Rating: 
Summary: RETURN TO MARS worth the trip.
Review: Bova's sequel is, in some ways, better than the original. His characters are real and multi-dimensional, and the attention to scientific detail is fascinating. The book strikes the perfect balance between science and fiction. My only significant complaint would be the depiction of the lesser characters; e.g., the Texan with a pronounced drawl was not exactly a unique creation. However, the story itself is definitely worth your time. If you enjoyed MARS, this book will not disappoint. Try reading S. Baxter's TITAN if you enjoy this type of science fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: THE SEQUEL--AND ANOTHER ONE IS NEEDED
Review: Dr. Jamie Waterman returns to Mars--this time for an ambitious 18-month stay upon the Red Planet. He and his expedition must live off the land--regardless of how hostile that Martian land may seem--they must glean their food, water and oxygen from the frigid red sands.
This expedition's mission objectives include a harrowing descent into the caldera of Olympus Mons--the solar system's tallest volcano--and of course broadening the search for life--most controversially, Jamie's allegations of "cliff dwellings" hidden within the cliff face of Tithonium Chasma (Mars' Grand Canyon, which dwarfs our own).
The extended length of this mission takes away from the imperativeness of the first expedition--it's a bit lazier--and also quite frightening--you've got 18 full months of the Martian elements staring you in the face.
And yes, Jamie is afforded sufficient time to investigate what he thought he saw on the first expedition years ago. And he is determined to prove his allegations.
This is a good sequel, but I'm afraid it has a few shortcomings. I was disappointed at the lack of returning characters. I was disappointed in how Jamie's relationship with Joanna Brumado was handled. I was disappointed in how Jamie's relationship with his grandfather was handled. I was disappointed in how Jamie's relationship with his parents was handled. And I was a tad irked that once again the expedition's physician plays a pivotal role. A good doctor should be like a good lawyer--you don't even know he's there till you need him.
Another aspect of this book I found troubling was the characters' constant ethnic slurs to Jamie's Native American background. I found it very unrealistic. I think scientists would behave differently--and I think a handful of people on another planet wouldn't give two hoots what your ethnic background is; if you're human, then you're a friend.
And then there's Mr. Bova's tentative grasp of romance. He tries to push the envelope with this one, but there's still some key element missing. I think it's passion, a true passion for another, a passion which can enslave and yet free you at the same time. Mr. Bova feels a passion for Mars--which is palpably evident--but his passion for man-woman relationships is luke-warm.
Nonetheless, Mr. Bova's heart is in the right place, and the book's ending is a happy one--on all fronts [wink]. If you've read the first book, then you owe it to yourself to read the sequel. And we can only hope the author writes a third installment. Until then, "Ya'aa'tey."
Rating:
Summary: THE SEQUEL--AND ANOTHER ONE IS NEEDED
Review: Dr. Jamie Waterman returns to Mars--this time for an ambitious 18-month stay upon the Red Planet. He and his expedition must live off the land--regardless of how hostile that Martian land may seem--they must glean their food, water and oxygen from the frigid red sands.
This expedition's mission objectives include a harrowing descent into the caldera of Olympus Mons--the solar system's tallest volcano--and of course broadening the search for life--most controversially, Jamie's allegations of "cliff dwellings" hidden within the cliff face of Tithonium Chasma (Mars' Grand Canyon, which dwarfs our own).
The extended length of this mission takes away from the imperativeness of the first expedition--it's a bit lazier--and also quite frightening--you've got 18 full months of the Martian elements staring you in the face.
And yes, Jamie is afforded sufficient time to investigate what he thought he saw on the first expedition years ago. And he is determined to prove his allegations.
This is a good sequel, but I'm afraid it has a few shortcomings. I was disappointed at the lack of returning characters. I was disappointed in how Jamie's relationship with Joanna Brumado was handled. I was disappointed in how Jamie's relationship with his grandfather was handled. I was disappointed in how Jamie's relationship with his parents was handled. And I was a tad irked that once again the expedition's physician plays a pivotal role. A good doctor should be like a good lawyer--you don't even know he's there till you need him.
Another aspect of this book I found troubling was the characters' constant ethnic slurs to Jamie's Native American background. I found it very unrealistic. I think scientists would behave differently--and I think a handful of people on another planet wouldn't give two hoots what your ethnic background is; if you're human, then you're a friend.
And then there's Mr. Bova's tentative grasp of romance. He tries to push the envelope with this one, but there's still some key element missing. I think it's passion, a true passion for another, a passion which can enslave and yet free you at the same time. Mr. Bova feels a passion for Mars--which is palpably evident--but his passion for man-woman relationships is luke-warm.
Nonetheless, Mr. Bova's heart is in the right place, and the book's ending is a happy one--on all fronts [wink]. If you've read the first book, then you owe it to yourself to read the sequel. And we can only hope the author writes a third installment. Until then, "Ya'aa'tey."
