Return to Mars

By: Ben Bova

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Six years after the first manned Martian expedition, a second has been announced, this one motivated purely by its profitable potential. Half-Navajo geologist Jamie Waterman, a veteran of the first mission, feels his conflicted soul beckoning him back to the eerie, unforgiving planet. As commander of the new exploratory team, he will have to contend with a bitter and destructive rivalry, a disturbing new emotional attraction, and deadly, incomprehensible "accidents" that appear to be sabotage - all of which could doom the mission to failure.

But there are still great secrets to be uncovered on this cruel and enigmatic world, not the least being something he glimpsed in the far distance during his first Martian excursion: an improbable structure perched high in the planet's carmine cliffs...a dwelling that only an intelligent being could have built.

Listen to Ben Bova's complete Mars trilogy, including the first book, Mars, and the third book, Mars Life.©1999 Ben Bova (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Bova makes the speculative hard science aspects of this novel vivid and appealing." ( Publishers Weekly)

Entertaining and well read

Rudnicki never disappoints when he reads a book. My truck stereo amplified some of the edits to a noticeable sound shift but that was easily ignored. The book kept me involved from beginning to end.

Another great listen!!

I really enjoyed the continuing story of Jamie Waterman. Can’t wait to start the next book in the Mars series!

Enjoyable, intelligent, realistic. Great read.

The story is realistic enough with the character development to keep the listener looking forward to 'what next'.

As good as can be by a single narrator

The headline says it all. Stephen Rudnicki chances his voice and accent for each of the characters, and it helps tremendously to keep the with the tempo of the story.

AUDIObook.

The story is fantastic. The writing is fantastic. The science is fantastic. Rudnicki, the narrator, is fantastic. Unfortunately the sound quality is terrible.

Awesome

Love the sequel to the mars journeys, awesome love the whole story. And the way it went

same, but good

nothing much new...same as the first MARS book. I enjoyed it..mostly because the narrator is stef rudnicki

Audio issues.

The book was great, the narration was awesome. But the problem that I had with this audiobook was a technical one. It is pretty clear that either corrections or re-recordings were introduced into the main file of the audiobook. Throughout the entire book all of the sudden the audio quality will change and it is actually quite jarring when you’re really engrossed in the story. I understand That from time to time they go back and insert changes or corrections. But on this particular book it seem to be really bad.

Enjoyed it as classic science-driven fiction

This book, the second in the Mars series has aged pretty well. Of course there was the occasional instance of tech not keeping up with our world, film cameras come to mind, but the actions on Mars had credibility.
I like Jamie Waterman. There, I said it.
I had a major leap to swallow the concept of space/planetary exploration for profit driven motives…but then along comes today’s billionaire rocket trips…
The racist cracks by one character was out of character, or at least ‘way overdone. I understand it was for effect, but the complete lack of response or remonstration from other characters seemed a weak point.
Stephan Rudnicki is a pro!

Unrealistic characters and plot

The worlds best and brightest behaving like children and arguing about mission issues that would have been decided long before launch. Professional astronauts and scientists refusing orders. I couldn't believe it.

Rudnicki was great, as always, but not even Stefan could totally save this one.

Book 3 is off of my future list.