Rock hard core science fiction, humor, edge of your seat, a must for every lover of the space program
581893
This may have too much technical detail for some, you get the distinct impression it was written in multiple departments within JPL and NASA, but it's always driving the story.

This is not dragons and princesses, this is hose clamps and hydrogen.

Damn was this fun!
2419160
I have to love a book that starts out cussing right out of the gate.

After the initial eye-opening f-bomb, I admit that I laughed out loud in surprise.  Personally I am not opposed to the occasional epithet and mention it here only to forewarn anyone who may have a problem with swearing in general.  The cussing is not over-done here and feels entirely appropriate and organic given the principal character and the outrageous, life-threatening situations he finds himself in during the course of this tale.

Astronaut Mark Watney is one of a team of six, on NASA's third mission to the Red Planet when an unexpected storm forces the team to abort the mission and make a run for orbit.  Hit by a wind-launched piece of damaged equipment, his team mates think him dead and leave without him.  What follows is an intense, smart and often-times funny narrative as Mark recovers, discovers he's been left behind and essentially hitches up the britches of his spacesuit and goes about his business, doing anything and everything he can in order to survive.

Told mostly from Mark's perspective through his log entries, the story unfolds in a stream of consciousness monologue that is often quite hilarious despite the grave circumstances.  Mark Watney is a "steely-eyed missile man" of the same order as the heroes of the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and shuttle programs.  He's definitely made of the "Right Stuff" with his can-do attitude, practical optimism and his tenacious never-give-up outlook.  Murphy's Law and Mother Necessity are at war here, with Mark unfortunately caught in the middle.  Long after most of us would have given up and taken that fatal dose of morphine, Mark Watney is still alive and still just as determined to go on living as long as it takes for NASA to realize he's still alive and come up with a way to go back and rescue him.

