Compassing Mars

"You who hold in hand this book" begins the prologue to Compassing Mars. "This book" tells the story of the seventh mission of humans to Mars, from launch from Earth on May 20, 2027, landing and exploring Mars, and returning to Earth on August 12, 2028. The mission has definite scientific and astronomic purposes. In addition, as expressed by one of the seven members of the crew, "We go to Mars for our souls as much as for science." Compassing Mars exists in "an interface of past, present and future," as the members of the crew draw from wisdom of the Bible, literary works of the past, and 70 years of space exploration, and as they question what treasures they bring from Mars back to Earth. "This book" adopts the Old English pattern of stresses and alliteration, since poetry imposes discipline, provides patterns, provokes imagination, and unites individual viewpoints. The prologue ends - "Be conscious, be generous, be kind, be grateful."