were a few scenes cut here and there, but that was to make things more streamlined and better fit the medium of film.  The biggest changes were to a few character.  In the book Mission Control was run by Venkat Kapoor, an Indian-American man.  In the movie we have Vincent Kapoor, who is half-Black and half-Indian.  Originally, an Indian actor had been cast in the role, but he had prior obligations in Bollywood.  So they cast Chiwetel Ejiofor at the last minute.  

In the book minor character Mindy Park was most likely Korean-American, but in the movie she's played by a white actress.  On the more subjective side, Commander Lewis isn't necessarily described as ugly per say, but it is mentioned that Beth Johansson is the good looking one of the Ares III crew.  Personally, I thought that Jessica Chastain was better looking than Kate Mara, but that's just my opinion. 

Andy Weir has even said that he cried tears of joy during the first eight minutes of the movie because he got to see his vision come to life on the big screen.  Suffice it to say, he's very happy with how the movie turned out.  There's plenty of scientists who gave this film their stamp of approval, including Neil deGrasse Tyson himself.  It's really an accomplishment when you can get Dr. Tyson onboard with your film.  The Martian is easily Ridley Scott's best film to date.  

It even made it all the way to The Oscars and was nominated for best picture. It lost, but in The Academy's defense, Spotlight is a really good movie and more than earned its award.  That being said, The Martian did very well at The Golden Globes, BAFTA and the Critic's Choice Awards.  It even won best comedy, which is weird because it isn't a comedy.  Don't get me wrong it's very lighthearted and has many moments of comedy, but I wouldn't call it a comedy per say.  It is great that so many hard science fiction films are getting the recognition they deserve as of late. 

If I had one complaint it would be that the marketing campaign really did this movie a disservice. They made the movie look much darker than it actually is.  I mean, there are serious and dramatic moments, but on the whole it's pretty lighthearted.  Though I am happy to say that the misaimed marketing didn't effect the film's success in the slightest.  

I loved the practical effects involved with this movie, especially how much of it was filmed in Jordan's Wadi Rum desert for the shots of Mars' surface.  Though there were also plenty of soundstages in Hungry.   I also loved the way music from the 1970s was incorporated into the soundtrack.  Mark probably would have screamed his head off if he ever saw this movie, but I liked it.  The special effects were also really well done.  

I haven't been talking much about the actually plot, but I really covered most of that in my review of the book, so you can always check that out.  It is a really fun movie, the science is science is rock-solid and I'm glad I got to share this movie with my family.  Seriously, do yourself a favor and go rent this movie, or buy it if you're so inclined. 

This was a somewhat short and haphazard review, but I figured I should get something out after so long.  I do intend to review more movies in the future so be on the lookout for that.  Well then, that's all for me for now.  I will see you guys next time. 

Book Review: The Martian by Andy Weir

It's been a while since I reviewed a book on this blog, so we're going to do something about that.  Today we'll be reviewing The Martian by Andy Weir.  By now you probably know the plot, especially thanks to the recent movie adaptation, but let's recap it anyway.  In the not too distant future the Ares III mission to Mars has had to return Earth prematurely due to surprise dust storm.  Unfortunately, Mark Watney has been left behind because everyone assumed that he died during the storm.  Now it's going to take everything Mark's got and then some to stay alive, reestablish contact with mission control and get back to Earth.

This was one of those books that I heard about it so much that I decided give it a listen to see what all the buzz was about.  I can safely say that the buzz wasn't without a very good reason.  I enjoyed this book very much.  I enjoyed Mark's snarky and sarcastic internal commentary.  It made even the grimmest and most serious of situations feel lighthearted and not quite as serious.  Of course, as Mark himself says, for NASA equipment failure is a serious issue, but for him it was a pretty normal Tuesday.  Mark's dialogue reminded me of what I always imagined would happen if Percy Jackson were to get stranded on Mars.  This book did a really good job of capturing just how risky and potentially dangerous space travel and exploration can be.

