From: edgett@esther.la.asu.edu (Ken Edgett)
Subject: Red, Green, Blue Mars
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 10:21:53 -0700 (MST)
I am nearing the end of "Blue Mars," the last in the "Mars" trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson (it was publ. in July 96). In some ways I find the stories (all 3 books) kind of drawn-out and at places dull (a friend said it was like describing every detail of how to fix the engine in your car). But what I find most magical about the novels is the realization that when people start going to Mars, the planet *will* change. For better or worse, if people go, changes to the planet will occur, not matter how hard we try not to, or vice versa. There is a school in North Carolina that uses the political themese of "Reds" vs. "Greens" (adapted from "RED MARS") as part of their cross-disciplinary treatment of Mars in the school. They even do a mock town-hall-like meeting to discuss the future of their martian colony. I am not sure if these folks are on the lfm listserve yet (speak up, if you are, Tom!). Ken Edgett Arizona Mars K-12