Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books

Joe Haldeman - Marsbound

Reviews
 

...but really bad Heinlein at that. Very disappointing novel from an author who has probably written one or two of the best SF novels ever published. How does he manage to put out stuff like this?
Eastaway

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Almost gave up this novel as its young adult focus makes it the weakest novel I have read from this author. A bratty (but ironically also scholarly when it suits the narrative) young girl narrates most of the first part, which is a dull account of a journey to Mars - lots of exciting stuff about the lack of bathroom facilities. On Mars events take a very strange turn, as the founding of a colony thread is dumped in favour of a plot twist that would not look out of place on 'Lost in Space'. Then things switch into a Clarkean scenario with a discovery on Triton. Possibly good for the younger reader, but too formulaic and prone to info-dumping through cardboard characters for us old-timers.
A. J. Poulter

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