Last Stand

Mars Diaries #10

by Sigmund Brouwer

Set in 2039-2040, this best-selling series features 14-year-old Tyce Sanders, the only child who's ever been born on Mars. He lives under a dome on the red planet with 200 scientists and tekkies, including his mother, Kristy Sanders, a Christian biologist. Tyce is confined to a wheelchair, but virtual reality and robotics allow him to experience life beyond his physical boundaries. Kids love the cool, high-tech gadgets and great plot twists in this exciting series. Includes a science-faith essay at the end of each book. In Mission 10: Last Stand, a Manchurian invasion threatens as Tyce returns home to the red planet.

Genres: Science Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Religion, Action

144 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

About the author

Sigmund loves going to schools to get kids excited about reading, reaching roughly 80,000 students a year through his Rock&Roll Literacy Show.

Reviews

[Sonora Newheart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this series years ago and remember it being quite good.

[Chance Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's had its highs and lows and it's finally come down to this and it's over all. OK.

Story
This book seems to be somewhere in between for me. The overarching story is pretty solid idea. Apart from a few implausible moments such as the villain, Luke Daab idea of hiding things. The concept of sabotaging Tyce's surgery was a novel addition. I think one of the least emphasized parts this book needed some more focus was his age. It has been three years since book 9 and not being around 17 just didn't completely register as much as it probably should. That is until the very end. While being tied to the other books it really didn't tie into the others like with Robot War. It doesn't help as I said years pass between books and he's literally not a kid anymore. Which brings me to the final moments in this book. I can't tell but I felt like the book kept re-explaining robot controls throughout the book.

Series Summery
This series had its ups and downs but it does seem to get better as it goes. The worst parts has to be the constant literally chapters dedicated to re-explicating robot control and the painfully pandering Christian view. As someone that believes in creation it's argument kind of feels like a wet noodle. While criticizing that I should say at the end of each book was a short Christian write up based on the theme of each book. Even the risks through the series does increase as you begin to realized what you are up against.

Spoiler Warning
This ending.
While being subtle it toys with a passive ending but even still it's kind of dark. As Luke Daab's last stand it literally hinted to suffocating or starving to death in space. It took ten books but they actually may or may not have someone die. Also, the relationship between Ashley and Tyce is really beautiful in the ending.

[Mary Emma Sivils · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice end to the Mars Diaries, but something of a letdown. With a giant enemy fleet headed toward Mars, I was expecting a bigger finish. Still, I enjoyed this book and the overall series well enough. Seeing Tyce accomplish a certain goal at the end was quite satisfying.

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, pretty good! I'm giving it three stars because there was some romance.

A full review of the series will be coming soon.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminded me of some of the first books in the series, sort of a mystery combined with science fiction. Satisfying conclusion

[Denae Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader thoughts: I have read this series at least eight times (once aloud to my little brothers). I love Tyce and Ashley, and the little details that are lost on the first or second time through. My husband loved the scene with the dancing. :)

The technology is becoming less and less relevant as I keep reading these, however. Someone's view of 2040 (when it's 2001) is waaay different from my 2022 view of 2040.

I loved that, with this book, Tyce was keeping his debilitating headache a secret, and it turned out to be a plot point later. I loved his solution for poison filling the dome, and that he was learning to walk, and everything. I love happy endings.

Writer thoughts: SB is good at not slowing the reader down for any reason. He chops up the scenes so you only have to read the interesting bits, and the chapters are ultra-short. This is how you can engage readers with short attention spans.

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last book in the "Mars Diaries" series and it is by far my favorite! I cannot believe all the different adventures and challenges that the characters have gone through over the course of this series!

In this book there is the reappearing of a past character that causes quite a big stir under the big dome on Mars. There are a lot of surprises and jaw dropping events in this book that will excite all the fans and readers of these books.

I hope to find more books that meet the same level of excitement that this one has brought me! I have really enjoyed reading this series and it is by far my favorite written by the author Sigmund Brouwer!

[Anita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good on first read through, and at the intended reading age, and from the intended worldview. Decently interesting characters. Trying very hard to be hard scifi, which I could stand to see more of. Extremely preachy, and relies more than a bit on the element of surprise to stay interesting, without enough subtlety or foreshadowing to give depth to re-reads. Repeat review ad infinitum for the rest of the series.
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Mixed feelings about the happy ending.

[The Third Place A Teen Library]

F BRO md bk. 10

Science Fiction