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Blue Mars

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Blue Mars

By: Kim Stanley Robinson
Narrated by: Richard Ferrone
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About this listen

 Acclaimed visionary author Kim Stanley Robinson is a Hugo and Nebula Award-winner. Blue Mars is the final volume in Robinson's seminal science-fiction trilogy, which began with Red Mars and continues with Green Mars.

The once red and barren terrain of Mars is now green and rich with life - plant, animal, and human. But idyllic Mars is in a state of political upheaval, plagued by violent conflict between those who would keep the planet green and those who want to return it to a desert world.

Meanwhile, across the void of space, old, tired Earth spins on its decaying axis. A natural disaster threatens to drown the already far too polluted and overcrowded planet. The people of Earth are getting desperate. Maybe desperate enough to wage interplanetary war for the chance to begin again.

Blue Mars is a complex and completely enthralling saga - as convincing and lushly imagined a future as anyone has ever dreamed. Richard Ferrone narrates this sweeping epic with engaging personality and finesse.

©1996 Kim Stanley Robinson (P)2002 Recorded Books Fantasy Science Fiction Fiction Solar System Mars Socialism

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Critic reviews

"Robinson's achievement here is on a par with Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles and Herbert's Dune." ( Publishers Weekly)
"A well-written, thoughtful conclusion to the trilogy." ( Library Journal)
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I really struggled with the tone and speed of the narrator. Couldn't finish the book

Poor narrator choice for this book

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... but quite a satisfying ending to this epic story nonetheless.

There were parts that dragged and sometimes I think that this book served as a place for KSR to satisfy his itch to expostulate on his research into fascinating subjects like memory, politics, biology and the like. But I’m kind of a nerd and KSR does a great job of making it really interesting even if it contributes absolutely nothing to the plot/story.

I could’ve lived without the extended side track to other parts of the solar system with a character we’d only just met and who didn’t last very long after that.

Those are the reasons for the deduction of a star on Story.

Over all, the whole series is definitely worth taking on and enjoyable as a whole!

Lots left to the imagination...

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I read this trilogy when I was 16, and it captivated me. I loved every aspect of the science in this story. I would even say it was an influence on my career choice. Now I had the chance to relive it all again in audio form, being read to me. Now I'm older I understand the science much better, and the story is just as captivating, if not more so.
3x 30hours of Richard Ferrone. He definitely grew on me. He has quite a relaxing voice. But his accents are bloody awful! :o)

immersive, captivating, science smorgasbord

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Firstly, let me highlight Richard Ferrone's performance here. The Mars Trilogy covers so much ground not once did the performance falter.

The story's scope can only be described as epic, from the launch of the first 100 to the final scene there is enough characterisation to keep you interested as the hard science hits.

The End of a long and detailed saga.

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First the story goes away from our heroes and I felt like loosing interest. But at the end it all comes back together. nice and beautifull

beautifull

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some great observations of human behaviour and verged on wistful a few times.
It felt too long, some sections were too drawn out, but then redemption came with some interesting thoughts on the aging process and how we deal with it.

some great ideas but dragged in places

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Not sure if it’s me or the book but I found it rather confusing, I still enjoyed it but felt like It was written in a foreign language at times. As I mentioned it could easily have just been me

Confusing

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely, the Third installment of the Mars Trilogy didn't disappoint me at all.

This book has also aged remarkably well, with technology which is still as relevant and is looking ever more probably.

The Story was evoking and had me completely enthralled.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Blue Mars?

I enjoyed the continued development of Mars in terms of Terra-forming, Ecology & Society. It was exciting to read about the increasingly distant relationship between Earth and Mars and the shifting balance of power in the Solar System.

What does Richard Ferrone bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Richard Ferrone gave an outstanding performance, with clear distinction between characters and a real sense of passion in the delivery.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Evolutionary & Revolutionary Mars

Any additional comments?

Well worth a read

An absolute must for any Sci-Fi Fan!

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Enjoyed the first 2, and from someone who enjoyed the emphasis on philosophy of the books - i day this had waaaayyyyyy to much waffle and science exposition.

Too much Waffle then it ends.

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All three books are great albeit slightly repetitive and over-long in places. We are taken on a real journey from the first settlers arriving on Mars to the final sequence when we go on a family trip to the Martian beach.

There is a strange sequence in Blue Mars when a character goes back to Earth and ends up in Gravesend and Southend and encounters a couple of chirpy cockneys in true Dick Van Dyke style. Here the narrator who’s held off on accents for all three novels attempts an awful English/Cockney accent! Is this how English people speak in the late 21st century? Also, in this sequence the use of the ‘P’ word to describe an Asian person is incredibly offensive and should be completely removed from the novel as I don’t think the author understood at all the use or meaning of this word in the UK.

Apart from that weird part it’s a great and epic listen.

Great listen but the UK sequence is weird

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