Review to follow ... should have taken a star off for the many typos and sloppy editing in the first half. But this really wrongfooted me just when I thought I knew where it was headed. A 'modern' SF novel that riffs off Paul McAuley, Kim Stanley Robinson, and Frank Herbert in a phlegmatic manner quite typical of South African SF.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book.
I found this story incredibly fascinating and, despite being sci-fi, wholly believable. I think the author has managed to create a narrative which you could really imagine taking place in the future.
The descriptions within the book were, at first, difficult to conceptualise in my mind given that they were of another world and futuristic machinery. The author did a fantastic job of pulling you into the world quickly, though, to a point where I felt immersed and able to picture what was described.
I think the storylines were well written and the use of different years worked very well in providing a solid background as well as enhancing the twists and reveals. This is definitely the sort of sci-fi novel I would love to see in film or tv as I think the concept of the Mars societies as a whole could be developed into a variety of new stories.
The only downside I would say I noted was that I didn’t feel I connected with the main character (Dylan). I think this may have been caused by the fact that the reader is offered more information and background which makes it frustrating when the character holds certain opinions and views. Though I did find this to be an issue throughout, I felt like I began to relate more and appreciate the character towards the end.
Overall a really interesting and refreshing read and I would be excited to read both more books based in this world and any other novels by the author.
I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.
This was very classic sci fi. I maybe expected a bit more murder mystery, based on the title, but I still really enjoyed the straight forward plot.
This story has several main characters, and switches back and forth between these characters and different time periods to weave a story of the first people born on Mars, and the first murder committed.
It paints a very vivid picture, and if you’re a sci fi fan you will enjoy this! I do wish it was maybe edited a little tighter; certain scenes maybe drag on a bit, specifically ‘action sequences’.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I don’t often read fictional books, but this one really caught my attention and it wouldn’t let go. Not that I know anything about terraforming Mars, other than the random facts that may or may not be true from the Terraforming Mars board game that I play, but this book felt really well researched and nothing seemed like it was too implausible to happen.
I enjoyed the philosophical meaning behind it relating to how human kind socially evolves, how capitalism is far from the socially optimal system yet it continues to be the dominant one.
An intriguing scifi novel, kind of an Expanse/Red Rising mash up with some cleverly divisive characters and a page turner plot.
The world building is excellent, you really get a feel for this version of Mars and for its inhabitants. The political situation is clear and makes a good backdrop to the twists and turns of the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not sure if there'll be a sequel but if there is I'm up for it.
A wild rover ride across the red planet which is somehow both exhilarating and deeply thoughtful about how societies are built, captured, and liberated. It’s meticulously researched, vividly imagined and moves faster than a spaceship. I bloody adored this book.