The Quest for Mars by Laurence Bergreen, is breezy and comprehensive
about NASA’s progress towards exploring the planet. It can’t be faulted for
immediacy; conversations are reported verbatim. It is absurdly detailed and
sometimes mysterious (a female scientist has “million dollar cheekbones”). All
this and countless sidetracks are exhausting but if you can survive the
prolixity you will be well informed on the prime adventure of the 21st century.
Published by HarperCollins, £19.99, ISBN 0002570300.
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