Moving Mars

Moving Mars was written by Greg Bear and published on May 1, 2007. I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Sharon Williams. This is the first novel by Greg Bear that I have listened to or read.

The novel is well-written and logically plotted. There are some nice touches, and the story is people-centered, not technology-centered.

The story, a memoir told by Casseia Majumdar, begins with Casseia joining other rebellious students in a failed attempt to assert their rights. But as Casseia grows older and is increasingly involved in politics between Mars and Earth, she slowly gains experience and gradually becomes a political leader of the Martian government.

Similar to Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars Trilogy, in this novel Mars is dominated by corporate interests from Earth. While the Martians struggle for freedom, Martian scientists discover that they can manipulate matter, effectively by setting the properties of matter in such a way that they can move large masses of matter instantaneously and without requiring an energy source. When agents of the Earth attempt to overthrow the nascent Martian government, the Martians are forced to demonstrate their new abilities, forcing the Earth to back down temporarily. Earth later attacks Mars fiercely, forcing the Martians to make a quick decision about whether to move the planet to a new location in a different stellar system.

Other than the completely unrealistic premise that matter can be manipulated in this way, the other science and world-building are well-grounded. Travel between Earth and Mars takes eight or nine months. Technology includes arbeiters, intelligent robots that build things and carry out work; and thinkers, artificial intelligences in robot form that think beyond the capabilities of humans. Thinkers are grown. Humans also install enhancements, which provide computational capacities that supplement human thinking. The story hints at alternative or parallel universes with different outcomes.

I liked the geology (areology) in this book. On Mars, plate tectonics are frozen, and volcanic activity and its accompanying outgassing have ceased. Mars has fossils, and there is a nice scene about the accidental partial revival of ancient Martian life.

Despite the wide violations of the laws of physics, I enjoyed a well-written story that is more political than most science fiction novels. Casseia Majumdar seemed like a real person with good and bad experiences over the years.

John Walters wrote a good review. Wikipedia provides a synopsis of the novel.

Unfortunately, the audiobook’s sound quality is poor, with muffled narration and low volume.

Rating: Four stars, very good.