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Red Hope #1
Red Hope
(In March 2020, RED HOPE: 5th Anniversary Edition, Updated & Re-Edited was released.)
Aliens exist... and the Mars Curiosity rover just discovered their bones. The first manned mission is rushed. Corners are cut. Adventure. Betrayal. Disaster. Surprise.
Retired astronaut Adam Alston can't support his family. When NASA comes knocking for a mission leader, it's a match made in heaven - especially since their A-list team declined the haphazard mission. And so did their B-list. But Adam doesn't know that. And neither does his family.
Ride along as four modern-day astronauts prepare and launch a quickly assembled adventure to discover what the Mars Curiosity Rover found right before it died. With time running out, the fate of humanity rests in the hands of four doomed travelers.
Who will make it back... and why won't the others?
Note: This book is not hard scifi and contains a technology based on speculative science.
Aliens exist... and the Mars Curiosity rover just discovered their bones. The first manned mission is rushed. Corners are cut. Adventure. Betrayal. Disaster. Surprise.
Retired astronaut Adam Alston can't support his family. When NASA comes knocking for a mission leader, it's a match made in heaven - especially since their A-list team declined the haphazard mission. And so did their B-list. But Adam doesn't know that. And neither does his family.
Ride along as four modern-day astronauts prepare and launch a quickly assembled adventure to discover what the Mars Curiosity Rover found right before it died. With time running out, the fate of humanity rests in the hands of four doomed travelers.
Who will make it back... and why won't the others?
Note: This book is not hard scifi and contains a technology based on speculative science.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2014
3136 people are currently reading
4930 people want to read
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February 2, 2024
"Red Hope" was an honestly fun book to read -- which, I think, is what Dreese was going for. It's a fast-paced story with a believable plot that is as much centered around the political aspects of sending a crew to Mars as it is the technicals of doing so. Don't worry, though: it's a supremely enjoyable book, even if science isn't your thing. The technical aspects of the book make good context for the story, unlike in hard-science Sci-Fi, the pages of which are boggedRED HOPE-down in technical details.
The fantastic plot notwithstanding, my favorite part of the book was the premise on which the powers-that-be send a crew to Mars: (fossilized) signs of intelligent life. Now, that's a hackneyed premise... unless you're John Dreese and you send your space explorers to the red planet because a high-resolution photo returned an image of the martian equivalent of a cuneiform tablet.... as an English teacher and "language guy" (for lack of a better term), I absolutely loved this little detail. The book also hints at theories of transpermia, but for fear of spoliers, I'll hush about that.
I came across this book after someone on Twitter posted a link to the author's feed (and one of his posts about it). Though it was written as a stand-alone book, Dreese has updated the listing for it on Amazon to reflect his intention to write a sequel. That's a great thing, not just because I enjoyed the book immensely, but because -- primarily -- that the first book reads as if it is building up to something HUGE. Greater than half of the story centers on getting the rocket of the ground, there is international intrigue, and... well, spoilers, so I'm done talking about it. Point being, this is a short book that reads like a long book. The story's not done, and I can't wait for the second installment.
(This is probably the best self-published book I've read...)
The fantastic plot notwithstanding, my favorite part of the book was the premise on which the powers-that-be send a crew to Mars: (fossilized) signs of intelligent life. Now, that's a hackneyed premise... unless you're John Dreese and you send your space explorers to the red planet because a high-resolution photo returned an image of the martian equivalent of a cuneiform tablet.... as an English teacher and "language guy" (for lack of a better term), I absolutely loved this little detail. The book also hints at theories of transpermia, but for fear of spoliers, I'll hush about that.
I came across this book after someone on Twitter posted a link to the author's feed (and one of his posts about it). Though it was written as a stand-alone book, Dreese has updated the listing for it on Amazon to reflect his intention to write a sequel. That's a great thing, not just because I enjoyed the book immensely, but because -- primarily -- that the first book reads as if it is building up to something HUGE. Greater than half of the story centers on getting the rocket of the ground, there is international intrigue, and... well, spoilers, so I'm done talking about it. Point being, this is a short book that reads like a long book. The story's not done, and I can't wait for the second installment.
(This is probably the best self-published book I've read...)
June 2, 2015
A premise that was right up my alley turned into a ridiculous book I could hardly finish.
May 8, 2015
I hate giving a low-star review, but I had high hopes for this book and I was sorely disappointed. The premise was very interesting: when the Curiosity rover takes pictures of human-like fossils and some kind of written language in Mars, a team of astronauts is sent to the red planet. Awesome! I am no scientist, but I've read The Martian and the science in this book seems little implausible. Fine, I can live with that, this is fiction. But then the characters were beyond belief. I don't know any astronauts personally, but I assume they don't do it for the money. I also assume that, as much as they love their families, they probably would sacrifice it all to be able to explore outer space. I doubt that Neil Armstrong's first thought upon stepping on the moon was "gee, I hope I'll become famous!" So, sorry, but the whole "I want to be the first to land on Mars so that billions of people will know my name" is about as absurd as NASA not knowing every single little thing that goes on in the astronaut's bodies. I bet they measure their pee and hiding medical conditions from them would be pretty hard. The whole mystery will remain in Mars because it is not explained properly. There is no exploration, nothing beyond the unfeasible motivations behind the characters. Not my favorite read.
February 27, 2018
I understand this is the author's first book, but I have a quite a few criticisms. The story showed promise, but quickly fell off. ALL of the conflicts in this story would not happen with the NASA we have today. To name a few:
*Regardless of the engine technology, an extremely unprofessional and childish entrepreneur would not be allowed on this mission. He adds nothing to the mission, except for access to his engines. The character is extremely unlikable and is nothing, but a money man. All he did, throughout his life, was take others' ideas and sell them.
*Pregnancy tests are standard during the quarantine period before a space flight.
