This week the planet Mars, in a playful break from its usual routine, will pass closer to Earth than it's been in 60,000 years. Mars will be a mere 34.6 million miles away, which is, in space-type relations, close enough to poke with a broom handle.
It might even be close enough to reach in a vehicle cobbled together from welded railway tank cars that blasts off from New Smyrna Beach, a method that works just fine for the kids in John Varley's new book, 'Red Thunder.'
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Parts of this are aimed at my Daytona Beach audience, but not enough to make it inaccessible. I hope. Much more a straight-forward book review than a column this time.
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I loved the method Varley uses to get the characters to cut back on their cursing, giving it a Heinlein juvenile feel while still letting us know this is a new book. Beautifully done.
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It's a direct homage to Heinlein's juveniles, especially Red Planet, Rocket Ship Galileo, and The Door Into Summer. Varley has said before that Red Planet was his first exposure to science fiction.
My description of the plot doesn't do it justice. Suffice it to say it doesn't read like a ripoff.
I've been outside this week after 11 p.m. and had no problem seeing Mars. It's the really bright one that doesn't flicker.
[ August 27, 2003, 03:23 PM: Message edited by: Chris Bridges ]
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Thanks, folks. Unfortunately my editor made it clear that, while he let this one go for the topical and local tie-ins, he'd rather hear my commentary instead of my apreciation of someone's else's. Which is a compliment of sorts, but it means no more book reviews. Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote:I've been outside this week after 11 p.m. and had no problem seeing Mars. It's the really bright one that doesn't flicker.
Is it reasonably high, like around 60 degrees up? I think I just saw it. If I'm right, it really is bright. I don't remember a bright star being there before, so I think that's it.
Cool!
I don't know why I assumed it would be low on the horizon . . . and around dawn or dusk . . .
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