Mars Underground by William K. Hartmann is an effort to look at what living on Mars might be like via a novel. Mr. Hartmann is a well-known astronomer and planetary scientist. The price tag on this book makes me think that I found this on a remainders table at Barnes and Noble. I don't have a conscious memory of having bought it, however.
Started: 11/29/2014
Completed: 2/2/2015
Recommendation: Not worth the time
Recommended By: Nobody
Words and Concepts for which I sought help:
Anastomosing -- the reconnection of two streams that had previously branched out.
Ostinato -- a short melody or pattern that is constantly repeated.
Review:
So, Arthur C. Clarke says (on the cover) that this book provides insight into how people would live on Mars. I think not. It puts 4,000 people on Mars within 10 years which is hard to fathom. Somehow trips to Mars become routine and frequent flitting between the moons and Mars becomes common place in the same time period. This just couldn't happen. The book is odd and the premise is vaguely reminiscent of 2001 A Space Odyssey. The human interest story lines were also odd--intended to show some kind of evolved sense of sexuality that sort of comes with exploring a new planet.
There was, however, one great quotation:
There was, however, one great quotation:
"Intuition was no longer some magical sixth sense. It was simply the knowledge squirreled away in the back of your brain, subliminal knowledge, the knowledge you didn't know you had, gained from cumulative experience--the churning reservoir stored below the surface of frozen pack ice of consciousness."
I would say, enjoy the quotation and skip the rest of the book. It isn't useful as a way to look at Mars exploration and its commentaries on society in general feel odd.
I would say, enjoy the quotation and skip the rest of the book. It isn't useful as a way to look at Mars exploration and its commentaries on society in general feel odd.