In spite of my science background, I confess I sometimes found the math and engineering concepts a bit dizzying and mind-numbing at times but that did not make this novel any less engaging or lessen its white-knuckled intensity.  The novel does an excellent job of educating the reader on the complexities and dangers of space travel as well as showcasing what incredibly talented and gifted engineers are capable of with limited resources and a non-negotiable deadline.  The Apollo 13 movie with Tom Hanks comes to mind more than once along the way here.  Mark Watney is a thoroughly likable character and in spite of the occasional f-bomb, you will find yourself rooting and cheering for him every step of the way, until the bitter end.
3171835
A fantastic book! It's tough to put down. Science and space nerds will adore this story! I can't wait to see the movie now! Read this! You will love it!
4456867
With 'Mars: Making Contact' Rod Pyle makes good, hard science read like good, hard science fiction.  He never loses focus on the often heart-breaking human element at the core of the Mars program. Better yet, he brings that element to life so brilliantly that even the most determinedly non-techie reader is pulled in and absorbed. I'd say that this is a perfect coffee table book - except that if your guests start browsing it, you may not be able to get them back out of it!  This is a must read for everyone who has ever looked up at that glowing red spot in the sky and wondered what's really there.
2949832
OK, I am biased. From the day I skipped school to sneak home and watch the first space shuttle launch, I have been a space geek. Chewed my way through this book in three days. But it is not just space geekery. This book for the young will make you feel all is possible given enough grit and focus. For the old it will make you want to start life again, go back and make more adventurous choices and take larger risks. Characters drawn large, ironically through carefully chosen small details, sit just this side of sidle-away nuts as they zip-tie and duct tape their way to where our blue skies turn dark. Some are surprises... hotshot young guns lose there nerve and hit abort, aging test pilots that no longer fit their flight suits stick-and-rudder through runaway horse test flights, go-for-it 'yes' saying billionaires lurk on the sidelines afraid of the commitment, and damaged wounded depressives drag themselves out from the massive weight of famous families and quite literally climb from rock bottom to the skies.
2758463
Wow.  This book has it all.  At least for me.  I have always wanted to go into space, so am checking that box, because I feel like I actually was on Mars!  The story is full of suspense so am checking that box, it had me turning the pages as fast as I could to find out what was going to happen to this poor guy stranded on Mars by himself.  Sometimes it is laugh out loud funny, so am checking that box, the main character Mark Whatney is witty, clever and has a wry take on everything that happens, both good and bad.  It is also inspirational, so am checking that box too.  A story about an entire planet working together to help one person and the selflessness of so many is inspiring.  Scientific insight?  Am checking that box too.  Lots and lots of science, but presented by Mark Whatney, so also pretty entertaining.  So, a funny, inspirational, suspenseful, scientific page-turner set mostly on Mars.  Yep, this is one great book.  Did I mention they are making a movie about it starring Matt Damon?  Am checking that box too -- I will be first in line to see this great story brought to the screen!
1792867
When I find a book this good, it becomes a new friend, I raced through this one, just couldn't put it down!!! GREAT characters, AWSOME storyline!!! The only problem I had was around 71% read, my Kindle kept freezing so I bypassed a few pages. All In all, if you love science fiction, mysteries or a great read involving smart kids, you MUST grab this one and hold on tight, it's an awesome ride so far. Not sure I can wait 24 hours for my free copy of book 2, think I'm going to grab the other 2 now,lol.
3189239
I took this book with me on our Thanksgiving trip. Once I opened the cover it was very hard to put down. Loved going back to the 60s space program and Gemini and Apollo projects and the specter of the Cold War. I found myself thinking I was reading a Dale Brown, Tome Clancy, Cliver Cussler book. Simply and awesome read. Can't wait for the next book to come out
1335914
Fans of Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, and the works of Ursula K. Le Guin will love The Jovian Run. Wilks creates an expansive universe to explore, complete with new ships and space toys that you'll one day see emblazoned on a t-shirt. The Gringolet crew is scrappy and smart. Wilks spends time crafting each character in as much detail as he does the ship they soar to Mars on. This isn't like the hard sci-fi you're used to: Wilks' crew is diverse and his women are fierce leaders beside their male compatriots. The mysterious and kick-ass Dinah was immediately my favorite character, and she doesn't disappoint as the trouble of the Gringolet crew gets worse, and worse, and worse. Wilks teaches us that there are no chance encounters in space--every movement and every moment take Captain Staples and her crew further down the rabbit hole. Also, did I forget to mention there are space pirates? YES! Can't wait for the second Sol Space book to bring me back to this incredible universe.
353034
If you like stories from the golden age of science fiction from authors like Heinlein, Van Vogt and Philip K. Dick, you owe it to yourself to read this book.  If you enjoy vivid imagery, a fast paced plot, interesting characters who become people you feel you know, and science and fiction and a bit of the occult blended into a story with unexpected twists and turns that demands your complete and full attention from beginning to end, you should read this book.  The plot detail is incredible and I found I had suspended my disbelief somewhere in the first chapter and never looked back.  Just one word of warning....Don't start reading this book just anywhere.  You may not be able to put it down!!!
440572
This book is on every "best of" list of science fiction, and now I know why. I was hooked from the first paragraph, which describes the main character, the Deliverator, as a ninja-type warrior wearing a black "arachno-fiber" uniform that repels bullets "but excess persperation wafts through it like a breeze through a freshly napalmed forest."  People rely on the Deliverator, he is a role model who uses samurai swords instead of guns because punks aren't afraid of guns but "swords need no demonstration." What is it that all of this technology and Schwartzeneggerian bravado is dedicated to delivering? Pizzas in 30 minutes or less for CosaNostra Pizza. This vignette at the very start of the book is so smart, so funny, so crazy, so close-to-real-life-as-we-know-it-but-just-tweaked-a-tiny-bit, and so fantastically well-written that I had to read it several times just for the pure joy of it. And the rest of the book only gets better. If you are any kind of a science fiction fan and haven't read this, or if you are a person who loves amazing writing and can appreciate something a little off the well-worn path of the Oprah Book Club (okay, a LOT off that path) then you need to read Snow Crash. This novel defines tour-de-force, so many ideas, so many great characters, such a well-detailed world, it is hard to believe it all came from the mind of one man. Definitely on my personal list of the best science fiction novels.
256692
I bought this novel as an audiobook when I read the blurb in an email from Amazon. It is one of the best written, accurate, and detailed, from the standpoint of both what we now (2014) know about Mars and of the state of contemporary engineering, stories that I have ever had the good fortune to read. Hard science fiction such as this has, up until recently, been based on speculative physics. Lately we have started to see books like "The Martian" that are based on realistic "engineering." Anyone who wants to write a "marooned on Mars" story from now on has to use "The Martian" as a benchmark; it's the best story of its genre I have ever read, and I've been reading science fiction since the summer of 1950.
4480460
Space, the Final Frontier:  This is the voyage of the Star Ship Speroancora!
Wow, Fluency (Volume 1 of the Confluence Series) what a terrific read by Jennifer Foehner Wells!  Im not a big reader of the Sci Fi genre but while perusing Amazon for my next couple of reads I luckily hit on Jennifers amazing novel.  From the opening review line, NASA discovered the alien ship lurking in the asteroid belt in the 1960s, I was hooked:  And Ms Wells did not let me down!  A combination of Arthur C. Clarkes 2001:  A Space Odyssey, and Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek, Fluency whetted my Sci Fi appetite and sated me with a wonderful journey into the possibilities of tomorrow.
Dr. Jane Holloway is a linguist recruited by Nasa to travel to what appears to be an abandoned alien Space Craft.  Trouble is when the NASA crew arrives at the behemoth ship and dock, they realize the space craft is not abandoned although the crew is gone.  Soon, Dr. Holloway makes intellectual contact with the ships Navigator, a being of massive intellect, who is all that is left of the original alien crew.  From there the story deliciously takes off in a well written space suspense thriller that will kept the reader well entertained and intelligently engaged.
Character development was superb, complex and masterfully done.  Ms. Wells weaves alien and human mind interaction in a beautifully poignant story of hope, fear and eventual acceptance.
No gratuitous violence, language or sex: But just enough of each to keep the story real and moving at a perfect clip.
Hearty recommend.  Im hooked and have already ordered Remanence (Volume 2 of the Confluence Series).  This Sci Fi novel is no shoot-em-up bang-bang space western, but rather a well written, thoughtful, what if space mystery along the lines of astronaut Sally Ride Meets HAL from 2001 Space Odyssey.  And like Star Trek, when the adventurous Dr. Holloway is queried as to why she decides to stay on the star ship humanly alone she simply said (to paraphrase the iconic Star Trek To boldly go where no one has gone before), Who knows where it will take me?
Well Done Ms. Foehner Wells, Well Done.
1682702
If you grew up loving Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy, you'll love this book.  If you are not from planet earth or your brain was somehow rewired to dislike Douglas Adams, you'll probably not like this book.

Rob Reid is the heir to Douglas Adams' snarky humor, fun adventure, and serious space travel.

Two additional things I liked about this book:
1. It is also a wonderfully written overview of how the music industry works.
2. It has powerful male and female characters and is a good read for all genders (my wife, not someone who generally likes science fiction, loved this book as well)

The theme of this book is that aliens have been listening to our rock music for 30 years and then, one day, the music industry finds out about it and sends the aliens a bill for more money then there is in the galaxy.  hilarity ensues.  highly recommend this book.
3286763
I knew I had found a new favorite SF author, but I really did not expect the synergy to be found when the author weaves some of the best basic adventure situations with basic science knowledge most young readers would possess and advanced theoretical physics, mathematics, and cosmology physics to challenge all readers into either believing or researching story elements while being entranced and entertained while traveling at faster than light (FTL) speeds.

Many of the previous characters return and bring new friends.  The Drasin also bring friends, but they are not friendly.  Watch for hints and hidden agendas as the threat to all civilizations becomes almost incomprehensible but yet real beyond the wildest imagination.  The trip is bumpy and fascinating, with plenty of action, politics, and creativity.  Hang on to your space suit to not be left out.
2036335
I was lucky enough to hear Ed speak while I was attending Teacher Space Camp and was totally sucked in by his incredible backstories of the original astronauts and the "US Space Race". If you have any interest in the space program, this is a must read. Ed and Wally do a great job in letting you know the men behind the legends and just how much fun they really are (were).
84950
This book is an extremely good read! Gene Kranz is definitely "Mr. Cool" from Mission Control and in his book gives an interesting and entertaining summary of his life and work from the early days right up to his famous part in Apollo 13 and beyond. It is fascinating to learn how Mission Control got started and what obstacles the teams had to master - the "clean and lean" Mission Control as we know it from the Apollo era is the result of these hard and uncertain early days.
The book is fascinating from start to finish and I do differ in some here stated opinions - I find the book very well written and I like the way Gene Kranz narrates (I've seen numerous interviews with him and he definitely has a biting wit). He knows exactely what he's talking about and he does this extremely well! For anyone interested in the NASA Space program, the life of Gene Kranz and all that has to do with it, this book is a must. Highly recommendable!