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Inhaltsangabe
The story starts in 2038. There are two missions on Mars, a small Japanese Space Agency mission in Ares Valley, and a large NASA mission in Kasei Valley, 1700 miles to the west. Early on, the JSA mission suffers a crippling failure, and its sole survivor, an elderly scientist who is also a Zen master, faces certain death from starvation.
As the story opens, the NASA landing site is devastated by a catastrophe, caused by a funding shortfall that forces the mission to run risks. There are only two survivors, an American and a Frenchwoman, who were away on a rover expedition. Two of the mission's three long-range, nuclear-powered rovers also survive, but the surviving food will run out in only two weeks. News of the catastrophe is received with shock on Earth.
Next day, there is an emergency hearing on the disaster in Washington, attended by the world's space agency chiefs, and watched worldwide. The JSA chief drops the first bombshell, when she reveals that the Zen master in Ares Valley has broken off contact with Earth, in order to dig his own grave, and die in private.
The NASA chief then drops the next bombshell, when he reveals the enormous cost of rescuing the two NASA survivors in Kasei Valley ($100 billion in year 2000 dollars).
The U.S. President, outraged and apparently misguided (but actually, as later events would reveal, guided more truely than any could have known), soon comes to believe he is justified in using the rescue money to save thousands of lives on Earth instead. He directs his CIA to sabotage the antenna of the NASA mission's seventh lander, carrying mostly food, and due to arrive on Mars shortly. NASA loses control of the lander, and can't send it signals to prevent it from burning up in the Martian atmosphere.
There is now no hope for the two NASA survivors. They are soon out of food too, and must decide how to die. They follow the example of the Zen master, and break off contact with Earth. The American goes first, and lies down in his Martian grave one evening, to die in his sleep when his air runs out -- and so avoid a death of slow starvation. As he lies dying, his companion, the young woman, all alone, suffers a complete emotional collapse.
But then, the entirely unexpected happens, causing a great saga to unfold, set in the ancient outflow valleys of Mars and occupying most of the book.
It is a tale of amazing human resourcefulness, conflicting risks, heartbreaking setbacks, narrow escapes, and daring rover train journeys across the Martian waste. It is the story of a desperate attempt to carry out a master plan to build a unique survival resource in a Martian Shangri-La named Leaf Valley, an intriguing sanctuary on Mars that actually exists. And then there's the part played by the Japanese Zen master, with his great insight, technical skills and Zen awareness of Mars, just "as it is".
This master plan is the brainchild of the young woman, gifted with a brilliant creative and rational imagination. The emotional breakdown she suffered, as her companion lay dying in his grave, has altered her emotions, and transformed her into the first Martian. She no longer cares about Earth, and instead is determined to build, settle and be happy on Mars -- and so undo a great wrong.
The pace of the story is modest at first, during the hearing in Washington, but increases steadily as the tale unfolds. The ending, in which justice is done, is both climactic and anticlimactic. It lays the foundation for the continuation of this saga, as the Great Powers draw up their competing plans for gaining control of Leaf Valley and its trillion dollar resource.
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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor
The author, Thomas William Cronin, has a Ph.D. in physics and has contributed published research on Mars. He is also a Full Professor in the Science Faculty at a major university. He has written many technical books, distributed worldwide.
He has a reputation for writing simply, and for being able to invent simple and imaginative explanations for apparently complex matters. The story "As It Is on Mars" is the latest example of his inventive and insightful imagination.
Von der hinteren Coverseite
WELCOME TO KASEI VALLEY As It Is On Mars
Largest of the ancient outflow valleys of Mars, a thousand miles long, walled by precipices and mesas.
The spectacular setting for the drama following the catastrophic failure of NASA's first manned Mission to Mars.
A magnificent valley highway east to a solitary Zen master, sole survivor of a failed Japanese mission in Ares Valley.
The stage for a monumental struggle, that will change the way you see the Red World--and the Blue World too.
Aus dem Klappentext
As It Is On Mars
The story begins in February 2038, the year of an attractive window for a manned mission to Mars.
The first manned missions have landed -- a large American/European NASA mission, and a small Japanese mission. NASA's mission has landed in Kasei Valley, the largest outflow valley on Mars. The Japanese have landed in Ares Valley, 1700 miles to the east. Both missions have gone wrong, ultimately due to a shortage of funds and competition for prestige.
The small two-man Japanese mission arrived first, in September 2037. Although the short-term mission has been a success, the long-term mission is crippled by loss of a shuttle carrying its farm building. As well, one of the two men has died of a stroke. The other, Dr. Ichiro Sato, who is not only a scientist, but also a Zen master, is now alone, and faced with starvation in a few weeks, and no chance of a rescue.
The large thirteen-member NASA mission landed later, in December 2037. There were originally fourteen, but one was lost on the journey to Mars. Except for this, the mission is a success initially. The mission involves seven landing craft, one of which is yet to arrive.
On the day the story opens, on the morning of February 02, 2038, without warning, a catastrophe strikes the NASA landing site. The base is devastated, and eleven astronauts at the site are killed instantly.
At the time, two mission members, an American engineer, Dr. John Erway, and a young Frenchwoman, Dr. Denise Lavoisier, medical doctor and DNA expert, are away on a rover expedition. Only when they return does Mission Control find out what happened.
Next day, a hearing into the disaster takes place in Washington, related in the first chapter. It turns out that the stranded pair has food for only two weeks. The mission's seventh lander is due to arrive in ten days, however, carrying enough food to keep the pair alive for three years.
There is shock in government when it is revealed that a rescue would cost as much as the original mission. A government conspiracy is hatched, without NASA's knowledge, and the CIA sabotages the seventh lander's antenna. NASA loses control of the spacecraft, and can't send it critical commands to prevent it from burning up in the Martian atmosphere.
There is now no hope for the stranded pair. They break off contact with Earth, as has Dr. Sato before them, as they prepare to die in private. However, John Erway, an expert in assessing risk, has figured out the CIA plot, so that the two do realize they are being murdered, to conserve funds for social programs.
They are not prepared to endure a death of slow starvation though, and prefer an easier way. John goes first. He takes sleeping pills and gets in his grave, intending to die in his sleep when the air in his suit runs out. As Denise sits nearby in the dark, waiting for him to die, sobbing, and cursing those responsible, an event takes place that nobody could have expected, except perhaps an obscure software engineer in India.
This surprise event triggers the story in the book, converting an initial tragic drama to a great tale of heroic deeds, and a true Martian saga.
Front jacket art: Blue clouds at dawn, skyscape from Pathfinder Mission image, courtesy of NASA.
Back jacket: image of Kasei Valley, courtesy of NASA/USGS.
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As It Is on Mars
Anbieter: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, USA
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Zustand: Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good. Artikel-Nr. 67568355-6
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