Red Mars

Warning: Wikipedia contains spoilers.

Characters

• John Boone, an American astronaut. He was "the first man on Mars". His accomplishments and natural charm yield him an informal leadership role.
• Frank Chalmers, head of the American contingent. He is Machiavellian in his use of power.
• Maya Toitovona, an emotional woman who is at the centre of a love triangle between Boone and Chalmers. Head of the Russian contingent.
• Nadia Chernyshevski, a Russian engineer. She builds the first permanent habitation of Mars.
• Arkady Bogdanov, Russian. An engineer with anarchist/Marxist leanings.
• Sax Russell, American physicist, who heads the terraforming project.
• Ann Clayborne, American geologist, who wants Mars preserved in its pristine state.
• Hiroko Ai, Japanese expert on biological and ecological systems.
• Michel Duval, French psychologist.
• Vlad Taneev, Russian biological scientist. He is the head of all medical treatment and research projects on Mars. He creates a gerontological treatment to stave off old age.
• Phyllis Boyle, the evil Christian geologist, who favors corporate exploitation of Mars. She eventually sides against most of the First 100.
• Desmond "the Coyote" Hawkins, the stowaway from Trindad. He is a friend and supporter of Hiroko.

Plot

The story itself starts in 2027 with the voyage to Mars. "The first hundred" of mostly Russians and Americans set up the first town on Mars and lay the groundwork for more scientists. However, the due to greed of the transnational corporations, who now rule Earth, the new Martian towns become overcrowded and undermaintained. Several cases of sabotage of terraformation infrastructure occur, blamed on anti-terraforming forces. The situation results in a revolution in 2061, in which many of first hundred are killed and much of Mars's buildings, notably the space elevator are destroyed. The surviving first hundred are forced into hiding.

The paperback has ISBN 0553560735.

See also: Exploration of Mars

Referenced By