Mars: The Bringer of War

by George P. Saunders

John Mars is the oldest astronaut in the fleet and the commander of Challenger II. His latest assignment from NASA is a top-secret shuttle mission to the moon to investigate a mysterious signal. What he finds is an alien robot that murders his crew and destroys the source of that signal—a deep-space probe. When John returns to Earth without his crew, the probe, or any evidence of what really happened on his mission, NASA forces him into retirement.

Humiliated and disgraced, John takes a job as a pilot for a commercial airline, unaware that his experience on the moon has marked him more than psychologically: in the battle to save his crew and himself, John Mars was injected with an alien tracking device.

One night, while flying his regular route, John and the occupants of hisplane, including his fiancé Anna, are whisked aboard a gigantic ship and thrown into deep space toward the Andromeda Galaxy—home to an Alien species called “Sels”. The Sels live for one thing only, colonization of all worlds in the known universe. And now they’ve got their sights set on Earth. But in order to decide if Earth is a worthy adversary, the Sels have something special planned for John—a kind of alien vetting program.

John, Anna and the rest of his group arrive on a Sel planet used for wargames, where alien life forms are pitted against one another—and the Sels—in death battles. One by one, John Mars’ small group of survivors succumb to the Sels. But a larger problem looms for Mars—even if he can survive the Sel wargames, how could he ever get back home and warn Earth of impending invasion and assimilation into the Sel Empire?

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

214 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 21, 2006

About the author

George P. Saunders occupies his time on Planet Earth in the lovely town of Beverly Hills, California. He is the author of the celebrated crime thriller Gray Area, along with ten other novels in the science fiction, young adult and horror genres, as well as non-fiction humor and satire. He has over 25 films either produced, directed or written and more than a dozen more which he has co-starred in with such notable celebrities as Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin in Hunt For Red October (as George Winston), Joey Travolta, Richard Lynch, C. Thomas Howell and Mickey Rooney. Saunders was the head writer on the reality series for Military Films during the Gulf War, wherein he worked with the Navy Seals and other combined elements of the United States Armed Forces. While not writing, acting or doing other entertainment related 'stuff', Saunders is known to enjoy a fine tequila on occasion, followed by a dry Cabernet.

More about Saunders may be gleaned on my blog at www.GeorgePSaunders.blogspot.com

Reviews

[Debbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given it 3.5 stars but Goodreads doesn't allow that. While I wouldn't call it the greatest book I've read it was a page-turner and kept me interested throughout.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engaging, and believable science fiction tale I really enjoyed. The author does a good job of quickly getting you in to the head of the main character, and the descriptions of the first contact with an alien species make you seem like you are right there. The dialogue between the characters is crisp and doesn't take away from anything - that may sound strange, but we've all read sci fi and other genres where the author drones on and on trying to get the word count higher.

The author leaves you hanging a little with the ending, with a hint of a sequel to come: if it does, I will certainly grab it.

[Lee Litchfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good idea but tragically flawed

I liked the story but spelling and grammatical issues kept me from enjoying the story fully. Additionally the authors understanding of scientific principles is woeful in the extreme! For instance crt's haven't been used for quite a long time now in flight decks everywhere including private aircraft. Too heavy and too prone to failure! Please take this as constructive criticism! Due diligence is an imperative as is research. Learn at least something of the subject you're writing about! It enhances the story in very many ways.

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent story, it had a lot of potential, but it was scientifically inaccurate, and the characters weren't really that fleshed out.

[Rick Dyson · Rating 1 out of 5]

A by the rote SciFi novel. Evil aliens brave humans whiny humans. Corpus Christi was spelled at least three different ways.

[Doreen Dalesandro]

Kindle freebie, 10/4/12

[Jim Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book

This was an exceptional story. Fast reading and a page turner. I would recommend this book to everyone even picky scify readers should like this one.

[Barry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out with strong beginning but degenerated into a two-dimensional space opera of hero vs. hive society space communists. Further hampered by some truly horrible dialog.

[Jerry Owens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok book. Kept my attention throughout the book. Ended in a way that leaves it open to a sequel.