Is this the best terraforming novel of all time? Review and Ranking of "Red Mars" by KSR.
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- Tonight I review Kim Stanley Robinson's 1993 Nebula award winning Novel "Red Mars". I provide a plot overview, discuss my likes, my dislikes, make some recommendations and then I rank it on our ever growing SF Shed Ladder.
Over the last year i have reread over 40 Hugo and/or Nebula award winning Science Fiction and Fantasy novels, and I have been ranking them on the ever growing SF Shed Ladder.
I use the following criteria to help me rank these wonderful novels.
1. Concept (how interesting/unique is the SF or F concept)
2. Execution of the concept
3. Characters (interesting character arcs, relatable, interesting)
4. Writing (how much did i enjoy the writing)
5. How memorable are these novels (the memory test)
6. Plot (interesting twists and turns)
7. Ending (does the ending satisfy)
Playlist of all the Hugo Winning Novels
• Hugo Winners
Playlist of all the Nebula Winning Novels
• Nebula Winners
SHED LADDER RANKINGS
1 Hyperion Dan Simmons
2 Dune Frank Herbert
3 Gateway Frederik Pohl
4 Way Station Clifford Symak
5 Doomsday Book Connie Willis
6 To Your Scattered Bodies Go Philip Jose Farmer
7 A Case of Conscience James Blish
8 Tehanu Ursula Le Guin
9 The Forever War Joe Haldeman
10 The Dispossessed Ursula Le Guin
11 The Left Hand of Darkness Ursula Le Guin
12 This Immortal Roger Zelazny
13 The Fountains of Paradise Arthur C. Clarke
14 Stranger in a Strange Land Robert Heinlein
15 The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Robert Heinlein
16 Starship Troopers Robert Heinlein
17 Ringworld Larry Niven
18 The Claw of the Conciliator Gene Wolfe
19 The Man in the High Castle Philip K. Dick
20 The Demolished Man Alfred Bester
21 Moving Mars Greg Bear
22 A Fire Upon the Deep Vernor Vinge
23 The Windup Girl Paolo Bacigalupi
24 Redshirts John Scalzi
25 Flowers for Algenon Daniel Keyes
26 Rite of Passage Alexei Panshin
27 Among Others Jo Walton
28 The Uplift War David Brin
29 A Deepness in the Sky Vernor Vinge
30 Startide Rising David Brin
31 The City and the City China Mieville
32 Man Plus Frederik Pohl
33 Babel-17 Samuel R Delany
34 Where Late the Sweet Bird Sang Kate Wilhelm
35 Double Star Robert Heinlein
36 A Memory Called Empire Arkady Martine
37 Ancillary Justice Ann Leckie
38 The Terminal Experiment Robert J. Sawyer
39 Forever Peace Joe Haldeman
40 The Quantum Rose Catherine Asaro
41 The Einstein Intersection Samuel R Delany
42 The Big Time Fritz Leiber
43 The Falling Woman Pat Murphy
44 The Fifth Season N.K Jemisin
If my count is right this is the 45th novel on the ladder. What an accomplishment! Five more and you could make a top 50 video!
Thank you kindly Richard, that's a great idea. I'll definitely do that. 👍
Yet another one to add to my TBR list. Thanks, Sci-Fi Shed. The interesting thing (to me, at least) is how every ranking has an effect on every other work (in that category). It's tough, man. It would drive me nuts. I enjoy watching you do it, though.
Thank you kindly, it doesn't get any easier :) but I try.
Red Mars
Moving Mars
Mars Plus
So many mars memories when i was younger. Good stuff. ✅
Indeed, so many great novels that had/have us marvelling at the stars and the wonderful planets that are orbiting them.
Good review Pete, I agree a lot of the book had an academic feel, but I loved it. Overall the trilogy is amazing and I still think about it to this day.
@@sfwordsofwonder Thank you my friend 😊 I've been thinking about it for close to ten years now, it's definitely one that keeps you looking up to that red star in the sky and wonder "maybe one day" thanks buddy.
Yes yes yes, thank you, this will be a pleasure. I just finally managed to get a friend to start reading it and am on a huge reread experience.
@@Eckendenker nice one, it's a classic that's for sure.
Enjoyed the video. There are some books that I loved when I was reading them but as weeks or months pass, they slowly fall down my rankings as the initial excitement wears off and I have more time thinking about them. Red Mars is one of the few that went the other way. I loved it when I read it and immediately knew it would make my top 10 list but towards the bottom. But every time I think about my favorite books I just realize more and more what a staggering achievement that book was and it moves up a peg or two. Having somewhat recently reread my other favorites of the genre, I'm pretty confident its my favorite SF book of all time.
@@sirnitsalot it's a wonderful novel, it's got to be one of my favourites as well when it comes to that sub genre.
Yes. I really loved this series. I'm a huge fan.
@@srgay it's fantastic isn't it Stephen.
Thank you for the great review! I keep seeing this book, it interest me, but I wasn’t sure. I read his book New York 2140 and it was interesting but nothing to write home about. Now I’m definitely going to pick it up.
You're most welcome. I look forward to hearing your opinion when you have finished it.
Great video, I always wondered if this book would be boring but it sounds like it has a fair bit to offer.
@@SciFiFinds I really enjoyed it, but horses for courses as the saying goes. I'd be interested in your take when you get around to it.
i own all three of the series in original hard cover, i have read them twice.
@@joshuatempleton9556 nice, that's awesome. I read the whole series almost 20 years ago. It was great rereading Red, I'm looking forward to rereading the others.
@@thesci-fished i read it the first time 20 something years ago and again 3-4 years ago, the science has greatly changed since they were written but still a good read