Customer Reviews

Semper Mars (Heritage Trilogy)

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

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

I have read over 50 books this year, and this book was one I could not put down--I had to finish it the same day! As a Heinlein lover over the years, I have not always appreciated our more recent sci-fi writers---they couldn't captivate me---but Douglas did! Right from the start. If you are looking for great science fiction---that is-- a swell story in a science setting of the future--this is it. Wow---what a terriffic revelation about the face on Mars---great ideas and development. I was never a marine, but after reading this I nearly joined up! I am now into the second book of the Trilogy and can't put it down either. Call me crazy, or misguided, or desperate for good science fiction---but these two books are excellent. I can hardly wait for the last of the trilogy.

Okay, I have to admit, I'm a bit biased... My father was a Marine chopper pilot and supply officer in Vietnam and I'm a dyed in the wool science fiction fan and space enthusiast who is absolutely fascinated by the potential implications of the Cydonia enigmas on Mars. So there was no way I could pass up this book! I stayed up until 2:00 am on a work night to finish it in one sitting and I will definitely buy the next two books in the series. The author's Marine characters are appropriately colorful, and his extrapolations of future military /aerospace hardware very believable. His speculations regarding what a manned mission to Mars might find at Cydonia are right in line with those of Hoagland, et.al. I'm not going to spoil the plot but I will say that if you are into techno thrillers and/or military SF, and have been following the controversy surrounding the "Face" on Mars, well, this one is a sure bet!

I picked this one up as a "why not?" read and was pleased with what I found. I liked the book. I thought the future portrayed was a little too bleak to be factual (running out of ALL resources, etc.,) but it did set the stage well. Mr. Douglas's characterizations of his Marines were a bit above the usual stereotypes. Sometimes not by much though. The political situation he portrayed however, was very interesting. I liked the inteligence he showed in both putting it together very plausibly and in how he depicted his characters reacting to it. Although the tale is nationalistic (I liked that) it was not jingoistic so his characters were not mindless in their actions. That made it much more readable for me.

All in all however, the book was well done, interesting and exciting to read, and has indeed left me waiting for the next installment. It has also left me looking to see what else, if anything Mr. Douglas has written!

I bought these 3 books while I was stationed in Galveston, TX, because I needed some reading material to pass time. Ian Douglas delivers some of the best Sci-Fi books I've ever read. When I finished reading the first book I loaned it to one of the guys in operations. He finished reading so fast that I still wasn't done with Luna Marine. These books got passed around to about 12 people in my crew and everyone was fighting over them. They're that good.

I purchased this book about three years ago and never forgot about it because of its captivating characters and story line. Rereading this book was probably the only time that I have ever reread a first book in a trilogy without having read the following two books.

The imagery and story were simple and clear, yet not simplistic. The author does an A- job of balancing character development, story development and the description of relevant details. In some cases, I would have liked a bit more character development or character complexity, however it is clear that this would have been inconsistent with the general style and it would have added unnecessarily to an already long novel.

There is a bit of patriotic rah-rah-rah, but from a person who is not usually impressed by that, it was entirely apropriate and engaging in this work. It is likely that political conflicts such as those described in the book will arise in the future, especially in a post 9/11 world. Something needs to drive us to look outside our planet, even if it ends up being the military and flag planting.

After reading all 3 books of the "Heritage Trilogy" I felt compelled to write a review. I am one of those many readers who go through 'phases' and read tons of different types of books. I read most of the 'Starfist' series, which I found mildly enjoyable (except #2, skip that one). Anyway, I figured these would be quick, action packed, easy reads. I was partially right. There is action, and alot of Space Marine patriotism. Just what I was hoping for. A very pleasant surprise however was Mr. Douglas' excellent plot and character development. Unlike many series, where it appears the author(s) just decided to stick a new story onto the last one without any real regard for continuity, The Heritage Trilogy delivers. I found it to be fresh, interesting, and much more than just a bunch of Marines-fighting-against-impossible-odds cliches. I highly recommend "The Heritage Trilogy" in its entirety. Each book is better then the last.

I am not a huge sci-fi fan. I don't know how I stumbled across this book, but I am glad I did. It is a great thriller to read. Relics are being found on mars that may have human origin. At the same time the United Nations is trying to take over the world. I can't wait to read the next 2 books in the trilogy.

I finished all five of these books ages ago and I can't wait for the 6th. They all have great action and a great story too but just so you know by the time you are done with them theres a good chance you will want to join the Marine Corps after. I know I do now. I may enlist in a year or so but everyone is different. It was funny one of the characters in the series after enlisting he gets into boot camp and the class number is 4239. Same as my address that freaked me out a little. Anyways you can not just get the first book. You have to get these 3 then the 2 in the next triligy or else you're just wasting your time.

As an active duty Marine, I picked up this book expecting a good sci-fi read with an average to good depiction of the Corps. What I found, though , was that most of the details about the Marines was well researched and well implimented. From the numerous (and relevant) invocations of the history of the corps, to the way the characters acted, I found myself nodding my head as if the Actions of the fictional Marines mirrored those of Marines I know. The only real nit-picks I could come up with was on the uniforms, but then, I'm a stickler for the dress code. Marine Embassy Guards wear Dress "C" or Dress "D" uniforms (no such thing as the designation "Class A's"), and Marine Officers' Rank insignia is shiny silver or gold on the utility uniform (the other 3 services wear matte black insignia). OK, enough ranting from the PFC.

As for the plot. The politics were belivable for the situation. Do I think a lot of it is plausable given the book's telling of it's plot's history: Yes. Do I find it believable in our OWN world: No. Then again, it's science fiction, the laws of reality go flying out the window. End of story.

All in all, if you like the Marines, the good 'ol USA, Mom, Apple Pie, and want to kill a few good hours, read the book.