Red Planet

VOYA

In 2050, humankind has ravaged Earth and is now in search of an alternative home planet. A crew is sent to Mars on the U.S. spacecraft Medea One to explore and determine whether the planet can sustain life. A large solar flare wreaks havoc on the ship, causing serious damage and forcing most of the crew to evacuate. Lieutenant Commander Kate Bowmen stays on board to try to repair the damage, while the rest of the crew takes the Mars Entry Vehicle down to the surface. Led by Robert Gallagher, the "space janitor," the crew fights to survive on the planet and to find a way back to the Medea One. Not only is their supply of oxygen limited but also every resource humans have left on Mars seems to have been destroyed by some unknown agent. Furthermore, AMEE, a robot brought on board to help the mission, malfunctions and is now intent on killing all the crew members on Mars. Adapted from the motion picture Red Planet, this novel provides limited insight to the characters' emotions. The character development is shallow and the plot simple. The story uses flashbacks, jumping back and forth in time. This construction might work well for the movie, but it is confusing in print. Nevertheless the suspense is exciting, even if the reader can guess the outcome. Those readers who enjoyed the movie will enjoy this book. VOYA CODES: 3Q 2P J S (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2000, Ace Books, 258p, pb. Ages 13 to 18. Reviewer: Joyce Yen VOYA, February 2001 (Vol. 23, No.6)