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The Ruins Of Mars (2000)

by Dylan James Quarles(Favorite Author)

3.71 of 5 Votes: 2

languge

English

genre

Science Fiction

series

The Ruins of Mars

review 1: I am a fan of good science fiction. This is not it. It was a Hollywood-esque attempt at science fiction. I am not usually too picky when an author tries to stretch some aspect of science to create a good story, but this author appears to lack even a basic understanding of the basics! Orbital mechanics, astrophysics, computer science, and telecommunications, all suffer, and I can only guess at what other disciplines he failed. The author took so many liberties that I can only conclude he educated himself using television and movies. To top it off, the author creates a crisis (already steeped in bad science) and goes about solving it poorly. Even though his characters include multi-doctorates, NASA engineers, and highly developed AI computers, his characters choose an embarr... moreassing, and frustrating to read, course of action. If you have no love of real science, go for it. The book is otherwise entertaining. But if you have any nerdy science in you at all, avoid this one. You would be like deGrasse watching Gravity, flinching and frowning throughout.
review 2: I'm a bit torn on how I feel about this book. It's obvious that the author put a lot of thought into how the mission should be run. But the pages and pages and pages dedicated to ship specifications, food processing, genetic alterations, AI design and development, etc is, honestly, dull.The crew doesn't reach Mars until the start of part three, 60% in. And almost all of the previous 60% is dedicated to pseudo-science lectures and crew soap-opera relationships (not so much romance, but who shacks up for the four month journey through space). Very, very little is about the alien race or the amazing discovery that Mars had been populated. And even then, after reaching Mars, due to circumstance, nothing happens to progress the plot until about 90%.Viewed as the first 200ish pages in a series that looks to break 1,000 pages, I suppose it's pretty good. Certainly, an interesting plot is set up, all that techno-babble might become important to know eventually. But as a single book, read alone...the honest, unvarnished truth is that I was bored.What the book feels like, despite being 200+ pages long, is an extended prologue. The characters are introduced, the plot established, the mystery outlined and then it ends on a cliffhanger just when thing are set to finally get moving. Frustrating to say the least. I found the dialogue stiff, partly because there are multiple nationalities speaking second (third, fourth...tenth) languages and AIs. I understand that, but it's still stiff. The single sex scene was very purple. However, beyond these two complaints the writing was very good and I only noticed a few editing mistakes. So, while I didn't hate it, wouldn't be opposed to finishing the series at some point, I didn't fall in love either. less

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