Rating: 
Summary: Very realistic, absorbing story of our future on Mars.
Review: I tried to read this book a few years ago, but found it very heavy going. However, I decided give it another go. Already having a general idea about the plot and characters made it much easier to read. If you're after an action packed or 'stars and stripes' book about Mars, try 'Mars' by Ben Bova. However, if you want to be immersed in a believable (to an extent) Martian future then this book is for you. Many of the other reviewers here are right in saying this is a very long, detailed story. However, if you can read it at the correct pace, not expecting big things to happen all the time, it's very enjoyable. This isn't a book where you'll be dying to see what's on the next page, you should be just absorbing the atmosphere instead. When I was reading this book, it almost felt as if I was on Mars myself. If you can create images in your mind from the geological and location descriptions, then I can't see how you could fail to be immersed. The book is written from the viww-point of a couple of the main characters. Every hundred or so pages, the character in focus would change. I think this helped give a multi-dimensional picture to the story. Many people have said that the characters aren't very nice people. I think this adds to the realism. The descriptions of what each character thought of one another also helped to build believable images. Overall, a very enjoyable book. I can't wait to read Green Mars and Blue Mars.
Rating: 
Summary: A good book
Review: This is a good book, although certainly not the best I've ever read. It drags in parts, but you can tell that the author has really researched the topic. Also, I found it interesting that someone has actually considered the politics and economics of going to Mars -- this is something we will need to think about if we are going to send a mission to Mars some day -- are we going to destroy the environment of Mars like we've destroyed the environment of Earth? I'd recommend it if you are a science fiction fan, but if you don't usually read science fiction you might find it uninteresting.
Rating:
Summary: Science (Fact)ion? Imagine going to Mars and living there.
Review: I felt that Robinson described the science of going to Mars well... In each challenge to imagine the technical advances needed to overcome the very non-earth-like environment that is Mars, KSR described something that made the trip seem possible. The descriptions of Martian terrain at times could be a little too thorough for the average reader's taste but it is just what a science (fact)ion reader enjoys... Though fiction, it forced me to imagine living through a trip to Mars and the colonization of a new planet... Also you will get a feel for how human nature creates tensions between groups of ideologies and nations. Buy this book if you are interested in Martian exploration... You will read all about interesting ideas for creating the machines needed to go to Mars...
Rating: 
Summary: Not worth the raves
Review: Full disclosure: I haven't read the whole thing. I read about 450 pages before I decided I couldn't take it anymore. The endless landscape descriptions were extremely tedious. The ham fisted criticisms of capitalism got old fast. I found almost all the characters extremely obnoxious, and I couldn't have cared less what happened to them. Skip this one. the mystery about Hiroko was sort of interesting, hence the extra star.
Rating:
Summary: The Future Is Near!!!!!!
Review: Red Mars was one of the greatest Sci-Fi books I ever read. The story takes place in the near future around 2025. The intresting thing about this book is that the technology involved is simular of what we have today. Robinson made, what I think, a prophecy of what Mars colonization will be all about. What I liked about this book was the process of settling on Mars and creating a martian society. The only part I didn't like was the fast movement in time. The book moves through 60 years of Mars colonization. In this fast passing time its hard to concentrate on all the minor events that happen throughout the story. There are many main characters and they migrate from martian city to city alot. When reading this book try to get the main picture of whats going on, instead of the minor settings, because there are alot of places to see in the martian world. Last I want to say that this book gave me inspiration for my future, because my generation, according to this book, will be the first pioneers on Mars. I could be the first man on Mars. Have fun reading this novel. Always think of the future and how you can be part of it.
Rating:
Summary: The best book I've ever read
Review: I can't remember how many times I've read this book, but each time I read it it gets even better. The realism of this book is breath takeing, it really feels like Kim Stanley Robinson has been to Mars. I would give this book more than five stars if possible, its that good.
Rating: 
Summary: Slow and tedious
Review: With this novel, Kim Stanely Robinson starts the award winning Mars trilogy. As a geologist, I can appreciate the incredible amount of research that has been placed into this novel and the attention to detail is phenomenal. But, it was bit of a relief to get to the end.
Rating:
Summary: Does not deserve the awards and praise
Review: I really don't understand how this book won the Nebula and Green Mars won the Hugo. I thought the book was very poorly written. Sci-Fi authors are not known for their writing ability, but KSR's work is some of the worst I have ever seen. The characters are some of the most unbelievable, flat, cliched and irrating people I've ever found in print. Not to mention the book seems to have no direction whatsover. The narrative lacks any semblance of continuity. A lot of the other reviewers have complained about the politics which seem to be the true focus of the book. I don't mind them in and of themselves. What is annoying is the delivery. I'm sure a lot of the positive reviews are from readers sharing KSR's political philosphy; but the politics of Red Mars are very difficult to believe. The situations he contrives to justify the political climate of Red Mars stick out as just that: contrived. I actually found the exceedingly long terrain descriptions kind of interesting, but the book does move very slowly. The "science" was interesting and sounded very good, if not entirely realistic. But I can't think of any sci-fi novel that is. In summary, the plot is boring. The characters are boring, irritating, and one dimensional (what the hell were the reviewers who raved about great character development smoking????). The politics are lame. The science is interesting. The premise, sadly, is fascinating. And the book is extremely boring. Don't waste your time with it unless your stuck on an airplane with nothing else to read. Red Mars probably deserves 3 stars, but I rated it a 1 due to the expectations associated with any Nebula winner -- this is the worst Nebula/Hugo winning book I've ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Robinson brings to life the colonization of Mars!
Review: I think that Robinson's vision of a colonized Mars is a real and viable novel for all sci fi buffs. Its a comprehinsive look at the colonization of Mars in its primal state. His vision is briliantly layed out with a plot that gets the reader hooked until the dramatic conclusion. Kim Stanley Robinson's RED MARS is a must for all!
Rating:
Summary: A World-Conquering set of ideas peopled by dysfunctionals.
Review: When I pick up a Nebula award winning book I do not expect to find page after page of single dimensioned dysfunctional characters. Stanley started with a terrific set of technical ideas to portray the colonization of this red planet. Had he spent as much time with more rounded characters this would've been a terrific read. As it was, I became so bored with the characters and the repetitive landscape descriptions (ad nauseum), that I just skimmed the final 100 pages.
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