How to Mars

In recent years there has been a string of novels about astronauts where the authors have failed to run their manuscripts by a real astronaut. This is yet another one. There's a constant stream of "no, it doesn't actually work that way" and "no, they wouldn't actually do that" (for example: Mars dust is toxic to humans, and they wouldn't let it casually accumulate in their living area; boosting supplies out of the gravity well is so extremely expensive that they're not going to be sending lots of superfluous towels; colonists would not be sent on a permanent mission to Mars without technical cross-training; there's a reason that NASA does intensive psychological screening to avoid sending a sociopath into space; a child which grows up on Mars is not going to be able to function on Earth as an adult without a mecha-suit, etc., etc.). This lack of verisimilitude is worsened by the story's all-too-realistic emphasis on catering to the reality TV show element (unless you enjoy reality shows, in which case it probably seems better). And the stupidity of the so-called "survival manual" segments is beyond belief. However, the hastily-wrapped-up finale is a nice one.

Also, what is it with these male authors who seem to imagine that the only one possible "adventure" for women astronauts is to get pregnant??? Gah. Talk to some real women astronauts, dude.

This is a science-fiction novel written for people who don't read science fiction. Choose wisely.