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Medieval Mars: The Anthology
A future terraformed Mars, where civilization crashed back into a Medieval Era. Christian Knights called “riders” patrol the Pilgrim Road from Olympus to New San Diego, on the Chryse Sea. The technological past is known as the “Age of Magic” and only a handful of people understand how the remaining ancient devices really work. Lighter gravity in dense air makes flying dragons and bird riders a reality; alloys of the past make “magic” swords; and masters of ancient knowledge wield wizard-like power.
Nine authors spin tales in this unique story world, one which combines elements of science fiction and high fantasy.
Nine authors spin tales in this unique story world, one which combines elements of science fiction and high fantasy.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 17, 2015
A smidge under four stars.
Nine stories, variable in length, quality and target audience - an unusual mix of children's chapter book, YA shorts and adult adventure with both sf and fantasy elements. Each is rendolent with faith elements and each adds to the epic texture of a very different type of world.
Hard to pick a favourite but Kristen Stieffel's Flight might just pip at the post The War Between the Mons and Lynessa's Curse.
Nine stories, variable in length, quality and target audience - an unusual mix of children's chapter book, YA shorts and adult adventure with both sf and fantasy elements. Each is rendolent with faith elements and each adds to the epic texture of a very different type of world.
Hard to pick a favourite but Kristen Stieffel's Flight might just pip at the post The War Between the Mons and Lynessa's Curse.
August 27, 2016
Medieval Mars the Anthology, edited by Travis Perry, is a different and fun read. Written by a group of nine writers, the stories sort of dovetail into a coherent whole.
The stories take place hundreds of years after the initial Mars colonization period. Something has happened back on Earth, but this mystery is not spelled out. (This reader believes that a combination of all of these situations added to the problem: gross immorality, debauchery, global war over out-of-control population spread, dwindling natural resources, and the global rise of radical Islam—take your pick.) The growing technological society of Earth we see today has fallen. The terraforming of Mars grinds to a standstill. Communications with Earth go quiet. Space flight ceases. The Mars colonists know little about Earth conditions.
Time passes. The surviving Mars society degrades to a medieval level. On Mars, the time of Earth's technological pinnacle is called the Time of Magic. Almost all science and engineering knowledge is lost. Unable to maintain the domed colonies without Earth support, they abandon these sites for "better" locations. With air pressure rising from the initial terraforming efforts, most of the surviving colonists and livestock adapt with large lungs and are able to breathe the cold, thin atmosphere.
Over time, this initial jump-start via Old Earth technology brings additional atmospheric changes: surface water appears, the air continues to warm, oxygen increases and carbon dioxide decreases. Simple plants started within colony greenhouses spread across the planet, finding a hospitable environment here and there, wherever warmth and ground water become available. The spreading plant life adds to the conversion of Mar's excessive carbon dioxide atmosphere into one of increasing oxygen.
From this point, the stories take off. The air is still cold and thin, but life survives. With the help of a surviving priesthood, some knowledge and Christianity continues. Strong, local leaders take charge and a Martian feudalism takes root and grows.
The nine stories are about this growth.
Medieval Mars the Anthology is an enjoyable read and is—hopefully—scientifically possible. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in a good yarn.
The stories take place hundreds of years after the initial Mars colonization period. Something has happened back on Earth, but this mystery is not spelled out. (This reader believes that a combination of all of these situations added to the problem: gross immorality, debauchery, global war over out-of-control population spread, dwindling natural resources, and the global rise of radical Islam—take your pick.) The growing technological society of Earth we see today has fallen. The terraforming of Mars grinds to a standstill. Communications with Earth go quiet. Space flight ceases. The Mars colonists know little about Earth conditions.
Time passes. The surviving Mars society degrades to a medieval level. On Mars, the time of Earth's technological pinnacle is called the Time of Magic. Almost all science and engineering knowledge is lost. Unable to maintain the domed colonies without Earth support, they abandon these sites for "better" locations. With air pressure rising from the initial terraforming efforts, most of the surviving colonists and livestock adapt with large lungs and are able to breathe the cold, thin atmosphere.
Over time, this initial jump-start via Old Earth technology brings additional atmospheric changes: surface water appears, the air continues to warm, oxygen increases and carbon dioxide decreases. Simple plants started within colony greenhouses spread across the planet, finding a hospitable environment here and there, wherever warmth and ground water become available. The spreading plant life adds to the conversion of Mar's excessive carbon dioxide atmosphere into one of increasing oxygen.
From this point, the stories take off. The air is still cold and thin, but life survives. With the help of a surviving priesthood, some knowledge and Christianity continues. Strong, local leaders take charge and a Martian feudalism takes root and grows.
The nine stories are about this growth.
Medieval Mars the Anthology is an enjoyable read and is—hopefully—scientifically possible. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in a good yarn.
August 4, 2015
Review to come!
August 11, 2015
First, I have to say this is not my normal genre. In fact, planetary movies are usually a last resort for me when there's nothing else to watch and I never pick up a SciFi book. But this was a great collection of stories. I think I enjoyed it for two reasons: 1. Great writing ~ The various authors writing styles totally complimented each other. 2. Despite being on Mars, God and Jesus still ruled. Way to go! From the 'Mons Olympus' to the 'govment,' the story is easy to follow from present day and past (Age of Magic)<<< loved this reference each and every time. The consistency of use and references really helped me follow a story in a genre that would normally cause me to re-read to know what's happening. While I can't say I'm hooked on SciFi, I can say I really enjoyed a vastly different read from what I'm used to.
My only complaint is that the first story, The Power From the Past, could have been longer. I know, I know. These are short stories. But that one had me hooked from sentence one and then ended too quickly.
My only complaint is that the first story, The Power From the Past, could have been longer. I know, I know. These are short stories. But that one had me hooked from sentence one and then ended too quickly.
August 15, 2015
An interesting collection of short stories. I would recommend Golden, Dragon's Bane and Sam and the Dragon.
September 24, 2015
Some of the stories are better than others but there are some really fun ones in there.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews