Published: July 24, 2011
Words: 138,394 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781466185685

Short description

Sam Aiken's travels on the Martian surface are at first confined by bureaucracy and his comfort envelope to the immediate vicinity of the First Station. As their scope widens, and as Sam's reluctant fame grows, we are taken along with him on a journey comparable only to those of the great explorers of human history--a journey which takes him further than any human being has travelled before.

Extended description

What if in the late 50’s the US and Soviet Union had selected Mars as their goal? What if the USAF’s nuclear powered 'Orion' had been built? It is 2040 and the 'Race to Mars' is long over. A large group of 'expendable' senior scientists has been sent on a one-way trip to establish a permanent Martian colony. Eccentric recluse Sam Aiken shuns the soft life in the 'Tube'. With his quirky Rollagon AI he explores the polar caps, Valles Marineris, climbs 'The Face' and Olympus Mons, digs through the wreckage, cast-off equipment and graves of early explorers and finds an ancient Martian lifeform. Delusional, manipulated by unseen forces and tormented to the edge of madness he drifts aimlessly through the Mars of Bradbury, Heinlein and others in search of sanctuary. He uncovers instead the shocking ruse behind the Colony and the ultimate reason why he was spared.

Tags

mars exploration one way trip colonisation colonization nasa esa space arctic mars society

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Reviews

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Review by: Claude Jones on April 08, 2012 :
Always fasinated by anything Mars, I found TCOM to be on par with the best of efforts. I started reading on a Saturday afternoon,stopping when I could no longer prevent sleep. Continuing the next day, I finished that afternoon. Somewhere that first day my psysic became in sync with Sam. For the better part of those two days, I was on Mars, traveling, thinking and wordering. How could I be on Mars and not explore? How could I end, how could I leave? The answer was not a choice, but the next step. As the last page was read, it was right.
(reviewed within a week of purchase)

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