Mission 5: Sole Survivor

Mars Diaries #5

by Sigmund Brouwer

After a cave-in, teenage virtual reality specialist Tyce Sanders attempts to rescue his best friend, Director Rawling McTigre, and three other trapped scientists after they are buried alive on Mars, before they run out of air. But the situation is complicated when rebels take over the science station, holding everyone hostage. Tyce doesn't think things can get any worse. But he is sorely mistaken. Just when he thinks his life is over, help shows up in unexpected forms, from the God he's getting to know personally, as well as a new friend.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Canadian Literature, Childrens

128 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

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

[Chance Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is this really the same series I've been reading? This is really the most solid book in the series so far. This book has more pow than I expected.
Spoilers for last book and this book!

Cover
This cover is great. Fits the theme, the purple pops well.

Interior
In the last book I felt the unreal sucker punch with Ashley's death. I know I criticized the start of the series because there didn’t feel like any risk was established. I was wrong this book raises every possible risk. In fact, this book goes farther than I actually expected to go and the villain is our right relentless. I did rant about how dumb the villain was during the book. I was pleasantly surprised it wasn’t overlooked it and actually worked around the hostage flaw while expanding on the universe. I didn’t think this book would turn to suffocating parents in front of their kid. This book went crazy. Also attempting to kill the only pilot on mars probably isn’t a smart move.
I love the touch that they used his lack of fear of dying tied to the first book against the villain.
Spoilers!
His goal to use hostages as ransom of political power is fair enough but attempting to kill Tyce and then Ashley isn’t so smart. Technically he gains nothing. He potentially lost 30 billion dollars of tech on this mission and was going to kill two soldiers that cost how much to create? Clearly, he isn’t going to live long on earth if his bosses realize how much he’s lost on his missions.

Theory
I am disappointed that they didn’t cover how Ashley survived the collision on the moon but I do have a theory. I don’t think she crashed into the moon. I think she lasered the moon and did the same stunt Tyce did in the VR tests in Hammerhead. The weapon is still intact somewhere on Mars if not in disassembled pieces.

[Mary Emma Sivils · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sole Survivor jumped right into action on page 1 and didn't let up until the end! There were even a couple scenes where I found myself figuratively holding my breath, in hopes that everything would turn out okay. I can easily say it's my favorite of the series so far.
Of course, it did have some of the same things that have annoyed me with each book, but it seemed like there was less than usual. Or maybe I'm just getting used to ignoring those parts.
Anyway, looking forward to the next one!

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

All these twists tho!!!

A full review of the series will be posted once I finish reading it.

[Colin Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part 5 of my quick foray into all the middle grade novels I've had on my bookshelf for more than 10 years that I never got around to reading when I was younger so I can make room for more books on my shelf:

The books are getting better as they go, the story kept me hooked and I appreciate that. The faith talks are more subtle and fit better with the story.
I'm not really convinced that he's going to Earth, but we shall see.

It's impressive that in each book the antagonists are supposedly being sent back to Earth ASAP but they keep finding ways to still cause trouble in the dwindling days they are there. They are supposedly going back 'tomorrow' now, but I'm sure that there will still be some resistance to that happening in the next book.

The first sentence of the author's apologetics chapter in this book is really indicative of how his series is going so far "while I like telling stories and I really like to finish writing a book, I find the process itself difficult." You don't say... the copy pasted descriptions didn't already clue me into that...
This book has less of those though. When they did appear they were usually shorter as well.

[Tarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read a book from the Mars Diaries series. I jumped right back in, and there was instantly an attention-grabbing, heart-thumping dangerous plot taking place.

There's a cave-in that Tyce is trying to use his remote brain-controlled robot to help lead the rescue effort... but at the same time, an evil hostage takeover is happening inside the dome, trapping everyone that Tyce knows. And loves -- including his parents.

It's wonderful how this story really highlights putting your faith in God, even when you couldn't possibly see the outcome He has planned.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the mars world getting much more interaction with rest of humanity. This was an improvement from last two books. Still feels strange when it randomly tries to throw in religion in the middle of action.

[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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Doesn't even temporarily pretend its title isn't lying. Why call it that?

[jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of the series!

[The Third Place A Teen Library]

F BRO md bk. 5

Science Fiction