Martian Rainbow

Forward, Robert L.

ISBN 10: 0345347129 / ISBN 13: 9780345347121

Published by Del Rey / Ballantine, 1991

About this Item

Hardcover with dustjacket, first printing as indicated by the publisher's "1" in the number line on copyright page, signed by the author below his printed name on the title page and inscribed to "Alex" and signed again below that, the book has moderate bumping to the bottom corners and very mild spotting to the top page-edge, no other remarkable flaws, jacket has moderate rubbing to the surface which is common with most glossy jackets and a shallow edge-chip is present at the top of the rear flap, the jacket remains presentable, the original price (18.00) is present and a professional (removable) mylar cover is included ; 319 pages; Author.

Seller Inventory # 057852

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Martian Rainbow
• Publisher: Del Rey / Ballantine
• Publication Date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0345347129
• ISBN 13: 9780345347121
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition; 1st Printing.
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good-

About this title

Synopsis

Interplanetary war threatens as the power and ambition of Infinite Lord and President of the Unified States General Alexander Armstrong, the heroic victor of the battle for Mars, grows out of control

Reviews

Simple-minded, Heinlein-esque, medium-future interplanetary power-struggle from the author of Dragon's Egg and Starquake. In the 21st century, Mars, after a brief independence under Communist Russians, is reconquered by UN forces under General Alexander Armstrong. Alexander returns to Earth and soon, heading his own religious cult, becomes supreme dictator of the planet. His scientist twin brother Gus stays on Mars as governor. So when the ever-more paranoid and megalomaniac Alexander orders all space colonies abandoned, interplanetary war seems likely. Deterred from invading Mars by missiles the Martians no longer have (they used them all to destroy an earlier nuclear strike), Alexander arranges that, if he dies, an asteroid will blow the Earth to bits. On Mars, meanwhile, Gus discovers an ancient alien-robot civilization; the robots agree to help terraform Mars for human occupation. A sophomoric rehash of standard notions, with cartoon characters and strained plotting, though the accurate, informative Marsology helps. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Another aspect of the good/evil dichotomy is illustrated in Forward's novel. Twin brothers Alexander and Augustus Armstrong--one a general and the other a statesman and scientist--unite to conquer the Russian forces on Mars but find themselves on opposing sides in the uneasy peace that ensues. Although Forward ( Dragon's Egg , LJ 4/15/80; Starquake , LJ 10/15/85) excels in hard sf adventure, his moral heavy-handedness and lack of political acumen weaken this otherwise intriguing foray into future politics. Not an essential purchase.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.