Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Haldeman Takes A Risk....and Succeeds!, August 14, 2008
Certainly, none of us suspected that there was a 19-year old woman living inside Joe Haldeman, but one has emerged in his latest novel. Perhaps given his contact with college students at MIT, he has chosen to write his latest novel from the perspective of a 19-year old woman. Surprisingly, or not so surprisingly given Mr. Haldeman's talent, he does a pretty good job of it. The current novel is classic science fiction and feels a bit retro in flavor hearkening back to earlier decades, but incorporating modern sensibilities.
Marsbound is an engaging novel told entirely as a first-person narrative. It is not a long novel (the one constant in ALL Haldeman novels is his compact writing style), but it is complete and will leave the reader satisfied. As with most of his novels, Marsbound is a writing exercise. Haldeman constantly tries new things in his writing and is not formulaic. You never know what to expect when you open one of his books. Some of his experiments in writing work better than others, but the journey is always fascinating. I enjoyed the current novel and highly recommend it.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great read, August 10, 2008
This review is from: Marsbound (A Marsbound Novel) (Hardcover)
I've always loved the subtle style Joe Haldeman incorporates into his works. The references to other sci-fi literature and the subtle humor every few pages kept my as amused as the story, which unfolded at a nice pace.
From a quadriped who expresses concern about humans standing on two "unsteady" legs to an administrative character as hated to me as Malfoy in Harry Potter, every moment was richly developed into a very plausible and interesting view of the future.
What makes Haldeman's works so interesting is that they are told so matter of factly--referring to future events that the reader does not know about as if we do (but with the understanding that the consequences of historic events play themselves out over time and that is universal)--and in a way told so that the near future is just that. There could possibly be a space elevator at some point, and if not a Hilton in orbit, what other hotel chain would beat them out? (hopefully not something like the "super 8").
A good, strong read if you're looking for a nice escape and a vivid story about the first colonists on Mars, and the inane tendencies of human interaction.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A mixed bag. Haldeman's done better., August 18, 2008
This review is from: Marsbound (A Marsbound Novel) (Hardcover)
THE GOOD: "Marsbound" is a relatively short, easy read and moves along at a pretty brisk pace. The portrayal of space exploration some 40-50 years hence (including space elevators, space tourism, Mars colonies, and the hazards that go along with them) is believable. Except for a few sexually explicit episodes, I would probably characterize this as juvenile science fiction, and reminiscent of Robert Heinlein's "Red Planet," as many reviewers have noted. The book is divided into three parts: (1) "Leavetaking," (2) "First Contact," and (3) "Second Contact." The first two parts are quite good. Unfortunately ...
THE NOT-SO-GOOD: The third and final part of the book is where it starts falling apart just a bit. The narrative becomes rather frenetic, and the science fiction becomes highly speculative. As mentioned above, this is a book that seems geared toward a younger audience, which made me wonder whatever became of the author who wrote "The Forever War," one of the greatest sci-fi novels of all time.
Overall, a mixed bag. The novel's protagonist, Carmen Dula, is likable enough, though not nearly as well-drawn as Cassandra Majumdar in Greg Bear's "Moving Mars." Haldeman has certainly left plenty of room for a sequel, and if one is written I'll be sure to read it. But coming from someone with the stature of Joe Haldeman, "Marsbound" feels a bit phoned-in.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