I also liked how the narration shifted between Mark, Mission Control and the crew of Ares III.  It was nice to get the perspective of the other characters as they struggle to get Mark home alive.   Venkat Kapoor was probably my favorite among the Mission Control gang.  In many ways this novel can be described as Robinson Crusoe on Mars.  It was fun seeing how Mark would solve the latest puzzle that was thrown at him.  I also liked how the Hermes orbiter was a reusable spacecraft that parks in Earth orbit when not being used for a mission; really felt like something that might, hopefully, happen one day.

The science in this book is extremely solid.  In fact, this is one of the hardest of the hard science fiction books that you're bound to find.  Having said that, there are a few notable exceptions.  The most glaring begin the very thing that sets the plot in motion: the dust storm.  Due to Mars' low atmospheric pressure, even the most raging dust storm or tornado would only be about as powerful as a gentle summer breeze.  To his credit, Andy Weir has stated that he regrets making this and wishes that he could go back and create a more realistic reason for Ares III to abort their mission.  Also, no matter what Mark may tell you, disco does not suck!  To be fair, thought, if I only had it to listen to for several months I'd probably be sick of it too.

For those of you who enjoy audiobooks there is an excellent audiobook version that is narrated by R.C. Bray.  I'm sure you're also more than aware of movie adaptation directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon.  As of this post I have not seen the movie, but I have heard very good things about it, and I plan to see it at some point or another.  This book has proven to be quite popular not only with everyone at NASA, but also with Neil DeGrasse Tyson himself, which is no small feat of achievement.  

All in all it is an excellent and believable novel.  The hype has been happening for a very well deserved reason.  Do yourself a favor and pick up this book, in physical form or in audio, you'll be glad that you did.

Hannibal One: Twilight Histories Maps

I've got new maps for my readers based on the Twilight Histories episode Hannibal One.  I've got two maps, one of Earth and one of Mars.  So, among other things in this world:

Carthage, under the leadership of the general Hannibal, won the Punic Wars and thoroughly obliterated Rome.  Carthage would go on the expand and create and empire spanning all the continents of the world.  Several great cities, libraries and centers of learning were established throughout the Carthaginian Empire.  The canal was established in Egypt to allow for easier trade with the east.  

Gwanggaeto the Great managed to survive longer than he did in our world.  Eventually, Gwanggaeto was able to take advantage of political turmoil in China to cease the Mandate of Heaven and establish a massive Korean Empire.  The Korean Empire would go on to become Carthage's primary rival for world domination.  

As Carthage and Korea began to expand their empires they frequently got involved in boarder skirmishes, and territories often passed back and forth between the two empires.  In particular, this occurred in India on more than a few occasions.  However, the frequent invasions did wonders for Indian unity as now Indians throughout the subcontinent had a clear goal: keep Carthage and Korea out.  In time India established its own empire that, while not as vast as Carthage or Korea, could still give the empires a run for their money.  

With Carthage occupied elsewhere, the Lithuanians were able to able to expand throughout Eastern Europe and establish and small empire of their own.  Lithuania fell increasingly within Carthage's sphere of influence as the years went on, but ultimately remained independent.  The two empires remain on good terms with each other, and their citizens have been known to get into friendly rivalries over whether Baal or Perkunus would win in a fight.  

Carthage and Korea discovered new lands, such as Australia and the Americas, as they continued to expand.  However, they weren't alone in their exploration.  The Norse also sent expeditions to North America and established settlements; all the while forging alliances with multiple tribes of natives.  Eventually, the Norse settlements and tribal alliances grew into the nation of Skraland.  The Norse we able to establish good terms with Carthage and Korea, but still had to frequently deal with both empires nibbling around the edges of Skraland.  

