ISBN 0-553-09640-0 (US hbk),,, 0-246-13882-3 (UK hbk),,, 0-00-224296-6 (UK trade pbk),,, 0-553-37335-8 (US pbk)

"Mars. The green planet. Man's dream of a new world is underway, but corrupted. The First Hundred have scattered or died, the rebels are underground, planning their utopia, waiting. The transnational corporations aided by the UN are rebuilding the ruined cities and mining valuable resources. They too have a dream. Mars can be plundered, cultivated and terraformed to suit Man's needs -- frozen lakes are forming, lichen is growing, the atmosphere is slowly becoming breathable. But most importantly, Mars can be owned. On Earth, countries are being bought and sold by the transnationals. Why not here too? Man's dream is underway, but so is his greatest test. Societies are crumbling and re-forming, adapting and reacting to new conditions. The survivors of the First Hundred know that technology alone is not enough. Trust and co-operation are needed to create a new world -- but these qualities are as thin on the ground as the Martian air they breathe." [jacket blurb, UK pbk, 1996]

"The future that Robinson has created in these novels has some highly original aspects, but is primarily a uniquely rational synthesis of the best concepts of a number of diverse schools of science fictional speculation. The ascendance of large international corporations over national governments has its roots in the cyberpunk mythos, while Robinson's obvious view that the wisdom of advanced age is superior to the energetic anger of youth runs decidedly counter to the tenets of cyberpunk. He mixes a 60s amity toward sex and drugs in the Martian culture with an almost reactionary air toward music, tacitly eschewing Anglo-American rock and roll, or any sort of progressive synthesis of musical styles, in favor of folk music from various Earth cultures (kind of like sex and drugs and accordion music). From the hard-SF contingent, he borrows a love of scientific knowledge and rational thought, and an awe of huge human engineering projects. From the humanist SF school, he adds awe at the beauty of the universe itself, and of the human spirit. To this mix, Robinson adds his own passion for landscapes, and a pervasive love for human diversity." --Doug Fratz (in Science Fiction Eye , Issue 13, Spring 1994).

Educational Space Simulations Project
(simulated trip to Mars)

Mars Atlas home page
(essential topography for anyone visiting there)

Mars Directory
(thinking of moving?... here are the connections)