Green Mars

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.