The Mayans formed an alliance to resist colonization as Carthage expanded into Central America.  Like India before them, this unity allowed for the establishment of a Mayan Empire.  India has also historically been a supporter of the Mayans against Carthage and Korea.  The natives of the Great Plains also faced the prospect of colonization, but they managed to avoid this mostly due to Carthage and Korea being occupied elsewhere.  Unlike the Maya, however, they failed to adapt to the reality of the new socio-political landscape.  As a result, combined with their lack of natural resources, the Confederation of the Plains has the highest poverty and unemployment rate of any nation on Earth.  

The Incan Empire managed to survive by playing Carthage and Korea off of each other.  They've allied with India and the Maya.  The Inca have managed to take quite a bite out of South America, the bits Carthage didn't claim anyway.  Meanwhile, the Creek Confederation decided the best survival strategy was an alliance with Carthage.  They're well within the Carthaginian sphere of influence, but remain independent, if somewhat in name only.  

The Zulu were able to establish an empire in Southern Africa at a time when Carthage was dealing with the effects of accidental hyperinflation resulting from their gold and silver mines in the New World.  With Carthage's relentless expiation temporarily paused, the Zulu were able to use their vast mineral wealth to fund their new nations and their diplomas courted good relations with other nations.  The Kingdom of Lunda also experienced a period of growth and expansion around this time.    

Carthage, Korea and India produced several inventions and advances in technology over the centuries.  Before long all three nations experienced industrial revolutions, and it wasn't long before several other nations industrialized as well.  Within a matter of decades air travel was achieved, and before long the first manned missions to space were launched.  Carthage was the first to launch a human into space, but Korea was first to land on the Moon.  

Korea's victory in the Moon Race prompted Carthage to achieve their next goal.  They vowed not only to send a manned mission to Mars, but a one-way mission of colonization.  Carthage achieved this goal with its mission Hannibal One; launched on the 1000th anniversary of Hannibal's sacking of Rome.  The success of the Hannibal One mission prompted Korea to speed the production of their own Mars mission known as Gwanggaeto One. 

 Both missions suffered numerous set backs.  The crew of Hannibal One experienced bouts of religious fanaticism to the point of performing multiple human sacrifices.  Meanwhile, the crew of Gwanggaeto One suffered multiple technological failures and were forced to throw one of their one out of the airlock after the life support systems received critical damage.  Despite the hardships, both missions were ultimately successful in no small part due to international cooperation.  The crew of Hannibal One provided critical  replacement equipment, while the crew of Gwanggaeto One provided human companionship in the harsh and isolated environment.  

Over the years several more missions were sent to Mars; including ones funded by third party nations.  Numerous discoveries were made, but perhaps the biggest the the discovery of native Martian microbial life.  This provided a major moral quandary due to the discovery occurring in the middle of terraforming negotiations.  Ultimately, it was decided that terraforming would be delayed, but only by fifty years.  Currently, terraforming efforts have raised temperatures and atmospheric pressure to Earth levels.  

The immense distances between Earth and Mars have created challenges for the administration of the colonies.  Recently, a Carthaginian colony declared its independence with little resistance.  Other off-world colonies have also begun to consider self-governance, and this has prompted a revaluation of the administration of the colonies.  In any event, the Martian colonies have always been friendlier with each other than their mother countries ever were with one another.  

Having said that, there's still been quite a bit of increased international cooperation recently.  Old tensions are dying down and the world in general is becoming a more peaceful place.  Attendance at the temples of the gods is slipping, and secularism is on the rise, but there is still religion.  Missions have been sent to the other worlds of the Solar System, and there is now talk of a possible mission to Proxima Centauri.  Geneticists have been able to revive long dead Ice Age animals, but it's still a matter of debate whether Neanderthals should be revived.  Recently, advances have been made in the field of AI technology to the point that a scientist is currently on trial for the attempted murder (read: deletion) of an AI.  

It's a crazy and different world, but they're working out the kinks.  Hey, they made it this far and the future is looking pretty bright for everyone.