The Sands of Mars, by Arthur C. Clarke
Reviewed by Jack W.

In this book, which is my favorite Arthur C. Clarke book so far (I read 2001: A Space Odyssey before), a rather pompous and spoiled author travels to Mars to find out about things that, in the past, he could only write about. When he gets there, however, he is amazed by the rough frontier of Mars and the settlers who have created a landscape where they can live, mainly using biospheres. But something is slightly wrong on Mars, and the settlers seem suspiciously cagey. When he stumbles upon a strange research station in the middle of the Martian wilderness, he knows something is going on. Determined to find out what, he puts all his skills to the test, but as he lives and works with the people of the settlement, he comes to admire their ingenuity, hard work and resourcefulness. He finds himself coming out of his bitter, lazy shell and starting to become a real member of the community. Will he retun to earth after all?

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