Customer Reviews

Mars Plus

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The sequel to Man Plus. This novel was far less intriguing, which is ironic since it played out as a mystery. I we remember the end of Man Plus, there is the implication that machine intelligence has tricked mankind into colonizing Mars in order to protect its own interests (since man might wipe out Earth and thus the machine intelligence too). Mars Plus is a mystery where all the players are manipulated by the machines, but it just isn't very mysterious or clever. I think Pohl phoned this one in without exploring the many facets of what the existence of a manipulative machine intelligence would mean.

Not particularly interesting nor intriging. Just when the plot began to go somewhere, I ran out of pages. Not particularly bad, but if you are a Sci-Fi fan, and are intrigued by the character of Roger Torraway (as I am) then seek the prequel titled "Man Plus".

This book is an oldie but it's amazing how man continues to plod on toward a Martian landing as did the characters in this story. I kept wondering for 17 chapters who the narrator,"We," was who told the story? In a cutesie, laconic way this question was sort of answered in Chapt 18, the four page ending. I won't, but I don't think it would spoil anything by revealing the ending, in fact, not knowing the "We" identity sort of spoiled the book for me. I like to know who is telling me a story. Still, much was attempted for the 1970's so I will only spank the author with the brevity of this review.