*Quarantine is, typically, 7 days prior to launch. There is no way the "mission commander" would be able to leave and have a heartfelt moment with his child. Especially before such a monumental mission.
*The space station is not used as a relay for Mars missions. The DSN primarily utilizes three large radio centers across the planet to provide 24 hour coverage with very large dishes.
*Immediately after landing on Mars, let's go for a walk. Each mission day would be planned to the minute on what they are supposed to do. This would maximize the use of the very short amount of time available. It seems that these characters have complete freedom to do as they please.
*The decision to leave the parachutes unpacked for a month is a recipe for disaster. Although the atmosphere is thin on Mars, there would still be concerns for damage in the winds. Most parachute release systems use an explosive to release the cover and chute, which would mean there's no reason to pack them for reuse without having new explosives to install.
*20 minutes of oxygen left? Let's keep looking around. The safety margins would be ridiculous on this mission and 20 minutes would probably cut into the reserve time.
*This crew must have the new, compressive suits, because they can just jump in a suit and walk outside. Most suits require prebreathing oxygen for over 2 hours (including 10 minutes of vigorous exercise) to remove all other gases from the bloodstream; otherwise, the low pressure of the suits would cause the bends.
*The crew in the Big Turtle are too busy walking around barefoot on the exposed Mars regolith to hear desperate cries for help. If there were people EVA, they would have one person at the "base camp" monitor their progress at all times. In a mission like this, there would a contingency for rescue.
*Why expose the Mars regolith to atmosphere? It's already been shown the perchlorates are in high concentration on Mars, and handling the dust, or exposing it to atmosphere and heat, would be deadly.
*Floating cube? Why not mess with it. There is no way they would begin handling the cube until directed by mission control. Inspection and analysis would be required before anything like that would happen.
*Molly's death was just awful. She was so in love that she couldn't go on without Keller. It's too cliche and unprofessional behavior for an astronaut; Third tier or not.
*The nuclear bomb-wielding helicopters were a strange addition. I'm fairly certain NASA would perform that mission remotely, when the crew is safely away from the planet. They must've had some massive bombs to cause climate change in a few days.
*How did 8 nuclear missiles fit in that tiny container on the wart? Without propulsion systems, those bombs weigh 700 lbs. That's almost 3 tons of additional weight to carry up to space.
*The nuclear war seemed to have no change on day-to-day life back on Earth.
*"Space food" is no longer pastes and gels inside of toothpaste tubes. That's been gone for quite some time now. Almost all of the foods are freeze dried and are in plastic containers that are injected with water to reconstitute the food.
*There is absolutely no way liquefied steak would hold air pressure for months.
*It looks like overpopulation on Mars caused the magnetic field to fade and the atmosphere to be stripped away.
*Overpopulation of a planet with no remains of civilization seems a bit far-fetched.
It was as if a bunch of high schoolers went to Mars and did whatever they wanted. The lack of basic knowledge and good judgement from the astronauts created all the problems. This group of bumbling idiots were extremely unlikable. The humor in the book is really forced and every character seems to have the same delivery method. I found myself rolling my eyes, instead of laughing at the supposed jokes or stories. I cannot recommend this book at all.
*Regardless of the engine technology, an extremely unprofessional and childish entrepreneur would not be allowed on this mission. He adds nothing to the mission, except for access to his engines. The character is extremely unlikable and is nothing, but a money man. All he did, throughout his life, was take others' ideas and sell them.
*Pregnancy tests are standard during the quarantine period before a space flight.
*Quarantine is, typically, 7 days prior to launch. There is no way the "mission commander" would be able to leave and have a heartfelt moment with his child. Especially before such a monumental mission.
*The space station is not used as a relay for Mars missions. The DSN primarily utilizes three large radio centers across the planet to provide 24 hour coverage with very large dishes.
*Immediately after landing on Mars, let's go for a walk. Each mission day would be planned to the minute on what they are supposed to do. This would maximize the use of the very short amount of time available. It seems that these characters have complete freedom to do as they please.
*The decision to leave the parachutes unpacked for a month is a recipe for disaster. Although the atmosphere is thin on Mars, there would still be concerns for damage in the winds. Most parachute release systems use an explosive to release the cover and chute, which would mean there's no reason to pack them for reuse without having new explosives to install.
*20 minutes of oxygen left? Let's keep looking around. The safety margins would be ridiculous on this mission and 20 minutes would probably cut into the reserve time.
*This crew must have the new, compressive suits, because they can just jump in a suit and walk outside. Most suits require prebreathing oxygen for over 2 hours (including 10 minutes of vigorous exercise) to remove all other gases from the bloodstream; otherwise, the low pressure of the suits would cause the bends.
*The crew in the Big Turtle are too busy walking around barefoot on the exposed Mars regolith to hear desperate cries for help. If there were people EVA, they would have one person at the "base camp" monitor their progress at all times. In a mission like this, there would a contingency for rescue.
*Why expose the Mars regolith to atmosphere? It's already been shown the perchlorates are in high concentration on Mars, and handling the dust, or exposing it to atmosphere and heat, would be deadly.
*Floating cube? Why not mess with it. There is no way they would begin handling the cube until directed by mission control. Inspection and analysis would be required before anything like that would happen.
*Molly's death was just awful. She was so in love that she couldn't go on without Keller. It's too cliche and unprofessional behavior for an astronaut; Third tier or not.
*The nuclear bomb-wielding helicopters were a strange addition. I'm fairly certain NASA would perform that mission remotely, when the crew is safely away from the planet. They must've had some massive bombs to cause climate change in a few days.
*How did 8 nuclear missiles fit in that tiny container on the wart? Without propulsion systems, those bombs weigh 700 lbs. That's almost 3 tons of additional weight to carry up to space.
*The nuclear war seemed to have no change on day-to-day life back on Earth.
*"Space food" is no longer pastes and gels inside of toothpaste tubes. That's been gone for quite some time now. Almost all of the foods are freeze dried and are in plastic containers that are injected with water to reconstitute the food.
*There is absolutely no way liquefied steak would hold air pressure for months.
*It looks like overpopulation on Mars caused the magnetic field to fade and the atmosphere to be stripped away.
*Overpopulation of a planet with no remains of civilization seems a bit far-fetched.
It was as if a bunch of high schoolers went to Mars and did whatever they wanted. The lack of basic knowledge and good judgement from the astronauts created all the problems. This group of bumbling idiots were extremely unlikable. The humor in the book is really forced and every character seems to have the same delivery method. I found myself rolling my eyes, instead of laughing at the supposed jokes or stories. I cannot recommend this book at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2015
***Contains spoilers***
I read right thru this book in about 3 hours. Not because I enjoyed it, but because I drank 3 glasses of wine with dinner the night before & when I drink red wine, I get horrible insomnia. So when I woke up at 3 am, I had nothing better to do than finish this book.
Let me begin by saying the President is a complete douche. He advances his own reelection agenda at the expense of the space program & the entire country. I know this is fiction - I get that - but the president's actions are completely unrealistic. I am no expert, but a DO have a Bachelor's degree in Political Science & I understand the basics, & there is absolutely NO WAY the president would be able to pass this space exploration program thru in just a few months. And hey, let me just attach this secret compartment to the outside of the "Storage Wart" - I won't tell you what's in it, & it'll be our little secret...but it won't add much weight...I promise! Uhhhhh...right.
Then, the majority of the characters are unlikable & also unrealistic. There is no way NASA would pull in 3rd string astronauts for this mission because the A & B list astronauts they approached first all declined (maybe we should learn something from them...ha!). Then they give in & let the eccentric billionaire with the anxiety condition on the mission because he won't let them have his rocket engines if they don't? And they train for a few weeks ahead of time by running on the beach & going hiking in the Redwoods? Also unlikely.
The mission is fraught with disaster from the get-go (no way!) & even though they do land on Mars, most of them die, and we are not sad. The characters are THAT AWFUL.
THEN, if that wasn't enough, they steal an artifact from Mars that they try to take home. We have learned from the mistakes of our forbearers in science fiction that this is a very bad, bad idea.
The whole mission was cheesier than Roger Moore in 'Moonraker' when Bond just waltzed in to the secret volcano lair & sidled up to the space shuttle & off he went - with no training whatsoever.
Did anyone make it home? I won't tell you.
I think Dreese has potential, but I, like many reviewers before me, feel like this book was written by a hormonal teenager. (Mr Dreese? ARE you in high school?) The characters are flat & undeveloped, and also unlikable. The story is poorly researched, implausible & fraught with cliches: "brighter than noon/lunchtime in Texas!" The author refers to the Russian crew member as a "retired astronaut" before he corrects himself with cosmonaut. Then there are the random capitalizations...sigh.
I read right thru this book in about 3 hours. Not because I enjoyed it, but because I drank 3 glasses of wine with dinner the night before & when I drink red wine, I get horrible insomnia. So when I woke up at 3 am, I had nothing better to do than finish this book.
Let me begin by saying the President is a complete douche. He advances his own reelection agenda at the expense of the space program & the entire country. I know this is fiction - I get that - but the president's actions are completely unrealistic. I am no expert, but a DO have a Bachelor's degree in Political Science & I understand the basics, & there is absolutely NO WAY the president would be able to pass this space exploration program thru in just a few months. And hey, let me just attach this secret compartment to the outside of the "Storage Wart" - I won't tell you what's in it, & it'll be our little secret...but it won't add much weight...I promise! Uhhhhh...right.
Then, the majority of the characters are unlikable & also unrealistic. There is no way NASA would pull in 3rd string astronauts for this mission because the A & B list astronauts they approached first all declined (maybe we should learn something from them...ha!). Then they give in & let the eccentric billionaire with the anxiety condition on the mission because he won't let them have his rocket engines if they don't? And they train for a few weeks ahead of time by running on the beach & going hiking in the Redwoods? Also unlikely.
The mission is fraught with disaster from the get-go (no way!) & even though they do land on Mars, most of them die, and we are not sad. The characters are THAT AWFUL.
THEN, if that wasn't enough, they steal an artifact from Mars that they try to take home. We have learned from the mistakes of our forbearers in science fiction that this is a very bad, bad idea.
The whole mission was cheesier than Roger Moore in 'Moonraker' when Bond just waltzed in to the secret volcano lair & sidled up to the space shuttle & off he went - with no training whatsoever.
Did anyone make it home? I won't tell you.
I think Dreese has potential, but I, like many reviewers before me, feel like this book was written by a hormonal teenager. (Mr Dreese? ARE you in high school?) The characters are flat & undeveloped, and also unlikable. The story is poorly researched, implausible & fraught with cliches: "brighter than noon/lunchtime in Texas!" The author refers to the Russian crew member as a "retired astronaut" before he corrects himself with cosmonaut. Then there are the random capitalizations...sigh.
March 26, 2020
Perfect book for astronomy lover like me.
Four astronauts selected to go on Mars mission.
The second half was very interesting.
And the end....a cliffhanger.
I’m so excited to know
While I loved that it didn’t have hardcore science, the book was too absurd and unrealistic.
Like when,
One of the astronaut was not even qualified to be an astronaut, but still he was selected because he designed the rocket engine (which was super fast) and his only condition for providing that was that he be one of the astronaut going to Mars.
Then one of the astronaut tasting the Mar’s soil 🙄
One of them playing with an antigravity mars object like it was some ball
When two of the astronauts go out for exploration, the other two dumb astronauts are having fun with loud music, so loud that they can’t even hear pleas of help from the two explorers.
So the book had its flaws but it was very interesting. I can’t wait to read the second book.
Four astronauts selected to go on Mars mission.
The second half was very interesting.
And the end....a cliffhanger.
I’m so excited to know
While I loved that it didn’t have hardcore science, the book was too absurd and unrealistic.
Like when,
One of the astronaut was not even qualified to be an astronaut, but still he was selected because he designed the rocket engine (which was super fast) and his only condition for providing that was that he be one of the astronaut going to Mars.
Then one of the astronaut tasting the Mar’s soil 🙄
One of them playing with an antigravity mars object like it was some ball
When two of the astronauts go out for exploration, the other two dumb astronauts are having fun with loud music, so loud that they can’t even hear pleas of help from the two explorers.
So the book had its flaws but it was very interesting. I can’t wait to read the second book.
April 29, 2017
Like many other readers I had high hopes for this book. The premise is intriguing. The Mars Rover discovers what appears to be a fossilized human holding something. The President - who is simply a caricature- makes the promise to get to and return people from Mars before the next election. Luckily there is a down on his luck millionaire who just happens to have the magical rocket motor that will propel the astronauts to Mars. But he's already made a deal with the Russians.
The dialogue in the story is a weird mix of ultra casual; like two people sitting around talking and just plain odd. The events and occasions the author chooses to illustrate his montage of building and training are just bizarre. The people who are chosen to crew the mission are unbelievable and apparently NASA is a bigger joke than we ever guessed. One Astronaut 'disappears' the morning of the launch to go teach his son to ride a bike. Another suffers from severe claustrophobia and a third is pregnant oh and the fourth she's Russian.
There is an absurd secret box on one of the launch items that the President demands in person. Presidents don't do that it is called plausible deniability. When they get to Mars they aren't the least bit professional. There would be policies and plans this is like a badly organized boy scout jamboree. And from there the plot just gets more bizarre and more implausible. The author spends all this time explaining the time delay between earth and mars for verbal communication. But then writes scenes where despite saying 'they decided that each would talk in burst and wait for the response' every one talks at once anyway.
And the plot just gets more and more absurd with every turn of the page and guess what... there's a sequel in the works....
The dialogue in the story is a weird mix of ultra casual; like two people sitting around talking and just plain odd. The events and occasions the author chooses to illustrate his montage of building and training are just bizarre. The people who are chosen to crew the mission are unbelievable and apparently NASA is a bigger joke than we ever guessed. One Astronaut 'disappears' the morning of the launch to go teach his son to ride a bike. Another suffers from severe claustrophobia and a third is pregnant oh and the fourth she's Russian.
There is an absurd secret box on one of the launch items that the President demands in person. Presidents don't do that it is called plausible deniability. When they get to Mars they aren't the least bit professional. There would be policies and plans this is like a badly organized boy scout jamboree. And from there the plot just gets more bizarre and more implausible. The author spends all this time explaining the time delay between earth and mars for verbal communication. But then writes scenes where despite saying 'they decided that each would talk in burst and wait for the response' every one talks at once anyway.
And the plot just gets more and more absurd with every turn of the page and guess what... there's a sequel in the works....
August 2, 2015
Sci_Fi Thriller
This book is a good space adventure story. It has mystery, action and plot twists. I wish it didn't end so soon.
This book is a good space adventure story. It has mystery, action and plot twists. I wish it didn't end so soon.
November 8, 2016
My original Red Hope: An Adventure Thriller audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
What happens when you have a president seeking re-election, an egotistical rich entrepreneur, a Russian Paleontologist and two “not top of the rung” astronauts with everything to lose? A disaster of epic proportions!
The Mars Rover discovers a secret that the red planet has held for thousands of years. In a bid for re-election, the president promises a trip to Mars in an unheard of time frame. Rich CEO Murch has the equipment to get the astronauts to Mars within the time frame but with one condition. Astronaut Adam leaves his family behind so the money he will make from speaking engagements can provide his wife with the experimental surgery that may help her walk again. The other two astronauts - Molly and Yeva – well, they just try to do their jobs.
John Dreese builds a strong story around doing the right thing, the right way. Unfortunately, none of the characters do the right thing, the right way – rather they become the catalyst for nothing less than disaster.
The character development is rich and vivid; one cannot help but admire Adam at first but then he becomes one of the distasteful ones like the President and the CEO Murch. If one of these three had just done their job the right way and did the right thing, perhaps life on Mars would have been different.
Dreese builds the excitement slowly but steady, he leaves nothing to chance and nothing is left hanging. He provides closure to everything and everyone while still managing to leave a cliffhanger that will have you holding your breath!
There were points in the story where I know I shook my head because I couldn’t believe what was going on; it was realistic yet one could see the common sense of the astronauts leaping through the window.
The book was an easy listen with the correct amount of suspense and “OMG, no he didn’t” type of action. Exciting and shocking, this audio is excellent. This is a book for everyone – it is not just science fiction but romance, horror, drama and so much more rolled into one.
Bob Reed performed the narration perfectly with the right amount of inflection and excitement. He expressed the emotions of each character well. His voice was soothing and smooth.
There were no issues with the audio production of this audiobook.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
What happens when you have a president seeking re-election, an egotistical rich entrepreneur, a Russian Paleontologist and two “not top of the rung” astronauts with everything to lose? A disaster of epic proportions!
The Mars Rover discovers a secret that the red planet has held for thousands of years. In a bid for re-election, the president promises a trip to Mars in an unheard of time frame. Rich CEO Murch has the equipment to get the astronauts to Mars within the time frame but with one condition. Astronaut Adam leaves his family behind so the money he will make from speaking engagements can provide his wife with the experimental surgery that may help her walk again. The other two astronauts - Molly and Yeva – well, they just try to do their jobs.
John Dreese builds a strong story around doing the right thing, the right way. Unfortunately, none of the characters do the right thing, the right way – rather they become the catalyst for nothing less than disaster.
The character development is rich and vivid; one cannot help but admire Adam at first but then he becomes one of the distasteful ones like the President and the CEO Murch. If one of these three had just done their job the right way and did the right thing, perhaps life on Mars would have been different.
Dreese builds the excitement slowly but steady, he leaves nothing to chance and nothing is left hanging. He provides closure to everything and everyone while still managing to leave a cliffhanger that will have you holding your breath!
There were points in the story where I know I shook my head because I couldn’t believe what was going on; it was realistic yet one could see the common sense of the astronauts leaping through the window.
The book was an easy listen with the correct amount of suspense and “OMG, no he didn’t” type of action. Exciting and shocking, this audio is excellent. This is a book for everyone – it is not just science fiction but romance, horror, drama and so much more rolled into one.
Bob Reed performed the narration perfectly with the right amount of inflection and excitement. He expressed the emotions of each character well. His voice was soothing and smooth.
There were no issues with the audio production of this audiobook.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
September 3, 2019
A good solid space book. It moved along at a decent pace, not exactly racing along but it works. The science is pretty basic so it’s easy to follow. All the characters are likable in their own ways, although possibly a little stereotypical in some aspects but I can forgive that.
I did feel the story should have been more exciting than it was - the premise was good and yet it somehow wasn’t exciting until you get to the second half of the book or more, but then it really picks up and there was the excitement I was looking for/expecting.
This is the first of 2 books and I have to dive straight into the next one to find out what happens right now.
I’m giving this 4*/5, based on the very exciting last 25% of the book, otherwise it would have been 3. I do recommend this but you’ll have to read both books.
I did feel the story should have been more exciting than it was - the premise was good and yet it somehow wasn’t exciting until you get to the second half of the book or more, but then it really picks up and there was the excitement I was looking for/expecting.
This is the first of 2 books and I have to dive straight into the next one to find out what happens right now.
I’m giving this 4*/5, based on the very exciting last 25% of the book, otherwise it would have been 3. I do recommend this but you’ll have to read both books.
April 21, 2018
This short work is the first book by John Dreese and centers around a world changing discovery by the Curiosity rover on Mars. A discovery that could change the history of humanity, and alter it's future course, so of course I was excited.... at first.
This is one of those instances when a concept is excellent and execution just kills it, also holy sexism batman! Thirteen pages in I checked to see if this was reviewed by a SINGLE woman in the acknowledgements section and was SHOCKED that it was. In addition to the "women are there to look pretty and give them males some purpose" mentality, the author obviously has not researched the population he's trying to portray and has a big disconnect between what he THINKS an astronaut is like, and the reality of that highly driven, often extremely well educated and accomplished group of people. Also, the comments on and about women are disgusting. Being a woman in TWO mostly male dominated fields, chemistry and engineering, this is a particular "how the F**k did this get by an editor" moment is one I'm particularly sensitive to.
Most of the potential astronauts I've known are extremely physically fit, even those who enter the program through the "science" route. As a science intern at one of the NASA sites, you'd see them running around campus in the morning most days of the week. Also, the physical requirements NASA sets for them to clear for flight are very demanding. These people have been working toward this goal for most of their lives and aren't going to let physical fitness be the thing that keeps them from reaching that goal. This high bar, combined with the obvious large population to draw from in this book makes it very unlikely they'd waste one of four spots on an older man with no qualifications and put the rest of the crew and the mission in jeopardy. In general, I found Keller, our older would be astronaut completely despicable as a human.
Quotes from Keller that make you hate him:
Quotes from other characters that also make you vomit in your mouth a little:
Because thinking is so hard when you have a pesky female brain to work with. GAG. Just when you think it can't get any worse, the director of NASA is distracted by this contemplation:
Most astronauts have a secondary job that keeps them busy when they aren't slated for a mission. Be it in the military, or as a professor. It makes it very unlikely that our main character Adam has had lean years since the dissolution of the shuttle program because he'd likely have a different full time profession, like the brief snips of interviews we get from a former female astronaut, cut short because she was being too smart/nerdy and therefore boring. That being said, his character might be my favorite, or least hated anyway, and the only one what is fleshed out enough to give motivation and realization for actions he takes.
The motivation of family is there but this ambitious population also had selfish reasons for achievement that I think the author glossed over with Adam's motivation. It's real, as it is for most people, but I think Adam uses this more for justification of self preservation that truly because he'd do anything for his family (when it's in line with his own motivation of course). I would recommend An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth as a reference on the sacrifices the family takes because of having a famous and driven parent/spouse.
Am I glad I read this, I definitely can't say yes, but I did enjoy the concept but would have enjoyed it more minus the misogyny. Will I continue the series, probably, because they are such short reads, but given my problems with this book revolve around the authors opinions on the role of women, I'm not sure I'm going to like that one either.
This is one of those instances when a concept is excellent and execution just kills it, also holy sexism batman! Thirteen pages in I checked to see if this was reviewed by a SINGLE woman in the acknowledgements section and was SHOCKED that it was. In addition to the "women are there to look pretty and give them males some purpose" mentality, the author obviously has not researched the population he's trying to portray and has a big disconnect between what he THINKS an astronaut is like, and the reality of that highly driven, often extremely well educated and accomplished group of people. Also, the comments on and about women are disgusting. Being a woman in TWO mostly male dominated fields, chemistry and engineering, this is a particular "how the F**k did this get by an editor" moment is one I'm particularly sensitive to.
Seventeen engineers and scientists took off running through the desert, each footstep sending up a rooster-tail of dirt. Chris laughed out loud and said to his fellow coworkers, “Have you ever seen so many nerds getting so much exercise?
Most of the potential astronauts I've known are extremely physically fit, even those who enter the program through the "science" route. As a science intern at one of the NASA sites, you'd see them running around campus in the morning most days of the week. Also, the physical requirements NASA sets for them to clear for flight are very demanding. These people have been working toward this goal for most of their lives and aren't going to let physical fitness be the thing that keeps them from reaching that goal. This high bar, combined with the obvious large population to draw from in this book makes it very unlikely they'd waste one of four spots on an older man with no qualifications and put the rest of the crew and the mission in jeopardy. In general, I found Keller, our older would be astronaut completely despicable as a human.
Quotes from Keller that make you hate him:
The waitress was getting impatient with Keller. “So, how do you like your coffee?” she asked again. He grinned at the waitress. “I like my coffee like I like my women: caffeinated.”
Keller invited the crew to a house-warming party for his assistant, Lydia. She had married well and was showing off her new house located in the hills of Los Gatos
“Okay, I don’t quite understand,” Keller admitted. “I consider myself pretty tech savvy, but I slept through geometry class. What is Pi again? Why is it important?”
Quotes from other characters that also make you vomit in your mouth a little:
...he caught a long glimpse of Tatyana. However, he also saw the ring on her finger and knew better. He told himself he was a good man, so he gawked politely.
Molly blushed and quickly set her mind to thinking.
Because thinking is so hard when you have a pesky female brain to work with. GAG. Just when you think it can't get any worse, the director of NASA is distracted by this contemplation:
Chris wanted to ask Keller if beach houses were stocked full-time with beautiful women.
Most astronauts have a secondary job that keeps them busy when they aren't slated for a mission. Be it in the military, or as a professor. It makes it very unlikely that our main character Adam has had lean years since the dissolution of the shuttle program because he'd likely have a different full time profession, like the brief snips of interviews we get from a former female astronaut, cut short because she was being too smart/nerdy and therefore boring. That being said, his character might be my favorite, or least hated anyway, and the only one what is fleshed out enough to give motivation and realization for actions he takes.
The motivation of family is there but this ambitious population also had selfish reasons for achievement that I think the author glossed over with Adam's motivation. It's real, as it is for most people, but I think Adam uses this more for justification of self preservation that truly because he'd do anything for his family (when it's in line with his own motivation of course). I would recommend An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth as a reference on the sacrifices the family takes because of having a famous and driven parent/spouse.
Am I glad I read this, I definitely can't say yes, but I did enjoy the concept but would have enjoyed it more minus the misogyny. Will I continue the series, probably, because they are such short reads, but given my problems with this book revolve around the authors opinions on the role of women, I'm not sure I'm going to like that one either.
December 10, 2015
Great concept spoiled by characters with no depth, just-beyond-plausible events (which I'll buy if you lay the groundwork, which this book does not), and the, "hey, let's add 6 more plots in the last third of the book!" Not to mention that everything was overly dumbed down. I have a passion for space and astronomy and read a LOT of science fiction. (Heck, I teach a class if it!) So, I don't need quite as much of the tech explained. Fine. But not everything needs to be written in three, successively simpler ways. Here's an illustrative quote (ok, somewhat paraphrased) from the text:
"It was that 'Rainbow Connection' song. You know, the one the Muppets sing? The one that goes, 'Some day we'll find it, the rainbow connection' [...]". REALLY?!?! How dumb does the author think we are? It was like any episode of "Bones" in the last four years. C'mon!
If this book wasn't as short as it is, I wouldn't have finished it. It gets two stars, because, sadly, I've read much worse.
"It was that 'Rainbow Connection' song. You know, the one the Muppets sing? The one that goes, 'Some day we'll find it, the rainbow connection' [...]". REALLY?!?! How dumb does the author think we are? It was like any episode of "Bones" in the last four years. C'mon!
If this book wasn't as short as it is, I wouldn't have finished it. It gets two stars, because, sadly, I've read much worse.
August 29, 2016
Interesting concept; poor execution. I stopped reading when it was apparent there would be no interesting characters and boring, "telly" exposition. I know that usually comes with the territory of this genre but the writing itself is uninteresting, simplistic, and just TOO obviously "telling" you everything. It reads like a Wikipedia article. I tried to stick out out, hoping it would just get to the really interesting part about the alien fossils and possible ancient alien civilization on Mars, but I couldn't get past the fifth chapter.
June 17, 2015
The year is 2015 and NASA Director, Chris Tankovitch, makes an early morning call to President Daggett Jennings. Signs of a previous civilization - fossilized humanoid remains - have been discovered by the Mars Curiosity rover and Chris is excited to report this news to the President. Unfortunately, the rover's power went out immediately after taking just four photos. A discovery mission is scheduled to be deployed to Mars to further investigate these ancient signs of life. When the overzealous President (fueled by the hope that this high-profile mission will win him a second term in office) makes a bold statement promising that the discovery mission will take less than a year, Chris Tankovitch is dumbfounded. The U.S. doesn't possess the technology to make such a last-minute mission possible. Enter Silicon Valley tycoon, Keller Murch and his state of the art rocket technology. The mission is on and the crew is chosen. Keller, Adam, Yeva and Molly embark upon their history-making journey to Mars.
John Dreese has written an exciting and imaginative SciFi space exploration novel. I've found that a lot of industry-specific novels often rely heavily on technical jargon that can run the risk of losing readers with confusing terminology. Mr. Dreese has utilized dialogue between characters to make the topic of space exploration easy to understand and enjoyable. As for the believable factor - this is a book of fiction. It's not a dry documentary, bound by strict NASA guidelines. Using a certain amount of artistic license is perfectly acceptable in fiction - particularly in Science Fiction. The author was also careful to add to the storyline that this was clearly a high risk, unconventional mission, which necessitated a "C Team" of astronauts. I knew from the beginning anything might happen and it certainly did.
Mr. Dreese's writing is concise, intelligent and engaging. I zipped through this book in less than a day because I was interested in how it would end. The conclusion was left open, which makes me think the author might have a sequel in the works. I can honestly say I would read it. Recommended!
John Dreese has written an exciting and imaginative SciFi space exploration novel. I've found that a lot of industry-specific novels often rely heavily on technical jargon that can run the risk of losing readers with confusing terminology. Mr. Dreese has utilized dialogue between characters to make the topic of space exploration easy to understand and enjoyable. As for the believable factor - this is a book of fiction. It's not a dry documentary, bound by strict NASA guidelines. Using a certain amount of artistic license is perfectly acceptable in fiction - particularly in Science Fiction. The author was also careful to add to the storyline that this was clearly a high risk, unconventional mission, which necessitated a "C Team" of astronauts. I knew from the beginning anything might happen and it certainly did.
Mr. Dreese's writing is concise, intelligent and engaging. I zipped through this book in less than a day because I was interested in how it would end. The conclusion was left open, which makes me think the author might have a sequel in the works. I can honestly say I would read it. Recommended!
June 10, 2015
Be sure to read Red Hope on the weekend because you won't be able to put it down. The plot's twists and turns make it impossible to guess the ending and now I want book 2. The characters are interesting and stand on their own. I especially liked the cynical, realistic way President Jennings was written. And the ending will leave you thinking about it for days! Great first novel.
March 17, 2018
I just can't - DNF
I'm not one who gives up on books early. I want to give each author's effort an honest try. That being said, I couldn't get through flipping Chapter 3 with this before I said enough.
For me, it was flat out the poor writing. Generally, if a book is in third person, I prefer limited point of view and the closer the better. This author attempted omniscient - something incredibly hard - but did so poorly......very, very poorly. Instead of omniscient, it was more bad narrator.
I felt like I was reading...
Bob looks at Joe. Watch Bob get angry. Joe looks at Bob. Watch Joe get worried.
Oh my god, it was torture. So clunky, so wooden, and just so, so bad. I read about 400 books in the last year and this was the single worst one hands down. I shudder to think how bad it would be if I forced myself to read more but I'm not into self-imposed punishment.
I'm not one who gives up on books early. I want to give each author's effort an honest try. That being said, I couldn't get through flipping Chapter 3 with this before I said enough.
For me, it was flat out the poor writing. Generally, if a book is in third person, I prefer limited point of view and the closer the better. This author attempted omniscient - something incredibly hard - but did so poorly......very, very poorly. Instead of omniscient, it was more bad narrator.
I felt like I was reading...
Bob looks at Joe. Watch Bob get angry. Joe looks at Bob. Watch Joe get worried.
Oh my god, it was torture. So clunky, so wooden, and just so, so bad. I read about 400 books in the last year and this was the single worst one hands down. I shudder to think how bad it would be if I forced myself to read more but I'm not into self-imposed punishment.
February 27, 2016
I would love to see a movie of this and I can't wait for the follow up novel!!!
December 29, 2017
This felt refreshingly original and is written in a plain style that flows well. I liked a number of the concepts the author presented, and I thought that the SF elements were really well done. However, characterization was average and those plot points that depended on the frail humanity of the characters felt a little artificial, even forced at times. On balance, I liked it, and was frustrated that I could not fully engage with it. Almost great. Three stars on GR, but it's four on Amazon.
September 15, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this exciting sci-fi novel from start to finish. From its provocative hook introduced in the first chapter to its surprising twist at the end, I couldn't put it down until I finished it in one all-day sitting. With a fascinating premise, rich and complex characters, and page-turning plot, the author has crafted an original and absorbing story that keeps pulling the reader forward to the dramatic ending.
I particularly enjoyed the various elements of real science that the author wove into the story, that made it both believable and educational at the same time. It made me wonder if some day we might actually be able to explore other planets and far-off galaxies with new technologies, and what we might discover in the way of intelligent life elsewhere in our universe.
There were enough possibilities left open at the end of the book to leave plenty of room for a sequel. I'm looking forward to John Dreese's next novel in what I hope will be a continuing series. I've found a new favorite author in my favorite book genre of science fiction technothrillers.
I particularly enjoyed the various elements of real science that the author wove into the story, that made it both believable and educational at the same time. It made me wonder if some day we might actually be able to explore other planets and far-off galaxies with new technologies, and what we might discover in the way of intelligent life elsewhere in our universe.
There were enough possibilities left open at the end of the book to leave plenty of room for a sequel. I'm looking forward to John Dreese's next novel in what I hope will be a continuing series. I've found a new favorite author in my favorite book genre of science fiction technothrillers.
August 23, 2015
I'm not a sci-fi reader at all, but after meeting John on Twitter I decided to give this book a shot and I'm so glad that I did! I read a lot of indie books because I want to support indie authors and unfortunately, a lot of them fall short of my expectations and are riddled with errors. Not the case here. Started this book on an airplane ride and got 40% through it before the rude pilot interrupted my reading to begin our decent into Calgary. I have to say that I was quite surprised at how attached to the characters I became and how much I wanted to know what was going to happen to them on this journey. I really liked the way the title of the book emerged in the story too--it was definitely a highlight for me. I won't include any spoilers in here, but I do have to say that I was completely surprised by the ending.
Readers of both sci-fi and thrillers will love this book. It's a fast read, my only complaint is that there wasn't more of it, but then again that's the mark of good book isn't it?
Readers of both sci-fi and thrillers will love this book. It's a fast read, my only complaint is that there wasn't more of it, but then again that's the mark of good book isn't it?
April 28, 2018
Light on story details. Started pretty good, but I didn't care for the way it progressed. After reading what 'red hope' was, I felt as though it was heading down a darker path. I had to keep pushing myself to try to continue reading it. I finished it, but I didn't feel like I had finished it.
