What do you think?
Rate this book
Mars Ascendant #2
Mother of Mars
An ageless menace lurks on the surface of Mars...An unscrupulous industrialist seeks to control it...One woman was bred to destroy it...In the twenty-third century the descendants of the original Mars colonies struggle to retain their independence from the Terran government. The generations-old terraforming project is faltering and on the verge of failure. If that happens, the millions already adapted to the harsh Martian environment will be doomed, never able to return to an overpopulated Earth.
Dr. Melanie Destin believes she's escaped her troubled past by moving to the elite Mars orbital habitat. After establishing a lucrative medical practise, she soon discovers she has puzzling ties to her new planet that she cannot explain.
While searching for answers to her mysterious past, she becomes embroiled in political intrigue initiated by an eccentric industrialist, determined to seize control of the government. When the Martian High Chancellor is assassinated, Mel becomes the prime suspect and is forced to flee.
On the run, with a price on her head and the authorities in close pursuit, she must evade capture long enough to save her life by accomplishing the one thing she was bred for. She must destroy the source of the deadly Ares nano-virus.
Little does she realize the pathogen is not what it seems, and her meddling will make her the catalyst for the destruction of all life in the solar system.
Dr. Melanie Destin believes she's escaped her troubled past by moving to the elite Mars orbital habitat. After establishing a lucrative medical practise, she soon discovers she has puzzling ties to her new planet that she cannot explain.
While searching for answers to her mysterious past, she becomes embroiled in political intrigue initiated by an eccentric industrialist, determined to seize control of the government. When the Martian High Chancellor is assassinated, Mel becomes the prime suspect and is forced to flee.
On the run, with a price on her head and the authorities in close pursuit, she must evade capture long enough to save her life by accomplishing the one thing she was bred for. She must destroy the source of the deadly Ares nano-virus.
Little does she realize the pathogen is not what it seems, and her meddling will make her the catalyst for the destruction of all life in the solar system.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2017
About the author
D.M. Pruden
31 books60 followersD.M.(Doug) Pruden is a professional geophysicist who worked for 35 years in the petroleum industry. For most of his life he has been plagued with stories banging around inside his head that demanded to be let out into the world. He currently spends his time as an empty nester in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with his long suffering wife of 34 years, Colleen. When he isn’t writing science fiction stories, he likes to spend his time playing with his granddaughters and working on improving his golf handicap. He will also do geophysical work when requested.
Go to www.prudenauthor.com and sign up to the email list. You will receive a free, never before published ebook collection of short stories. List members will receive early publication notice of upcoming books, blog posts and other goodies from time to time.
Go to www.prudenauthor.com and sign up to the email list. You will receive a free, never before published ebook collection of short stories. List members will receive early publication notice of upcoming books, blog posts and other goodies from time to time.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 14, 2017
Almost as good as the S. A. Corey Expanse series
Dr. Melanie Destin had, unwillingly, been a participant in a covert genetic manipulation project. Far too many of the powerful and dangerous people who come in contact with her seem to know far more about her than she does. Every morning at 4:00 AM, she has the same terrifying dream. She gets very little sleep.
The previous novel – The Ares Weapon – bore some resemblance to S. A. Corey’s Expanse (as least the parts of the story that were limited to the confines of the Solar System). The actual weapon is comparable with (but totally different from) The Expanse’s protomolicule, and the threat to humanity is just as imminent. Interplanetary politics involving Terra, Luna, and Mars involve no pulling of the punches as each faction strives to survive through the destruction of the others.
Returning in Mother of Mars, Mel is one of the strongest and believable female characters you are likely to encounter. She is hunted, and is confronted with deadly situations with dire consequences if a wrong step is taken. The very few people she trusts have hidden agendas that are often at odds with Mel’s very survival.
I liked this book a lot, and have purchased Child of Mars for reading in the near future.
Why only four stars? 1. I have not figured out, yet, how to credit authors with 4.5 stars. 2. I am weary of characters who can “hack” computers with a flurry of finger touches at a keyboard. Sure, the results are usually interesting, if not downright funny, but using the subversion of computers as stepping-stones to allow the narrative to achieve the desired conclusion seems, more and more, like cheating.
Dr. Melanie Destin had, unwillingly, been a participant in a covert genetic manipulation project. Far too many of the powerful and dangerous people who come in contact with her seem to know far more about her than she does. Every morning at 4:00 AM, she has the same terrifying dream. She gets very little sleep.
The previous novel – The Ares Weapon – bore some resemblance to S. A. Corey’s Expanse (as least the parts of the story that were limited to the confines of the Solar System). The actual weapon is comparable with (but totally different from) The Expanse’s protomolicule, and the threat to humanity is just as imminent. Interplanetary politics involving Terra, Luna, and Mars involve no pulling of the punches as each faction strives to survive through the destruction of the others.
Returning in Mother of Mars, Mel is one of the strongest and believable female characters you are likely to encounter. She is hunted, and is confronted with deadly situations with dire consequences if a wrong step is taken. The very few people she trusts have hidden agendas that are often at odds with Mel’s very survival.
I liked this book a lot, and have purchased Child of Mars for reading in the near future.
Why only four stars? 1. I have not figured out, yet, how to credit authors with 4.5 stars. 2. I am weary of characters who can “hack” computers with a flurry of finger touches at a keyboard. Sure, the results are usually interesting, if not downright funny, but using the subversion of computers as stepping-stones to allow the narrative to achieve the desired conclusion seems, more and more, like cheating.
July 10, 2017
"sort of nano-a-nano"
Despite the success of his plans, Mundi fails to be reinstated to his place in the Martian Triumvirate, so his faithful synthetic friend, Felix Altius, plots a revenge for him to give him far more than he had previously aimed for. So, once again, Mel is forced to run from her now comfortable life, accused of murder and hunted by the new head of security, her lover. Only one man can help her, the man who gave her a chance to go to college, who knows more about her than anyone, even her, and who she has met only once in recent years. And he, too, is being hunted. But all of this pales into insignificance when Altius finally catches up.
This continuation of the excellent Mars Ascendent series begins a few years after the conclusion of The Area Weapon. Again mostly written from the perspective of Dr.Melanie Destin, the plot twists are excellent and the already well crafted characters continue to develop, sometimes surprisingly. This is an absorbing, easy to read but hard to put down science fiction adventure is exciting, exhilarating, and well worth reading. I do hope that there will be a further book to follow.
Despite the success of his plans, Mundi fails to be reinstated to his place in the Martian Triumvirate, so his faithful synthetic friend, Felix Altius, plots a revenge for him to give him far more than he had previously aimed for. So, once again, Mel is forced to run from her now comfortable life, accused of murder and hunted by the new head of security, her lover. Only one man can help her, the man who gave her a chance to go to college, who knows more about her than anyone, even her, and who she has met only once in recent years. And he, too, is being hunted. But all of this pales into insignificance when Altius finally catches up.
This continuation of the excellent Mars Ascendent series begins a few years after the conclusion of The Area Weapon. Again mostly written from the perspective of Dr.Melanie Destin, the plot twists are excellent and the already well crafted characters continue to develop, sometimes surprisingly. This is an absorbing, easy to read but hard to put down science fiction adventure is exciting, exhilarating, and well worth reading. I do hope that there will be a further book to follow.
January 15, 2020
D.M. Pruden is a engaging writer, weaving his tales in a science fiction setting. The second book in this series presses the envelop of believability more than did the first, which one reviewer observed was more a political thriller than a scifi thriller. Mother of Mars ponders the spark of human evolution. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the third book: Child of Mars.
February 28, 2017
Dr. Melanie Destin, urban street rat to nano-scientist to respectable physician, is bored. The killer Ares nano-virus is inexplicably dying, nobody knows why, and she's stuck taking care of rich hypochondriacs. All the politicians and criminals still want to find and control the virus, though, so guess who gets to be the fall guy (er, girl)?
LOVE Dani! LOVE the evolution of Felix Altius!
This is an entertaining, well thought out, exciting sequel (conclusion?) to Book One, The Ares Weapon. It can also be easily read as a stand-alone novel.
I received a free, preview copy of this book with no strings attached.
LOVE Dani! LOVE the evolution of Felix Altius!
This is an entertaining, well thought out, exciting sequel (conclusion?) to Book One, The Ares Weapon. It can also be easily read as a stand-alone novel.
I received a free, preview copy of this book with no strings attached.
Read
February 28, 2017This really is such a great series and Mother of Mars did not disappoint. It keeps you in the story and wanting more. I really love the main character she's a strong lead with a bit of a devious side. I'm a huge sci fi fan and this ranks right up there in the great sci fi series for me. I hope Mr. Pruden continues to keeps giving us more of the fantastic story. If you want a good sci fi read with intrigue and suspense I highly recommend this series.
March 2, 2017
I love this series. The story flowed and kept me reading until i finished it. I had to see how it ended. I like that I never new exactly what was going to happen next in a few spots and loved the ending!
I loved finding out how Mel was doing from the first book.
I loved finding out how Mel was doing from the first book.
April 5, 2018
Dr. Melanie Destin, urban street rat to nano-scientist to respectable physician, is bored. The killer Ares nano-virus is inexplicably dying, nobody knows why, and she's stuck taking care of rich hypochondriacs. All the Politicians and criminals still want to find and control the virus, though, so guess who gets to be the fall guy (er, girl)?
LOVE Dani! LOVE the evolution of Felix Altius!
This is an entertaining, well thought out, exciting sequel (conclusion?) to Book One, The Ares Weapon. It can also be easily read as a stand-alone novel.
I received a free, preview copy of this book with no strings attached.
LOVE Dani! LOVE the evolution of Felix Altius!
This is an entertaining, well thought out, exciting sequel (conclusion?) to Book One, The Ares Weapon. It can also be easily read as a stand-alone novel.
I received a free, preview copy of this book with no strings attached.
Read
December 19, 2018Unlike in the previous story, scheme is grander. It's mainly this that makes it less interesting.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews