The Mars Run [Paperback]

*Just for the record, if the option had been available, I would have rating this 3 1/2 stars, as I believe the book to be above average, but just shy of a 4 star rating. So, as usual, please ignore the star rating all together*

The Mars Run presents an interesting twist on the standard space travel fare. In Chris Gerrib's vision of the space travel strips the glamour and sense of status from astronauts and turns them into "the lowest form of life in space." Gerrib's world makes space travel such a mundane activity that astronauts are little more than repairmen, taking all the risks of the job without any of the respect that would normally be granted to the occupation. Thrown into this world is 18-year old Janet Pilgrim, a young woman forced to enter the space program instead of attending college after her father spent her college fund on yet another get-rich-quick scheme gone wrong.

Gerrib opens his space opera strong, dropping the reader right in the middle of the terrible training accident that kills Janet's boyfriend. Janet is held partially responsible for the accident, but allowed to complete her astronaut training. She is finally assigned to her first real mission. Unfortunately, the mission rapidly goes horribly wrong when space pirates strike. Pilgrim convinces the pirates that she's worth more alive than dead, and is recruited into their ranks. As Pilgrim plots her revenge against the pirates, she becomes entangled in a web of political intrigue, misdirection, and deceit that crosses the galaxy.

The Mars Run is one of those books that are an exciting, light read, but falls apart if you think too much about it. While the character of Janet Pilgrim is in and of herself entertaining to follow, she never feels like a real 18-year-old would-be college student. She seems too indifferent at times, and at others she feels too much like the oft-copied wise-cracking, sexy heroines of TV shows geared at twenty-somethings. Scene describing Pilgrim forced to wear dog collars and sexy bikinis are not so much offensive to feminist sensibilities, but instead such a clique as to be merely annoying. Many of the incidents in the book feel contrived, as if the writer became stuck with a scene and wasn't sure how to get around it.

But to be sure, fans of hard science fiction will appreciate Gerrib's attention to realism. Technology is presented evenly and believably, and with such a subtle hand that the reader might forget this is suppose to be science fiction and not the real world. Action scenes are crisp and visceral, really throwing the reader into the mix with the characters. And while the protagonist may not always be believable, thankfully the supporting cast of characters has distinct personalities and obvious motivations to keep the reader caring about what happens to them. Overall, The Mars Run will appeal to readers looking for a sense of action and adventure in their fiction choices.

This book is average or slightly below average. I have not finished it yet (70% done), but I am only continuing out of a morbid curiosity to find out what happens. It has not been a compelling read. The characters are not developed in any way and the story jumps enough to be confusing.

Christopher Gerrib's first offering, The Mars Run, is one of those books that grabs hold of you and refuses to let go. I soon found myself delving deeper into this captivating story willingly, and that's always a good thing. The Mars Run, at its core, is pure science fiction that imagines a future world that is as turbulent as today. The characters are well developed to the point that the reader will develop concerns for the fate of the good and the bad. And, with the exception of a few minor errors, there is little to tarnish an otherwise perfect tale. Anyone with a fascination with space, the future, and strong characters, will find The Mars Run a fascinating read.

But I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let's start with a little about the book's main character, Janet Pilgrim. She's like any other high school grad that wants to go to college, but soon finds out that the money for her college education has dwindled to near nothing from mismanagement. So Janet searches for alternative methods to earn the money and soon finds herself training for a one-year mission to Mars, which will earn her the money she needs to follow her dream. But this is where things start to go wrong. During a training exercise, her partner dies and this leads to an investigation. The investigation finds Janet only partially responsible, and she is allowed to complete her training. Then, after graduation, Janet begins serving out her one-year contract, but fate soon intervenes, and Janet finds her life moving in a direction never thought possible.

The writing of Chris Gerrib is clean and crisp, allowing the reader to follow the story with ease. Not once did I find myself confused by his writing style. The tale that Chris has crafted here is an excellent and truthful account of how life can take us in directions we never anticipated, a prime example of how best laid plans can easily go astray.

There is no doubt, in my mind, that every science fiction fan will find an enjoyable read in The Mars Run. I didn't want to put the book down, and looked forward to the next reading session so I could find out what happens to the main character, Janet Pilgrim. Chris is planning a sequel, and I'm looking forward to reading his next installment in Janet's life. And yes, that means I'm now a fan of Chris Gerrib.