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Jasper Stone #5
Shadow Mars
The year: 2186 The planet: Mars
A cowboy on Mars? Dick Mason, spacer, mechanic and cowboy, arrives on Mars with a three-fold mission: Locate the source of some mystery gold, inventory and maintain equipment owned by Reichmann Exploration, and protect a family worth millions. Can he do it and why does he feel like he's being roped into a life-long commitment?
A cowboy on Mars? Dick Mason, spacer, mechanic and cowboy, arrives on Mars with a three-fold mission: Locate the source of some mystery gold, inventory and maintain equipment owned by Reichmann Exploration, and protect a family worth millions. Can he do it and why does he feel like he's being roped into a life-long commitment?
714 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2015
About the author
Ellen Anthony
27 books4 followersEllen Anthony is the author of the Syran novels, the Jasper Stone series, and the Letters Through Time series. A native of Wyoming, she still lives there with a skeletal roommate named Harry Bones. Other rumors may or may not be true.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 21, 2016
Four and 1/2 stars. Shadow Mars is a well written romance / science fiction / mystery with several well-developed characters and numerous minor ones. I list romance first because it's only science fiction in the setting (a colony on Mars), and not as much a whodunnit -- there are a couple murders but little of the plot directly involves the main characters in solving them until the end. Nevertheless it's a page-turner and an easy read. The style compares favorably to my favorite author, Robert Heinlein; the scientific details of the Martian background are present in the conversations and narrative but never stop the story with long expositions. The characters are capable, intelligent, and (in the way of Heinlein's later novels, it seemed to me) their relationships tend to develop toward one big happy family. Suspense is built gradually with at first minor, intriguing incidents, then more dangerous ones, as the drama flows smoothly. Humor is well blended, not overdone.
The only things I didn't like about the novel are matters of my personal taste; I don't care for a cowboy character in science fiction, and this one seemed to have an unbelievable amount of coincidences, skills, and secrets. Also I found numerous references to off-scene characters back on Earth confusing and distracting, sort of a mishmash of subplots and flashbacks unessential to the main story. These are the only reasons I gave the skillfully written novel less than five stars. For me, leaving out those parts would have made a near-perfect, concise, flowing novel; however I understand this is a sequel and for readers of other books in the series these scenes are a bonus.
All in all an entertaining read that you won't easily put down, with insight into life, love, and justice on a scientifically realistic Mars colony.
The only things I didn't like about the novel are matters of my personal taste; I don't care for a cowboy character in science fiction, and this one seemed to have an unbelievable amount of coincidences, skills, and secrets. Also I found numerous references to off-scene characters back on Earth confusing and distracting, sort of a mishmash of subplots and flashbacks unessential to the main story. These are the only reasons I gave the skillfully written novel less than five stars. For me, leaving out those parts would have made a near-perfect, concise, flowing novel; however I understand this is a sequel and for readers of other books in the series these scenes are a bonus.
All in all an entertaining read that you won't easily put down, with insight into life, love, and justice on a scientifically realistic Mars colony.
March 25, 2015
Shadow Mars by Ellen Anthony
A little bit sci-fi, a little bit mystery, a little bit romance. Throw in a pot with great characters, action set on Mars, concise and sharp writing, a mystery that keeps you guessing and you get a great read.
Sci-fi is not my normal genre I read. However, this is not a normal book. I fell in love with the cast of characters... a cowboy complete with boots, lasso and stetson....a very, very rich widow raising two young children....lots of secondary characters who are so well-written...and the planet Mars.
There are things like badger bots and spider bots and other mechanical things that came out of this author's imagination. ... all described in detail but in an intriguing way. I didn't thumb through it like I have in some books that take 4 pages to describe a blade of grass.
The mystery is all about lies, theft, and money. As on Earth, the mantra is Money is the Root of All Evil.
There are 4 others before this one (Jasper Stone Series) and a new one coming out this year, however, this particular one is a stand-alone.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in sci-fi ... and those who don't.
A little bit sci-fi, a little bit mystery, a little bit romance. Throw in a pot with great characters, action set on Mars, concise and sharp writing, a mystery that keeps you guessing and you get a great read.
Sci-fi is not my normal genre I read. However, this is not a normal book. I fell in love with the cast of characters... a cowboy complete with boots, lasso and stetson....a very, very rich widow raising two young children....lots of secondary characters who are so well-written...and the planet Mars.
There are things like badger bots and spider bots and other mechanical things that came out of this author's imagination. ... all described in detail but in an intriguing way. I didn't thumb through it like I have in some books that take 4 pages to describe a blade of grass.
The mystery is all about lies, theft, and money. As on Earth, the mantra is Money is the Root of All Evil.
There are 4 others before this one (Jasper Stone Series) and a new one coming out this year, however, this particular one is a stand-alone.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in sci-fi ... and those who don't.
March 21, 2015
Espionage, intrigue, mayhem and murder abound in this offering from Ellen Anthony. A combination of a great detective novel and space adventure, Anthony makes Mars come to life.
You will be able to picture Marsport and Gamma in your mind’s eye. You’ll know Gene Spaulding in his black slacks and blue shirt, Dick Mason in his cowboy hat and boots or Sasha West with her rabbits. You may even meet them to share a cup of Aruba coffee and a Brewer burger. You will be able to hear the sandstorm as it hits the base. You’ll see Jake West practicing his trick roping, all due to the unparalleled description provided of the characters and events that occur in Shadow Mars.
From the first page you are instantly transported to a growing colony on Mars where you don’t know who you can trust, who has a hidden agenda or what will happen next.
A great read that will keep you guessing until the last page.
You will be able to picture Marsport and Gamma in your mind’s eye. You’ll know Gene Spaulding in his black slacks and blue shirt, Dick Mason in his cowboy hat and boots or Sasha West with her rabbits. You may even meet them to share a cup of Aruba coffee and a Brewer burger. You will be able to hear the sandstorm as it hits the base. You’ll see Jake West practicing his trick roping, all due to the unparalleled description provided of the characters and events that occur in Shadow Mars.
From the first page you are instantly transported to a growing colony on Mars where you don’t know who you can trust, who has a hidden agenda or what will happen next.
A great read that will keep you guessing until the last page.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews