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Mars: The Machine War
For fans of Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Dan Simmons, Charles Stross, and works such as Ghost in the Shell :
The dream that was Mars has become a nightmare for the children born there.
Asher roams the vast canyons of Mars in search of dying souls ready for digital reincarnation. But his strange profession has its perils. Those who fear the newborn clones have hunted Asher and his friends for years, claiming the lives of countless innocents, including his daughter.
Claudia hosts the two most popular shows on two worlds, exhausting herself to educate the children of Mars and risking her life to raise the morale of the entire population. But when one of her cohosts is brutally murdered, she'll stop at nothing to avenge his death and make Mars safe again for everyone.
Across frozen deserts and over raging volcanoes, Asher and Claudia lead a group of scientists, clones, and bikers on a high-octane charge to end the first war on Mars.
Heirs of Mars follows the lives of six men and women (not all of them entirely human) from the dusty wind farms of the Valles Marineris to the shining city of New Troy, and from the ancient tunnels beneath the Noctis Labyrinth to the sandy highways where daredevils race on single-wheeled motorcycles for a fleeting glimpse of fame and freedom.
Bonus This special edition also includes the short story "To Serve in Hell" from the collection Heirs of Preludes . This story tells the tale of life on Mars for the average family, and reveals the details of the attack on Asher Radescu that begins the novel.
science fiction | action/adventure | cyberpunk | artificial intelligence | cloning | robotics | Mars
368 pages | 92,000 words
The dream that was Mars has become a nightmare for the children born there.
Asher roams the vast canyons of Mars in search of dying souls ready for digital reincarnation. But his strange profession has its perils. Those who fear the newborn clones have hunted Asher and his friends for years, claiming the lives of countless innocents, including his daughter.
Claudia hosts the two most popular shows on two worlds, exhausting herself to educate the children of Mars and risking her life to raise the morale of the entire population. But when one of her cohosts is brutally murdered, she'll stop at nothing to avenge his death and make Mars safe again for everyone.
Across frozen deserts and over raging volcanoes, Asher and Claudia lead a group of scientists, clones, and bikers on a high-octane charge to end the first war on Mars.
Heirs of Mars follows the lives of six men and women (not all of them entirely human) from the dusty wind farms of the Valles Marineris to the shining city of New Troy, and from the ancient tunnels beneath the Noctis Labyrinth to the sandy highways where daredevils race on single-wheeled motorcycles for a fleeting glimpse of fame and freedom.
Bonus This special edition also includes the short story "To Serve in Hell" from the collection Heirs of Preludes . This story tells the tale of life on Mars for the average family, and reveals the details of the attack on Asher Radescu that begins the novel.
science fiction | action/adventure | cyberpunk | artificial intelligence | cloning | robotics | Mars
368 pages | 92,000 words
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2010
16 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Robert Lewis
68 books97 followersJoseph R. Lewis enjoys creating worlds in which history, mythology, and fantasy collide in unpredictable ways. He also likes writing about heroines that his daughters can respect and admire. Joe was born in Annapolis and went to the University of Maryland to study ancient novels, morality plays, and Viking poetry.
www.josephrlewis.com
www.josephrlewis.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 13, 2010
A compelling story, well-told. It wasn't perfect. Damn near, but not. There were a few editorial oopsies, but I don't hold those against it. There were a few scenes that bumped me out of the dream and some continuity glitches, but it lost that fifth star at the end. Lewis seemed to decide that the story was over so he should cut bait and go home, but I thought the end was too sudden and distant. I didn't feel it, as I did the rest of the book.
Still, it's a brilliant book. Lewis has two short stories set in the same world, prior to the action in the novel. Guess who downloaded them both?
Highly recommended.
Still, it's a brilliant book. Lewis has two short stories set in the same world, prior to the action in the novel. Guess who downloaded them both?
Highly recommended.
May 31, 2012
I'm torn between giving this book 3 or 4 stars. I wish we could give half stars!
It was very hard for me to get into this book. I think I was at well past the 40% mark before I began to positively enjoy it. I normally discard a book before that point if I'm not enjoying it, but there were individual bits that I liked, and the writing was good, so I kept going with some faith that it would get better and "come together" eventually -- and I'm glad that I did keep reading, because I ended up enjoying it.
I found the way that the book changed perspectives -- including locations, group of people, and plot thread -- in every chapter very confusing at first, despite normally enjoying discontinuous narratives. I felt that in the beginning, there wasn't sufficient introduction to any of the separate groups and their plots to be able to make sense of any of them in the context of the entire book. It took about half the book for that to happen for me. Part of it may be that I've been reading it in a somewhat distracted frame of mind and there's a lot going on for me, so my brain may not have been fully engaged. Still, it took effort to try to figure each part out and how they fit together -- and that's something that I normally really enjoy in a book, but for some reason, it was quite difficult in this one.
I did like the characters, and I found that they were distinct individuals. I can't say that I loved the ending (I think there was one tragedy too many for my taste), and I did think it just sort of "ended" without feeling completed -- even though it was a logical place to have the story end. I guess I felt let down after the very long read and the work it was to get there.
If you enjoy complex science fiction with an interesting and complete society and culture(s) and characters who are imperfect, even while many of them are likeable, then you might enjoy this. Just be prepared for something that requires a bit more effort than a casual read. One thing that I really enjoyed and appreciated about the book was the number and variety of interesting female characters -- and in a book by a male author, that was refreshing.
It was very hard for me to get into this book. I think I was at well past the 40% mark before I began to positively enjoy it. I normally discard a book before that point if I'm not enjoying it, but there were individual bits that I liked, and the writing was good, so I kept going with some faith that it would get better and "come together" eventually -- and I'm glad that I did keep reading, because I ended up enjoying it.
I found the way that the book changed perspectives -- including locations, group of people, and plot thread -- in every chapter very confusing at first, despite normally enjoying discontinuous narratives. I felt that in the beginning, there wasn't sufficient introduction to any of the separate groups and their plots to be able to make sense of any of them in the context of the entire book. It took about half the book for that to happen for me. Part of it may be that I've been reading it in a somewhat distracted frame of mind and there's a lot going on for me, so my brain may not have been fully engaged. Still, it took effort to try to figure each part out and how they fit together -- and that's something that I normally really enjoy in a book, but for some reason, it was quite difficult in this one.
I did like the characters, and I found that they were distinct individuals. I can't say that I loved the ending (I think there was one tragedy too many for my taste), and I did think it just sort of "ended" without feeling completed -- even though it was a logical place to have the story end. I guess I felt let down after the very long read and the work it was to get there.
If you enjoy complex science fiction with an interesting and complete society and culture(s) and characters who are imperfect, even while many of them are likeable, then you might enjoy this. Just be prepared for something that requires a bit more effort than a casual read. One thing that I really enjoyed and appreciated about the book was the number and variety of interesting female characters -- and in a book by a male author, that was refreshing.
April 17, 2011
Review as member giveaway eBook
This was a very good science fiction read.
Mars colony is struggling to survive with a poor birth rate and no new colonists from Earth. Asher is a cloner, using ghosting technology he can save the memories of dying colonists and transfer them into robotic bodies. This helps to preserve vital skills for the colony such as doctors and engineers. This technology is seen as a threat by an AI evolved on a satellite of Venus who sends AI robots to Mars to destroy this technology. The novel is set in this context with colonists accepting but uneasy with the cloned colonists, the cloners working underground to continue their work against a guerrilla war being waged by the AI (Cartesian) warriors fighting from the deserts. Asher decides to clone a girl who remind him of his murdered daughter, killed in a Cartesian attack on the dome he was working from.
This sets off a cascade of events which will keep you wanting to read more. The plot is pacy, the underlying concepts intriguing, the characters are well drawn and relevant to the overarching themes of the novel. You also have car and bike racing across the valleys of Mars. What more could you ask for.
I look forward to further novels set in this world.
This was a very good science fiction read.
Mars colony is struggling to survive with a poor birth rate and no new colonists from Earth. Asher is a cloner, using ghosting technology he can save the memories of dying colonists and transfer them into robotic bodies. This helps to preserve vital skills for the colony such as doctors and engineers. This technology is seen as a threat by an AI evolved on a satellite of Venus who sends AI robots to Mars to destroy this technology. The novel is set in this context with colonists accepting but uneasy with the cloned colonists, the cloners working underground to continue their work against a guerrilla war being waged by the AI (Cartesian) warriors fighting from the deserts. Asher decides to clone a girl who remind him of his murdered daughter, killed in a Cartesian attack on the dome he was working from.
This sets off a cascade of events which will keep you wanting to read more. The plot is pacy, the underlying concepts intriguing, the characters are well drawn and relevant to the overarching themes of the novel. You also have car and bike racing across the valleys of Mars. What more could you ask for.
I look forward to further novels set in this world.
March 2, 2011
I thought Heirs of Mars was a great read. In fact, I posted reviews on amazon and Barnes & Noble for the book.
The human characters were believable, the Clone technology was well explained, and the Robots seemed nearly human in their actions. It all sounds very strange but Joseph Robert Lewis did an excellent job in tying all these elements together into one well-written, exciting story!
A clear five stars for quality and content. I will be recommending this book to all my friends.
The human characters were believable, the Clone technology was well explained, and the Robots seemed nearly human in their actions. It all sounds very strange but Joseph Robert Lewis did an excellent job in tying all these elements together into one well-written, exciting story!
A clear five stars for quality and content. I will be recommending this book to all my friends.
October 21, 2015
A few chapters in, a great read so far! Only $2.99 from Amazon by a talented independent author.
November 26, 2010
It's the middle of the 22nd century, and humans have been occupying space on Mars for well over a century. For as long as anyone can remember, the war between man and machine has been a integral thread to life on Mars and there is no end in sight. Human birth rates have fallen on Mars, and cloning becomes the most logical option to allow the collective intellect of humans live on. Meanwhile, the Cartesians, or "mechs," are programmed to follow "Mother's" orders to wipe out the human race, and cloners are at the top of the list. Asher is one of those cloners who is part of an underground rebellion. Haunted by his past, he's trying to strive for a future that will allow him some peace and give all humans hope. With the help of Claudia, a local Martian celebrity, Asher comes up with the idea to create the perfect weapon against the machines. No one will be the same when the Martian dust settles on this battle of clones, humans and machines. One way or another, this war will end, but who will be around to see the results?
Joseph Robert Lewis has written a compelling book that follows the lives of 6 sentient beings during the days leading up to the end of the war. Each chapter tells a piece of the adventure from one of those beings' reference points. The chapters are clearly marked, and I found this to be a very effective way to give us a more complete picture of what was going on in the minds of the humans, clones and machines involved in this war. The premise of the story was really intriguing, and brought up some interesting concepts; cloning people minutes before they die to save their knowledge, machines that seem almost human and yet they're not, Mars being a viable habitat for people when Earth is not enough. With the changing viewpoints and the engaging concept, this was an easy book to get into.
In addition to the main theme of hope and redemption, there were several underlying themes. For example, what qualifies one to be a person? Seeing the individual thoughts and feelings of three different types of beings, the question is raised- what makes someone (or something) a person? With their synthetic bodies and brains saturated with the memories and experiences of another, are clones closer to humans or machines? Are machines who make choices independent of their programming more like humans than machines? Is it possible for all three types of beings to coexist, and are their goals really all that different?
I found this to be an interesting read. Although the story moves along at a fairly good pace, I found the ending to be somewhat abrupt. When I saw the epilogue, I wondered if I'd missed something in the story. When I turned the last page of the epilogue, I was expecting more. I had taken the journey through the last part of the war, and I wanted a little something else at the end to give me more closure. I'm honestly not exactly sure what form that would have taken, but I felt a bit letdown by the ending. Some of the transitions and relationships between characters were a little difficult for me to follow at times as well. I'm not sure if that's because we were following so many characters (each of the six characters had at least one or more partners associated with them), or because of a lack of development in the writing of the characters. It wasn't a major flaw of the story, and just a minor complaint on my part.
Overall, a good read for anyone who likes speculative science fiction, and for anyone who thinks about the future of machines and clones, and what it will mean for the human race.
4 /5 stars @ MotherLode blog
Joseph Robert Lewis has written a compelling book that follows the lives of 6 sentient beings during the days leading up to the end of the war. Each chapter tells a piece of the adventure from one of those beings' reference points. The chapters are clearly marked, and I found this to be a very effective way to give us a more complete picture of what was going on in the minds of the humans, clones and machines involved in this war. The premise of the story was really intriguing, and brought up some interesting concepts; cloning people minutes before they die to save their knowledge, machines that seem almost human and yet they're not, Mars being a viable habitat for people when Earth is not enough. With the changing viewpoints and the engaging concept, this was an easy book to get into.
In addition to the main theme of hope and redemption, there were several underlying themes. For example, what qualifies one to be a person? Seeing the individual thoughts and feelings of three different types of beings, the question is raised- what makes someone (or something) a person? With their synthetic bodies and brains saturated with the memories and experiences of another, are clones closer to humans or machines? Are machines who make choices independent of their programming more like humans than machines? Is it possible for all three types of beings to coexist, and are their goals really all that different?
I found this to be an interesting read. Although the story moves along at a fairly good pace, I found the ending to be somewhat abrupt. When I saw the epilogue, I wondered if I'd missed something in the story. When I turned the last page of the epilogue, I was expecting more. I had taken the journey through the last part of the war, and I wanted a little something else at the end to give me more closure. I'm honestly not exactly sure what form that would have taken, but I felt a bit letdown by the ending. Some of the transitions and relationships between characters were a little difficult for me to follow at times as well. I'm not sure if that's because we were following so many characters (each of the six characters had at least one or more partners associated with them), or because of a lack of development in the writing of the characters. It wasn't a major flaw of the story, and just a minor complaint on my part.
Overall, a good read for anyone who likes speculative science fiction, and for anyone who thinks about the future of machines and clones, and what it will mean for the human race.
4 /5 stars @ MotherLode blog
February 14, 2011
I've had this novel sitting on my computer for awhile now, had been saving it for this challenge and also for when I got my Kindle. For some reason, it didn't show up when I transfered it initially, but once it was there, I launched right into it and devoured it in a couple of days! Here is the blurb from Amazon:
The dream that was Mars has become a nightmare for the children born there.
Asher Radescu was the last human to come to Mars, but he didn't find the romance and adventure he craved. Instead, he lives in a truck delivering supplies to frontier habs and secretly builds neural clones to keep civilization from collapsing. When an android bounty hunter discovers that Asher is one of the people responsible for the dangerous cloning technology, the entire population of Mars is threatened with annihilation. With the help of underground cloners, resurrected colonists, android defectors, and one gorgeous racing celebrity, Asher must end the first war on Mars before the violence consumes them all.
Doesn't that sound fun?? Well, it IS. I think the world building for this book is fabulous - I can really picture life on Mars as Lewis has imagined it. I love that the characters aren't inherently good or evil; they have pasts, they have made mistakes, they are all just people.
Or not.
There are humans, clones, and androids. All sentient, all intelligent beings - but what makes someone a person? Where is the line? I love this question and stories which bring it up, and I enjoyed how Lewis dealt with it in his book. In the same way that his characters are all a little grimy, so are the distinctions between the three beings in the book.
There is a lot of action in this book including car chases and fights, lots to get you pumping, and people die. I love it when an author doesn't shy away from killing of characters when the story line calls for it. It makes perfect sense in the world Lewis has created and I appreciate that a lot.
This is a great read. Fast, and gritty, and engaging and just plain fun (in a violent kind of way). I gave it 5 stars on goodreads, as I believe in rating up when you'd give half a star. It definitely fell somewhere between 'it was really good' (4 stars) and 'it was amazing' (5 stars) for me.
The dream that was Mars has become a nightmare for the children born there.
Asher Radescu was the last human to come to Mars, but he didn't find the romance and adventure he craved. Instead, he lives in a truck delivering supplies to frontier habs and secretly builds neural clones to keep civilization from collapsing. When an android bounty hunter discovers that Asher is one of the people responsible for the dangerous cloning technology, the entire population of Mars is threatened with annihilation. With the help of underground cloners, resurrected colonists, android defectors, and one gorgeous racing celebrity, Asher must end the first war on Mars before the violence consumes them all.
Doesn't that sound fun?? Well, it IS. I think the world building for this book is fabulous - I can really picture life on Mars as Lewis has imagined it. I love that the characters aren't inherently good or evil; they have pasts, they have made mistakes, they are all just people.
Or not.
There are humans, clones, and androids. All sentient, all intelligent beings - but what makes someone a person? Where is the line? I love this question and stories which bring it up, and I enjoyed how Lewis dealt with it in his book. In the same way that his characters are all a little grimy, so are the distinctions between the three beings in the book.
There is a lot of action in this book including car chases and fights, lots to get you pumping, and people die. I love it when an author doesn't shy away from killing of characters when the story line calls for it. It makes perfect sense in the world Lewis has created and I appreciate that a lot.
This is a great read. Fast, and gritty, and engaging and just plain fun (in a violent kind of way). I gave it 5 stars on goodreads, as I believe in rating up when you'd give half a star. It definitely fell somewhere between 'it was really good' (4 stars) and 'it was amazing' (5 stars) for me.
August 21, 2011
Mars is populated by three diverse groups:
1. Humans
2. Clones who have been created to replace needed scientist, engineers, etc as they die. Despite the need for them, many humans fear and hate them.
3. AI or robots known as Carties. War between the humans and Carties has recently ended with a peace accord but many of the Carties continue to fight.
Life is hard on Mars. The planet offers little in the way of scenery unless you're into red rocks and dust, there is very little to do besides work; entertainment is limited to live races across the barren landscape but even these have been curtailed by the guerilla attacks of the few remaining Carties; and the mistrust between the three groups making up the population keeps everyone on edge.
Joseph Robert Lewis has penned a well-crafted and fascinating look at what settlement on Mars might look like. This is no Utopia - people have brought all their prejudices and unhappiness with them and these have been compounded by the bleak life they live on Mars. Although there is science involved in the cloning process and in the AI, Lewis is less concerned with the technology and more with the morality and emotions involved both by and towards the clones and Carties. There is plenty of action in this book but, at heart, it is about prejudice and revenge and the horrors these engender.
I have read a lot of comments on this site against Indie writers. Some of it is deserved - I have read more than a couple of books where the authors' egos clearly outshone their ability by a mile. But there are also writers like Joseph Robert Lewis - these are the reason I search out Indie writers. Lewis' writing is clear and concise with nothing wasted, his stories are original and layered, and he never fails to grab my attention and keep it. I can't recommend him highly enough for fans of scifi/fantasy or anybody who likes a good story.
1. Humans
2. Clones who have been created to replace needed scientist, engineers, etc as they die. Despite the need for them, many humans fear and hate them.
3. AI or robots known as Carties. War between the humans and Carties has recently ended with a peace accord but many of the Carties continue to fight.
Life is hard on Mars. The planet offers little in the way of scenery unless you're into red rocks and dust, there is very little to do besides work; entertainment is limited to live races across the barren landscape but even these have been curtailed by the guerilla attacks of the few remaining Carties; and the mistrust between the three groups making up the population keeps everyone on edge.
Joseph Robert Lewis has penned a well-crafted and fascinating look at what settlement on Mars might look like. This is no Utopia - people have brought all their prejudices and unhappiness with them and these have been compounded by the bleak life they live on Mars. Although there is science involved in the cloning process and in the AI, Lewis is less concerned with the technology and more with the morality and emotions involved both by and towards the clones and Carties. There is plenty of action in this book but, at heart, it is about prejudice and revenge and the horrors these engender.
I have read a lot of comments on this site against Indie writers. Some of it is deserved - I have read more than a couple of books where the authors' egos clearly outshone their ability by a mile. But there are also writers like Joseph Robert Lewis - these are the reason I search out Indie writers. Lewis' writing is clear and concise with nothing wasted, his stories are original and layered, and he never fails to grab my attention and keep it. I can't recommend him highly enough for fans of scifi/fantasy or anybody who likes a good story.
April 5, 2011
The science-fiction is always about what if. Heirs of Mars has three what ifs.
- What if there was a colony on Mars, people trying to survive in the grim living conditions?
- What if clones would be possible to create? Not the grow-from-human-cell type, but the transfer-human-personality-to-artificial-body type.
- What if it would be possible to give human spirit to machines?
Actually there is a fourth point to this:
- What if these all come together in Mars?
Each of these ideas are worth to write a book about, and their mixture adds another layer to the story. There are several conflicts of interest, which make the book more interesting. The population is dropping, and the only solution seems to be the cloning. The androids want to kill the cloners, because cloning technology threatens their existence. The clones are not like human copies, but more like plastic dolls, so not every colonist likes them. The clones’ personality is created in similar way than the androids’, so they are not so far from each other. Oh, and some androids sympathize with the humans.
Complicated? It is not so when reading the book.
The characters are rich, well drawn, I could easily empathize with them. Besides the human emotions, I found interesting to see inside of the dilemmas of clones and androids.
There is a lot of action, which makes the book a page turner.
There are two small issues I need to mention. In the beginning I was a little bit confused about who is who and who does what, but later it became clear. And I expected a higher level crisis at the end of the book instead of more, relatively smaller ones during it. (Maybe it’s just me, affected by Hollywood scenes.)
- What if there was a colony on Mars, people trying to survive in the grim living conditions?
- What if clones would be possible to create? Not the grow-from-human-cell type, but the transfer-human-personality-to-artificial-body type.
- What if it would be possible to give human spirit to machines?
Actually there is a fourth point to this:
- What if these all come together in Mars?
Each of these ideas are worth to write a book about, and their mixture adds another layer to the story. There are several conflicts of interest, which make the book more interesting. The population is dropping, and the only solution seems to be the cloning. The androids want to kill the cloners, because cloning technology threatens their existence. The clones are not like human copies, but more like plastic dolls, so not every colonist likes them. The clones’ personality is created in similar way than the androids’, so they are not so far from each other. Oh, and some androids sympathize with the humans.
Complicated? It is not so when reading the book.
The characters are rich, well drawn, I could easily empathize with them. Besides the human emotions, I found interesting to see inside of the dilemmas of clones and androids.
There is a lot of action, which makes the book a page turner.
There are two small issues I need to mention. In the beginning I was a little bit confused about who is who and who does what, but later it became clear. And I expected a higher level crisis at the end of the book instead of more, relatively smaller ones during it. (Maybe it’s just me, affected by Hollywood scenes.)
November 12, 2010
Heirs of Mars is a very interesting book. The characters are all engaging and very human (even the not technically human ones). There were no "heroes" and few "villains." Everyone was grey, with lots of darkness in them; I think grounding the book in such life-like characters helped bring alive the setting.
The setting is where the book excelled. Joseph Robert Lewis has clearly put a lot of thought into what life on Mars would truly be like - from depressed kids to falling birth rates, from being paid in food credits or bandwidth, to the effect clones would have on a population. His descriptions of the Mars colony are so realistic he might almost have been there. On description alone, Heirs deserved a 5 star rating.
But I had issues with the book. Admittedly, these were issues I brought with me. I expected the clones to be clone-like. I expected the robots to be terminator-like. By the end of the book I'd decided the clones were more like shop mannequins with human brains inside them, and I'm still not entirely sure what the robots were like. I'm imagining the robots now like the ones in the Will Smith film "I, Robot." I arrived at the book with preconcieved notions, and Lewis did nothing to dispell them. The great descriptions I mentioned above are kept for the setting, and the robots and clones are not often described.
Despite this, it's a fantastic book, and I have no hesitations in recommending it.
The setting is where the book excelled. Joseph Robert Lewis has clearly put a lot of thought into what life on Mars would truly be like - from depressed kids to falling birth rates, from being paid in food credits or bandwidth, to the effect clones would have on a population. His descriptions of the Mars colony are so realistic he might almost have been there. On description alone, Heirs deserved a 5 star rating.
But I had issues with the book. Admittedly, these were issues I brought with me. I expected the clones to be clone-like. I expected the robots to be terminator-like. By the end of the book I'd decided the clones were more like shop mannequins with human brains inside them, and I'm still not entirely sure what the robots were like. I'm imagining the robots now like the ones in the Will Smith film "I, Robot." I arrived at the book with preconcieved notions, and Lewis did nothing to dispell them. The great descriptions I mentioned above are kept for the setting, and the robots and clones are not often described.
Despite this, it's a fantastic book, and I have no hesitations in recommending it.
March 13, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel-it moved very quickly and I was constantly wanting to find out what happened next. The first few chapters were hard to sort out due to the mass array of characters and events, but by chapter four I really understood the flow of the novel. One of my favorite things about Heirs of Mars is that there are so many plot lines and characters but they work together seamlessly to build one great novel instead of six different stories. Each character had his or her own voice and motives behind their actions. It would have been nice to hear more from each character though. Just when I felt like I was getting to know or understand a character, their plot line ended. I also liked that there was more than one strong female character.
The author also eased us into the Sci-Fi nature of the novel. It is pretty far out there, but I was able to understand what was going on and get a solid feel for life on Mars. The enviornment was well developed and I feel as though there could be a whole series developed using it. The same thing goes with the characters-there could be a lot more. Speaking on the cloning aspect of the novel, I really appreciated that the author did not inject his personal opinion on cloning or use the novel to make a statement, but instead created what would be the Martian debate on cloning. Overall, I thought the book was great. It was enjoyable, fun, and interesting.
The author also eased us into the Sci-Fi nature of the novel. It is pretty far out there, but I was able to understand what was going on and get a solid feel for life on Mars. The enviornment was well developed and I feel as though there could be a whole series developed using it. The same thing goes with the characters-there could be a lot more. Speaking on the cloning aspect of the novel, I really appreciated that the author did not inject his personal opinion on cloning or use the novel to make a statement, but instead created what would be the Martian debate on cloning. Overall, I thought the book was great. It was enjoyable, fun, and interesting.
January 8, 2011
I happened upon 'Heirs of Mars' on Goodreads and I'm glad I did. Well-drawn characters, compelling storylines, new concepts and twists on such standard sci-fi ideas as colonisation and cloning. All this plus car chases on Mars? What's not to like!
Heirs of Mars is set on a planet that has lost its Martian dream: successes are increasingly few and far between, and the streets are certainly not paved with gold. To try to buoy up the failing Martian population, cloners secretly make 'ghost' clones - the minds of the dying copied into synthetic bodies that can carry on their essential work, e.g. as doctors. Meanwhile this technique of effectively overwriting a robot with a human brain has a group of sentient AI robots worried that this could be used as a weapon against them and they are waging a war against the Martian cloners.
These sorts of ideas are all cleverly combined - since the clones are essentially part-human, part-machine, neither fully one nor the other, they are caught in the middle of the fight between the robots and the human cloners. These sorts of ideas make you think, but at the same time they are tied together in a thrilling plot. Oh, and did I mention the car chases on Mars? Fantastic!
Heirs of Mars is set on a planet that has lost its Martian dream: successes are increasingly few and far between, and the streets are certainly not paved with gold. To try to buoy up the failing Martian population, cloners secretly make 'ghost' clones - the minds of the dying copied into synthetic bodies that can carry on their essential work, e.g. as doctors. Meanwhile this technique of effectively overwriting a robot with a human brain has a group of sentient AI robots worried that this could be used as a weapon against them and they are waging a war against the Martian cloners.
These sorts of ideas are all cleverly combined - since the clones are essentially part-human, part-machine, neither fully one nor the other, they are caught in the middle of the fight between the robots and the human cloners. These sorts of ideas make you think, but at the same time they are tied together in a thrilling plot. Oh, and did I mention the car chases on Mars? Fantastic!
April 12, 2011
I read Heirs of Mars in e-book format. The story takes place on Mars more than one hundred years in the future. Mars has been colonized, but transport of people between Earth and Mars has ceased. The humans are dying; the equipment is getting old and rusting away. Supplies are running out. The only thing coming from Earth anymore are communication packets and video clips As people on Mars age and die, the shortage of skilled people becomes critical. More and more use is made of robots and other artificial life forms. Cloners roam around Mars putting the sum of a person’s life memories, skills, and knowledge into the braincases of artificial bodies. These bodies are known as Cartesians. The few robots left on Mars are convinced that the humans are a threat to them, and they have been waging war on the humans and the Cartesians. The robots are in a race to destroy the humans and their habitats before the humans can finally make Mars truly hospitable for human life.
I look forward to reading Heirs of Mars: Preludes, also by Robert Joseph Lewis.
I look forward to reading Heirs of Mars: Preludes, also by Robert Joseph Lewis.
April 1, 2011
I received this book through the Librarything giveaway program a few weeks ago as an ebook. I read sci-fi every once in a while, but I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
Somehow, the writing manages to avoid the common pitfalls of its genre, mainly the made-up words that make it seem as if the reader were trailing through a foreign language book. It is not hard to get the gist of the storyline, and you a glossary of terms is not necessary, which, if you’ve read a lot of these types of novels, you know is quite unusual.
The story itself is quite entertaining, with lots of twists and turns that keep you turning the pages (or the epages) as the seemingly random characters weave together. Once in a while, the plot lags just a tad, there are some dialogue that could have been cut for brevity, but that’s is really nit-picking on my part more than anything.
All in all, a wonderful addition to a sometimes “blah” genre.
Somehow, the writing manages to avoid the common pitfalls of its genre, mainly the made-up words that make it seem as if the reader were trailing through a foreign language book. It is not hard to get the gist of the storyline, and you a glossary of terms is not necessary, which, if you’ve read a lot of these types of novels, you know is quite unusual.
The story itself is quite entertaining, with lots of twists and turns that keep you turning the pages (or the epages) as the seemingly random characters weave together. Once in a while, the plot lags just a tad, there are some dialogue that could have been cut for brevity, but that’s is really nit-picking on my part more than anything.
All in all, a wonderful addition to a sometimes “blah” genre.
December 25, 2010
I was given a copy of this novel by the author for review. It is set in the future on Mars and although this is science fiction, there are several elements of the story that people can relate to today. The main one being the ethics of cloning. There are the humans that believe that cloning is essential for the survival of life on Mars since there are too many professionals that are dying as a result of the ongoing war with robots—who, interestingly see the clones as a threat to their existence. Then there are the humans that don’t accept the clones as individuals with equal rights.
I had a bit of difficulty keeping up in certain parts because of the number of characters, and at some points it was difficult to tell the protagonists from the villains, but it did not prevent me from enjoying this story.
I had a bit of difficulty keeping up in certain parts because of the number of characters, and at some points it was difficult to tell the protagonists from the villains, but it did not prevent me from enjoying this story.
April 17, 2011
This was a good book for anyone who enjoys thought provoking science fiction. There was action, characterisation and a clever premise behind it all. Most of all I would say that it was an interesting exploration of different types of people and the workings of the mind. That is what I found most interesting since it is not an issue in our world; minds that work differently to our own, perhaps even being blended together with another mind. If the mind of a person can be changed are they still the same person? And if it doesn’t work like ours are they a person at all? I also liked the unique take on cloning in this story.
So in summary, perhaps if you are getting picky there were one or two moments that I found a little convenient, but overall an enjoyable and intelligent story.
Reviewed as a librarything giveaway ebook.
So in summary, perhaps if you are getting picky there were one or two moments that I found a little convenient, but overall an enjoyable and intelligent story.
Reviewed as a librarything giveaway ebook.
October 20, 2011
Heirs of Mars is an interesting science fiction tale. I like authors who take an old idea and put a new spin on it, as I think Joseph Robert Lewis did with digital reincarnation and the colonization of Mars.
I was a little confused at the beginning, couldn't quite figure out what was going on. There were so many characters on so many different sides, it was hard to keep everyone straight. Plus, there were some pacing issues, it would speed up and slow down like a bad driver on a freeway.
All in all, it's a fun science fiction romp that was enjoyable to read.
*Disclaimer: I was given this book by the author through LibraryThing. I was not required to write a positive review.
I was a little confused at the beginning, couldn't quite figure out what was going on. There were so many characters on so many different sides, it was hard to keep everyone straight. Plus, there were some pacing issues, it would speed up and slow down like a bad driver on a freeway.
All in all, it's a fun science fiction romp that was enjoyable to read.
*Disclaimer: I was given this book by the author through LibraryThing. I was not required to write a positive review.
March 29, 2011
Books that you cant put down till you finsh at 2:00am.
I enjoyed the world of mars. All the different characters were well arounded. Thier was different debates about cloning,robots and humans all had rights. thier were bigots that thought they were better than anyone else in all groups. A lot of people,clones were heros trying to build a society that would last. I found myself on different sides as the book went. Asher was the main character he was a cloner and got beat up and hurt a few times. the cloners had strict rules and when they were broken you saw the results and why the rules were thier for. It was an action pack book. It was a good read took me away to Mars.
I enjoyed the world of mars. All the different characters were well arounded. Thier was different debates about cloning,robots and humans all had rights. thier were bigots that thought they were better than anyone else in all groups. A lot of people,clones were heros trying to build a society that would last. I found myself on different sides as the book went. Asher was the main character he was a cloner and got beat up and hurt a few times. the cloners had strict rules and when they were broken you saw the results and why the rules were thier for. It was an action pack book. It was a good read took me away to Mars.
March 27, 2011
Heirs of Mars is a great book, a character-driven story of a colony on Mars in the future. The population is dwindling, so "cloners" take the memories of citizens who are terminal and place them into artificial humans. This is not necessarily a popular policy and definitely unpopular with rogue robots who are under the control of a satellite called "Mother".
I found this to be a well-written tale that is paced to keep a reader's interest all the way to the end. For fans of sci-fi that creates a believable future world, I recommend Heirs of Mars.
I found this to be a well-written tale that is paced to keep a reader's interest all the way to the end. For fans of sci-fi that creates a believable future world, I recommend Heirs of Mars.
July 19, 2011
A lot of authors have envisioned what it could be like when man eventually colonizes Mars. Some of those visions are utopian fantasies. Heirs of Mars is not one of those visions. Joseph Robert Lewis takes a hard, gritty look at how colonization might realistically look given Mars’ harsh environment, given how governments like to cut corners, and given how humans tend to react to both environment and unknowns. To read the rest of my review, go to http://popcornreads.com/?p=1286
September 8, 2011
I have to be honest and say I didn't expect to enjoy this book. Anything space-related tends to put me to sleep and I have been getting sick of hearing about Mars. Yet, when I picked this book up, I instantly knew I was going to like it. The writing flows like a swollen river, elegant and fast-paced. The three different factions of the planet Mars are well thought out, the characters well written and believeable. Could this actually be our future? You never know!
April 11, 2012
Loved the book. Very detailed, crisp writing style. As you read through the book, you are literally transported to Mars. The details of the place, the difficult terrain and the complexity of life, kind of hits you hard and makes you wonder if this is our future. The book begins a little slow but gradually picks the pace and the reader gets caught in the action. For those who love sci-fi, this book brings together a lot of such elements that make it a wonderful read.
June 1, 2012
Interesting sci-fi about life on Mars, where humans are battling rogue mechs (robots) following a war and subsequent peace accord. One concept I enjoyed was the technique of "ghosting" a dying person's brain to capture the essence and then place it in the braincase of a plastic/rubber composite shell that takes on the face of the dead person, and many of the memories, in a very human-lloking body.
May 6, 2013
This was quite a difficult one to get in to for the first few chapters as there were a lot of characters being introduced and it wasn't always apparent where they fit into the overall plot. After a while it settled down into an enjoyable read, and I found myself wanting the different story arcs to connect. I found the latter half a great read and entertaining. The ending seemed a bit rushed though and it felt like there were still some loose ends to tie up.
May 25, 2011
This book by Joseph Robert Lewis is like none I have read before. Do not read much sci fi but thought it would be interesting. The plot can keep you hopping and interested. The characters are different because there are different kinds of beings on Mars.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
April 28, 2011
This was sent to me as a free ebook on the condition that I wrote a review. I will post one in a few days... but the book was great. I definitely recommend it to any SciFi fan.
May 31, 2011
This is a fast paced and fun read. I enjoyed the characters and the story. I liked the exploration of what makes someone "human" or an individual. I'd read other books by this author.
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July 1, 2011Posted 04/11/11: If you love true Sci Fi you need to read this book. I loved the diversity of the characters. The story line is awesome. Can't wait for the next book.[return] posted on bn.com
October 27, 2012
Excellent book!
March 12, 2012
This was a pretty good story. It wasn't brilliant and didn't have me reading non stop, but at the same time did leave me with enough interest to read it through to the end. The only thing I really didn't like was too many pov characters, Asher's story interesting, but some of the others seemed to only be thrown in to make the book longer.
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