Green Mars

A decent sequel to Red Mars, I was most interested in the continuation of the political storyline. Some of the familiar characters had good sections, others were a little too introspective for my taste. For some reason the technicalities of the geology and terraforming bored me, and there was something missing from the narrative that RM had. The Convention and third act are the best parts. For all my problems, the “point” of this series and what it's exploring is too interesting to put down. There's little like it that engages with what a revolution or alternative econ. structure would look like (with nuance and critical detail) if it was to be built alongside the modern neoliberal capitalism model. It's not perfect but it's refreshing, and relevant to modern day with parallel crises occurring on the periphery/Mars and in the interior/Earth.

Amazed once again by Kim Stanley Robinson. The books in this trilogy are so long, I catch myself drifting in and out of focus while listening. But that even seems okay as the plot shifts in intensity, giving you a tapestry of the ecological and governmental developments over a next half century.
Yet again, this is deliciously equal parts science and sociology, the creation and controlled management of systems of atmospheres and people. While Mars undergoes a potential phase change so does its population as they argue, organise and revolutionise their way towards a Martian independence from Earth. Yet what independence to choose?

As I read further in this series I like it more. I don't like it a ton but I liked this book better than the first in the series: [b:Red Mars 77507 Red Mars (Mars Trilogy, #1) Kim Stanley Robinson http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320484020s/77507.jpg 40712]. It continues to hold my interest and I want to find out what happens to the characters. I may like this book better because I like the point of view of the characters that are highlighted in this second book rather than those from the first. [a:Kim Stanley Robinson 1858 Kim Stanley Robinson http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1217240935p2/1858.jpg] writes the books in a series of sections from one character's point of view. Which in this case is a good thing because without it I may have gotten bored and not continued with the books. Usually when a author does write this way I'm disappointed to leave that point of view but in this case it allows me to be refreshed and continue on. I do think there are some significant holes in the science but I don't pay particular attention to this as a reader. I read to be entertained so as long as there is consistency in the story and no glaring or jarring discrepancies in the way the author builds their universe I accept and move on.

The series continues to be strong commentary on what happens when profits and politics, even conflicting personal philosophies and ethics, influence science and government. 
I loved all the insights into the particular challenges that might arise in terraforming Mars. 
This book also introduced the interesting quandary of what happens when you give a certain population longevity treatments, not just the unequal power system that sets up, but also the hypothesis that these longevity treatments would prot CT one from most genetic issues but compensate unevenly for rare/serious conditions (i.e. aggressive late stage  cancer due to radiation) or brain issues related to long term memory or new damage. 

Once again I have issues with the representation: 
There's something so misogynistic in Maya's ‘stereoptypical beautiful woman (now aging)' characterization: obsessed with how her looks affected people, hyperemotional, insecure about getting attention from every male around, seeing it as her way to power, power hungry, wants to be fawned over but also fickle, unable to do anything but be ‘catty' to another female who basically acts just like her, volatile to those who try to stay with her. I recognize humans are flawed, but between Maya and Ann, it feels like the author loaded the hysterical elements onto the female characters for plot spice and that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. 

Definitely still feels like some bizarre combo of xenophobia and fetishization floating around the edges of characterization of ethnic groups that aren't caucasian, but so much is ‘antagonistic  in-group us vs them' stuff that separating it from the necessities of the narrative and perspective of individual characters is tricky. 

If anyone knows of own voices' opinions on the brain damage/ aphasia rep here I'd love to hear it, there's  a whiff of ableism in the pursuit of treatment resulting in “the exhilaration of normality”...and then there's the mad scientist characterization, after the character has had the injury. 

Speaking of perspectives: I recognize the author had a lot of ground to cover (though I'd argue he still managed to stick some ‘let's go look at another bit of Mars and the emerging developments! filler now and then), but I would love to have seen another turn with Art and Nirgal's perspectives near the end. As happy as I am that we got Nadia more than once, I remain put out that I had to read from Maya for so long. 

Pacing issues in the second book of a trilogy? ‘Twas ever thus. 🙄

Will I finish the trilogy? Yes. When? Well it will have to be soon so I don't forget everything that just happened. 🤷🏼‍♂️ The author is still presenting enough food for thought that I want to see how he chooses to end this experiment. 

It took me five years of intermittent attention to finish it, but I finally made it through. This is an incredibly dense book whose glacial pace matches the glacial pace of the plot itself. Slow, plodding, and choked with scientific minutia (both presumably real and clearly imagined), this is the hardest of hard sci-fi. If you're very interested in the prospects of establishing a human presence on Mars, or perhaps in the psychology of extreme life extension, you may well love this book. Just make sure you have time to focus and settle in for long passages about things like planting genetically engineered lychen.