Who are the extraordinary individuals that will take us on the next great space race, the next great human endeavor, our exploration and colonization of the planet Mars? And more importantly, how are they doing it? Acclaimed science writer Oliver Morton explores the peculiar and fascinating world of the new generation of explorers: geologists, scientists, astrophysicists and dreamers. Morton shows us the complex and beguiling role that mapping will play in our understanding of the red planet, and more deeply, what it means for humans to envision such heroic landscapes. Charting a path from the 19th century visionaries to the spy-satellite pioneers to the science fiction writers and the arctic explorers-till now, to the people are taking us there-Morton unveils the central place that Mars has occupied in the human imagination, and what it will mean to realize these dreams.
A pioneering work of journalism and drama, “Mapping Mars” gives us our first exciting glimpses of the world to come and the curious, bizarre, and amazing people who will take us there.
"If you are, like me, curious about Mars, then you will be enthralled by Oliver Morton's wonderfully readable and authoritative Mapping Mars. This book is a landmark in the history of space exploration; it is meticulously researched yet it is a most human book free of biased science and hype--a space flight in first class prose. Oliver Morton maps the legends, the history, and the personalities on
Jim Lovelock, author of Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth
"Mapping Mars is a wonderful work of intellectual history and a permanent addition to the Mars bookshelf."
Kim Stanley Robinson, author of The Mars Series and The Years of Rice and Salt
"I couldn't stop reading this book! Fascinating, truly fascinating."
Douglas Preston, author of Dinosaur in the Attic and The Cabinet of Curiosities
