First Landing [ 2001 ]

From renowned Mars visionary Robert Zubrin comes his much-anticipated debut novel - a work of fiction born from the facts that inspired his groundbreaking nonfiction works, The Case for Mars and Entering Space . Filled with startling authenticity, First Landing follows humankind's first manned mission to Mars, a new frontier of undreamed-of possibilities - and nightmarish dangers. Five are chosen for the first mission to Mars: Colonel Andrew Townsend, top-gun Air Force pilot, Major Gwen Llewellyn, tomboy flight engineer, the brilliant and beguiling blue stocking biologist Dr. Rebecca Sherman, Luke Johnson, redneck geologist from Texas, and Professor Kevin McGee, idealist, adventurer, and historian extraordinaire. In spite of clashing outlooks and personal friction, the crew of the ship Beagle makes history by becoming the first humans to walk upon the Red Planet. But when their findings set off a wave of controversy and political upheaval back home, public opinion turns against the Mars mission - and an ineffective government leaves the team stranded.