It is a world shrouded in mystery - a planet pocked by meteors, scarred by awesome gorges, baked by ultraviolet light, and covered with endless deserts the colour of dried blood...To this harsh and unforgiving planet travel twenty-five astronauts on a history-making voyage of the unknown...

Overall, I found this a very enjoyable engrossing read. Most importantly, I *believed* that this was the first manned mission to Mars. Bova has been meticulous in creating a scenario that becomes less and less Sci-Fi every day, and it shows. Exciting and fun. Even the obligatory space sex was kept to a minimum and didn't distract from the story, which after all is why one reads such books. I suppose it might all be a bit dated now, unfortunately, but at the time I read it (about 7-8 years ago?) it sure seemed realistic to me.

RELEASE NOTES:

Enjoy!

Received this in the Science Fiction Book Box. Looking forward to reading it.

I didn't actually finish this book as it wasn't really my style, so I am sending it along it's merry way.

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailing to a fellow web book trader for the SF Birthday Club.
Happy Birthday, Karen!