My last story of Mars was The Martian. It definitely set the bar higher for science fiction details and plausible reality. As for Mars fantasy, ERB's Princess of Mars, with John Carter, had more believable fantasy than some of the things of this tale, as others have written about. Back in 1912, ERB gave Mars a breathable atmosphere. In 2015, Dreese didn't even send spare oxygen tanks on the golf cart to the fossil site. With fantasy, you can make things believable by stating how it is possible. In this story, too many things seemed implausible.
My last story of Mars was The Martian. It definitely set the bar higher for science fiction details and plausible reality. As for Mars fantasy, ERB's Princess of Mars, with John Carter, had more believable fantasy than some of the things of this tale, as others have written about. Back in 1912, ERB gave Mars a breathable atmosphere. In 2015, Dreese didn't even send spare oxygen tanks on the golf cart to the fossil site. With fantasy, you can make things believable by stating how it is possible. In this story, too many things seemed implausible.
July 1, 2017
A decent read. Good concept if somewhat implausible. In as much as planning is already in the works who’s to say what may be found? Or what lights a fire under the people in charge to spur the effort forward. I read the book in a single setting and immediately went looking for book 2. Apparently, I am not looking in the right places. Book one does not really end, it just leaves you hanging out there. Come on John, I Hope you are putting pen to paper even as I write this brief review.
January 12, 2018
A pretty good debut novel
I support indie authors and thus purchase debut books by unknown authors. If the reviews seem supportive I generally jump in. That was the case with this book. It is a story of travel to Mars that goes awry. The story and characters are interesting. There is a minor cliffhanger which may or may not be a lead in to the next book in the series.. I don't know yet but I have bought Blue Hope and will find out. I hope this author is successful.
I support indie authors and thus purchase debut books by unknown authors. If the reviews seem supportive I generally jump in. That was the case with this book. It is a story of travel to Mars that goes awry. The story and characters are interesting. There is a minor cliffhanger which may or may not be a lead in to the next book in the series.. I don't know yet but I have bought Blue Hope and will find out. I hope this author is successful.
June 14, 2015
Not exactly what I had imagined but I really liked the story. Pretty solid all around. I believe that I got this free on Amazon for the kindle app (on my nook ;), fyi.
Give this one a shot.
Give this one a shot.
December 30, 2015
It's a very good for the debut, looks like a classic of the genre
January 6, 2018
Reads like a hollywood blockbuster which is good and bad. It is not ground breaking sci fi but it is a fun tale.
July 4, 2018
Kept me reading till 2 am in the morning! Not a masterpiece but still quite good. Bought the next book in the series already. Interesting to see it is just a duology, - have high hopes for book 2!
March 9, 2020
I read the newly released 5th-anniversary edition. I had previously listened to the audiobook, and honestly, I hadn't enjoyed the book as much as I had expected to. There is something about the idea of going to Mars in the present-day that appeals to me. Something felt wrong though, and I couldn't put my finger on what was missing. The dialogue felt stiff, the action lifeless, and I couldn't get excited about what was happening. In the end, it was the audiobook that was holding it back I felt.
Fast forward 2 years later and I'm backing to physically reading books, and wow, I couldn't put it down. It was like night and day. Don't get me wrong, there are a few issues I still had with it. I'll begin with the areas of opportunity first:
First, the book takes far too long to build any suspense or a sense of dread. Nothing seems in doubt. It happens later, yet it seemed dry initially.
Secondly, the family never felt real. By this I mean, I was feeling far too ambivalent towards what role they might play. I wanted to feel like it was a big choice to leave his family to go to Mars.
Lastly, the astronaut selection process left much to be desired. I wanted to feel like this was a big deal, and it never was. It needed to slightly more in-depth as if these were even close to the best of the best we had to offer.
Then it just clicks. This isn't hard science fiction, so you don't have to wade through tiresome descriptions. This edition fixed almost all the issues I'd had with the first edition. Bravo Mr. Dreese.
Lastly, the astronaut selection process let much to be desired. I wanted to feel like this was a big deal, and it never was.
Then it just clicks. This isn't hard science fiction, so you don't have to wade through tiresome descriptions. This edition fixed almost all the issues I'd had with the first edition. Bravo Mr Dreese.
Fast forward 2 years later and I'm backing to physically reading books, and wow, I couldn't put it down. It was like night and day. Don't get me wrong, there are a few issues I still had with it. I'll begin with the areas of opportunity first:
First, the book takes far too long to build any suspense or a sense of dread. Nothing seems in doubt. It happens later, yet it seemed dry initially.
Secondly, the family never felt real. By this I mean, I was feeling far too ambivalent towards what role they might play. I wanted to feel like it was a big choice to leave his family to go to Mars.
Lastly, the astronaut selection process left much to be desired. I wanted to feel like this was a big deal, and it never was. It needed to slightly more in-depth as if these were even close to the best of the best we had to offer.
Then it just clicks. This isn't hard science fiction, so you don't have to wade through tiresome descriptions. This edition fixed almost all the issues I'd had with the first edition. Bravo Mr. Dreese.
Lastly, the astronaut selection process let much to be desired. I wanted to feel like this was a big deal, and it never was.
Then it just clicks. This isn't hard science fiction, so you don't have to wade through tiresome descriptions. This edition fixed almost all the issues I'd had with the first edition. Bravo Mr Dreese.
January 4, 2019
I'm not one for writing reviews but after reading this book I was surprised to find all the negative reviews, so I thought I'd add my comments. I have problems finding books that keep my interest and this one did. I kept reading to find out what was going on on Mars. I felt I knew and understood the characters. I found the science interesting. Having worked for the Space Program years ago, I found the politics accurate. The chain of events that occurred once they got to Mars I thought was hilarious. I'm not one for comedic reading but I couldn't wait to see how bad their luck really was going to be. Now I'm looking forward to reading the next book to find out how the story ends.
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