"When Alwyn Stafford, who has lived on Mars for twenty years, goes missing on a routine exploration jaunt, Carter Jahns is called in to find him. Jahns, through perseverance and occasional inspiration, does manage to figure out just what happened to Stafford - which leads him to another mystery, and a conspiracy at the south pole of the red planet. What he finds there could change the future of life on Mars and Earth forever. Although theres's an annoying romatic subplot, this book is solid, old-fashioned SF and a fun, fast read. "
Ivy, Resident William K. Hartmann Scholar
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Overall Review
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Plot
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Spying & Investigations
Yes
What is main char. doing?
- unraveling a conspiracy
Tech./$$$/Info hunt
Yes
Stealing/recovering/destroying
- state secrets
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- government investigator
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- bureaucrat
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Planet surface, need spacesuit
- Domed/Underground City
Which planet?
- Mars
Not Earth, in Solar System?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- none/very little science jargon needed
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
How much dialogue?
- significantly more descript than dialog
