Review
The red planet has held a fascination for mankind ever since we first looked up at the night sky. As a result, the number of publications dealing with it, both in fact and fiction, are more than can easily be counted in any review, and there has to be a good reason to recommend another one. Happily, this book offers such a reason in its discussion of ALH84001, the Martian meteorite which struck Earth and set off the whole whirl of speculation about terrestrial life being of extraterrestrial origin and the future of our survival as a species. Unusually for a book presented in encyclopaedia format, Cooper, an astronomer, and Henbest, a science writer, tackle the subject with the breathless excitement usually reserved for space thrillers. Using an intelligent, articulate and down-to-earth style and excellent inside information from close contacts in the scientific community, they have succeeded in producing a book which respects the intelligence of the reader and manages to combine hard facts with fascinating speculation. If you have ever wondered just what we are doing to find life on other planets, what the problems of space exploration may be or whether we stand a chance in finding a home outside our own planet, this book will destroy your preconceptions and throw open brand new vistas of possibilities. Factually accurate down to the millisecond, wildly exciting and written with passion, it should be read by all space enthusiasts and everyone interested in the origins of life and the future of Earth. (Kirkus UK)
Product Description
The authors look at how our knowledge of our nearest planetary neighbour - Mars - has grown, and assess the role it might play in our futures. They look at the old myths associated with Mars, the fears of Martian invasions, and take the story up to date to show what we now know about the planet in the aftermath of the 1996 meteorite that may provide evidence for life and from the discoveries of the recent probes. They also assess whether Mars could form a crucial stopping point for further exploration.
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