71 of 83 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good....with a coupla reservations., January 31, 2003
This review is from: Semper Mars: Book One of the Heritage Trilogy (Mass Market Paperback)
Ok, I liked the book. Lotta fun with some interesting situations. Granted, it is a "gung-ho" marine type of book...but, that's not hard to figure out from the title. Personally, I have no problem with a gung-ho American/Marine type of story...especially in these days when America is often portrayed as the exact opposite. It will turn off those that think that way. I don't.
The storyline is pretty interesting. Set in 2040, America has set up some habitats on Mars, and is researching the "Face" and other artifacts. Seems these are actually alien structures built a very long time ago. We are finding a treasure house of fascinating alien stuff.
We are sharing these facilities with the UN. Which, in this story has become a pretty dominate force in the world. The US, Britain, and Russia are really not a part of the UN these days and there is some serious conflict between us. However, we allow the UN archealogists and scientists access to everything, and we share our research and study the sites together. The UN then sends some troops up to Mars, the US sends some marines up there to counter it...and things get a little interesting.
In this story, the UN is a pretty dominate force. It has invaded Brazil because of Brazils lack of care for the rainforest. It wants the US to give up part of the Southwest for an "Aztecan" homeland thing. It has a very aggressive role in the world...all for the "good" of the worlds people of course.
This may upset some people who think the world of the UN. I have been studying the UN for quite a while. Tho this book may look at the UN in the worse possible light, there is some factual reasoning to support some of it. Some of it may be a little too much...some of it is plausible. It's a book of fiction however, and the author decided to make the UN the bad guy masquerading as the worlds savior.
Anyway, the UN forces decide, for the best interests of the world, not just for the benefit of the US, Britain, and RUSSIA, to take over the MARS station. The UN wants to control the new discoveries on MARS while the US scientists want to publish new findings to the world. However, the UN team thinks it needs to be controlled, and decides to take action to make it so.
This also coincides with hostilities on the earth as well. Things are heating up everywhere. The book is mainly about how the US and the few Marines on Mars, as well as the scientists there...deal with this new situaton. It's a pretty fun read.
There are a coupla reservations, however, that prevented me from giving this book a higher rating.
The research facility on MARS is basically a US funded and built site. We are sharing it with others and the UN, but, it's mostly our show. When the new controversial discoveries are found, the UN commander there doesn't want the information released. The US team wants it be released. The UN commander (a sexy french woman) convinces the US people NOT to tell their superiors about the findings, until she talks to HER superiors first.
WHAT??????
Well, for some unknown stupid reason, the US people let her talk to her superiors before they talk to any of theirs...she does, and the UN takes action before the US people tell anyone. I'm pulling my hair out by now. The US owns the station, their commander is the head guy on the station and he lets the UN commander tell her superiors and ask for advice before he even tells his own bosses?? Gimme a break.
The other glaring reservation I have. A war starts up on Earth. The US, Britain, and Russia against the UN. Well, the UN is sending cruise missles, blowing up US cities. Troops cross from Mexico and Canada into the US...and the US president is contemplating what he might have to do to appease the UN, possibly surrendering. While the book talks about what the UN is doing to the US, there is not ONE MENTION of anything the US is doing in response. NOTHING, ZERO, NADA. We are just fighting a defensive battle on our own soil, and occassionally knocking down a missle heading our way.
WHAT????
No mention at all of any counter attacks by our navy, submarines, air forces...hell, no mention of our navy, air force, submarine fleets at all! We just are being hit, and doing nothing in response, except defensively.
Except on Mars. For some unknown reason, the President determines that it's all about Mars. Tho he can't send any troops to Mars to help...the outcome of the 20 marines vs 50 UN troops there is his number one concern. While a world war is going on here on earth. It's quite silly really.
Now, these things bugged me. Annoyingly buggy. But, I still enjoyed the book for what it was. Characters were good, the Mars storyline and conflicts were fun. The book, and the series has some great potential...really :)
Just bought the second book in the series...stay tuned :-)
SF
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