Rating:
Summary: Ben Bova Back at his Best
Review: Following the generally disappointing Moonrise and Moonwar, which amounted to little more than Dallas or Dynasty in space, Bova has finally given the readers what they want. Even the most mediocre of sci-fi authors can usually at least maintain the reader's interest with any tale set against the beautiful and mysterious backdrop of everyone's favourite planet. Bova is a better than average author and, when he doesn't get too embroiled in politics and political correctness, can produce some immensely exciting material. Thankfully, Return to Mars is pretty well solid adventure from cover to cover. Sure there is a smattering of politicising over the financial interests surrounding the potential commercialisation of Mars and Bova's usual tendency towards "affirmative action" manifests itself through the rather contrived melting pot of a crew and the occasional piece of stilted dialogue. Here though, these features seem less of a distraction than in Bova's previous novels and we can surely forgive Bova his agenda when he gives us such riveting adventure as this. Descriptions of the practicalities of setting up the habitation modules and all the ancillary equipment has a gritty air of authenticity about it. The excursions to Mt. Olympus and the Grand Canyon, where most of the story unfolds, are depicted in superb and convincing detail and should satisfy the most technically demanding of readers. Bova has skillfully trod the very fine line between what we know about Mars and speculating on what surprises we may yet find. Furthermore, the characterisation, although never the main feature of a Bova novel, is more 3-dimensional and satisfying than usual. WARNING SLIGHT SPOILER AHEAD; The only feature which quite irritated me was the unnecessary, predictable and contrived whodunnit sub-plot. Having read other Bova novels and being aware of his tendency towards anglophobia, you'll all surely guess whodunnit the moment the main players are introduced! END OF SPOILER. That just took the edge off my enjoyment a little. I would still thoroughly recommend Return to Mars to all sci-fi fans. For my money, this is easily Bova's best novel and is the nearest we'll ever get to walking the Red Planet!
Rating: 
Summary: A book which matches and then outdoes it's pre-decessor.
Review: Having read and enjoyed "Mars" on it's release, I picked up a copy of "Return To Mars" hoping the sequel could sustain the quality of the original. A chapter into the book I knew that Ben had done it again and I was once again immersed in a martian landscape so beautifully described that you will believe humans have walked on it's surface. It could be read as a stand alone novel but,to gain the most from this marvellously entertaining read, you should read "Mars" first. Let's hope Dr Bova has another Mars novel on the way, his work is always worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: BIG DEAL...IT AIN'T NOTHING. Nothing at all.
Review: Heck, it wasn't until page 291 that they, Jamie and Dex, finally checked out the ruins, which is what I was waiting for! What a boring boring book. My first Ben Bova, my LAST. The reviewer from Atlanta, GA has it right " melange of superficiality and blandness".
Rating:
Summary: When is the sequel comming out?
Review: I bought this book at 9.30pm, started reading it at 10.00pm and didn't put it down till I had finished it at 3.00am in the morning. The next day I started to read it again. When is the sequel comming out. I want to know what happens to Jamie and VJ in the 4 months on Mars, will they stay or go back to earth (hope they stay). Mr. Bova it is time for another book, make it snappy.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Repetition
Review: I enjoyed Mars by ben Bova and was eager to read the sequel to learn the secrets that planet Mars has to offer humanity. I was disappointed to find that this book is merely a repeat of Mars with a different cast of characters.Jamie Waterman, the geologist from the first mission to Mars, heads up the second team to see if Mars can be lucrative for business. As in the previous novel, Jamie has problems with male team members and hits the sack with a female team member. It seems tha Mr. Bova hit on a good thing and simply stuck with it. The highlight of this book was discovering that the cliff dwellings that Jamie thought he saw in the first book were real. The decsriptions of the cliff dwellings were wonderful and make you imagine that there was life on Mars at one time in history. What a scary concept.
Rating:
Summary: This book is good
Review: I feel compelled to write a review of this book because I wrote such a negative review about Bova's earlier book, MARS. RETURN TO MARS is much better. It is a better story with more realistic characters, and there is more action. Unlike the first book, I felt like they really did something on Mars, and what they discover is credible. There were less of the racist overtones and more the incorporation of heritage and the value of diversity. Now I understand why people like Bova. This was a good book, well-paced, not too psychological, not too sci-tech, just right. I was sorry to see it end. (And I did not miss the characters from the earlier book that were left out. I only wondered about them for the first 50 pages, then the new story took hold. Fewer is better in this case.)
Rating:
Summary: Bova has another hit!
Review: I feel like I've spent the summer on Mars! I started with Mars and just finished with Return to Mars.Ben Bova's writing is so descriptive I was able to imagine being there. I really enjoyed the musings of Jamie Waterman on his "gentle Mars".Mr. Bova has vision.We will be there someday. I wonder what we will find?Now it's on to Venus!
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