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Red Mars

Written by: Kim Stanley Robinson
Narrated by: Richard Ferrone
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Publisher's Summary

Winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel, Red Mars is the first book in Kim Stanley Robinson's best-selling trilogy. Red Mars is praised by scientists for its detailed visions of future technology. It is also hailed by authors and critics for its vivid characters and dramatic conflicts.

For centuries, the red planet has enticed the people of Earth. Now an international group of scientists has colonized Mars. Leaving Earth forever, these 100 people have traveled nine months to reach their new home. This is the remarkable story of the world they create - and the hidden power struggles of those who want to control it.

Although it is fiction, Red Mars is based on years of research. As living spaces and greenhouses multiply, an astonishing panorama of our galactic future rises from the red dust. Through Richard Ferrone's narration, each scene is energized with the designs and dreams of the extraordinary pioneers.

©1993 Kim Stanley Robinson (P)2000 Recorded Books
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What the critics say

  • Nebula Award, Best Novel, 1993

"Generously blending hard science with canny insight into human strengths and weaknesses, this suspenseful sf saga should appeal to a wide range of readers." (Library Journal)
"The ultimate in future history." (Daily Mail)

What listeners say about Red Mars

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Just could not get into it

Just could not get into the characters. Abandoned after 4 hours. Probably not a bad hood, just not for me. .

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

More a novel about politics than colonizing Mars.

Not a bad book, but not what I was looking for. It had a lot to do about politics and political theory than what it would be like to live in the future colonizing our red neighbor. the story became very dry at times. A better version of this sort of story is The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by R. A. Heinlein.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

EXCELLENT

Some of the best hard SciFi ever written, I first read it as a teenager and it has influenced my thinking about the future, economics,and policies ever since.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

sooo looong...

was okay. didn't turn out to be my cup of tea. there's alot of story. I like the world building that happens, that's really cool.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great world building

It was great. Not as action packed as I thought for some reason, but as a science buff, the amazing articulation and detail taken in the world building of Mars was well received.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

my favorite book

I've listened to this book maybe 10 times
Always will love it. you will too

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story with okay narration.

The voice characterization of the characters was weak. Other than that, it was a pretty good audio version of a Kim Stanley Robinson classic.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Gem!

Why did I wait so long to read this gem! This would make a great TV series. Can't wait to read Green and Blue.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful! Absolutely Wonderful!

This book as a prefect science fiction. A beautifully written story as much about inhabiting Mars, as it is about human relationships and society. The character development is superb, Robinson captures the multidimensional aspects of personality, careful to highlight imperfection and duality. I can’t wait for the second instalment.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not good

Hard to follow in many places. Some things like the time slip make zero sense for anyone let alone scientists running experiments on Mars. Motivations of characters are really unclear especially for some important plot developments. Narrator, not so good either, really hard to differentiate characters between the way they were written and his monotone.
Some interesting philosophy and cultural developments but honestly it was bad enough that I had a hard time finishing it. This coming from someone who usually has a hard time stopping listening to audiobooks and usually finds any opportunity to listen more.

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