Terraforming Mars

[watervole]

Can anyone recommend a good book on Terraforming Mars? I've found references to a few, but my wrists are getting sore from following links.

I need a good reference source for a writer friend. He wants to be able to get the science reasonably correct and he's not got a strong science background, so it can't be too complex.

Ideally, I want something that suggests a reasonably quick method of terraforming and hopefully involves use of a soletta. I'd also prefer it to be reasonably accessible to a non-scientist.

I've been pondering Zubin's 'The Case for Mars' but I gain the impression that a large part of it is taken up with how to get to Mars in the first place. I don't know how much of it deals with Terraforming.

I'm also interested in fiction that is well-researched on the topic (so Kim Stanley Robinson's books are one option).

I've been trying to find a web site that goes into detail, but most are furstratingly brief.

I found an interesting article here http://www.marsinstitute.info/rd/faculty/dportree/rtr/ls09.html by Paul Birch, that is presumably a condensed version of a longer article. Does anyone have anything more detailed on this particular approach?

Also, I'm sure I saw a review a few years back of a book that had loads of pictorial images of a Mars terraform, but I'm not finding it on my searches. Does anyone know what book I'm thinking of?

Comments

[cdybedahl.livejournal.com]

Steve Jackson Games' RPG supplement GURPS Mars might be useful in this case.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

THe reviews online suggest it's more to do with role-play on a terraformed Mars than how to actually terraform it, but I'll see if any of my friends have a copy to check out.

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

looking at our copy, the relevant chapter gives an overview of the science and technology of a reasonably credible terraforming scheme for Mars, suitable for use as an RPG background. The book's bibliography cites Fogg, so that seems to be what it's based on. Would you like to borrow our copy?

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Yes please, I'd like to read it. Do you have my address? I'll happily pay for the postage.

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

OK, we'll stick it in the post in the next couple of days.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Arrived safely this morning. Many thanks. It looks to be a good layman's summation of terraforming. I'm also reading the bit on early colonists. I think it's going to be a very handy introduction for my friend. If he wants to go beyond the basics, he can then move onto Zubrin's book, but the basics will be most of what he needs.

[cdybedahl.livejournal.com]

I know it has information on terraforming Mars (it's on pages 72 to 79 in my copy). The question is if it's sufficiently detailed for your needs. Although if it's not, the bibliography should give enough pointers to find more details.

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

The pretty much definitive book is Terraforming: Engineering Planetary Environments by Martyn Fogg (who was active in UK fandom in the mid-90s). It goes into a lot of technical detail, but is accessible if you skim the math and accept the results. Unfortunately, the book seems to be incredibly hard to get at the moment (copies are listed on Amazon and eBay at truly insane prices) but you could see if anyone in fandom has a copy (alas, I don't).

[watervole.livejournal.com]

LOL I noticed that one in my researches, but the price, as you say, was the killer. If I were Fogg, I'd do a limited reprint asap.

[vicarage.livejournal.com]

I have a copy. Sadly its in my parents' loft in Orpington. del_c has a copy, and cobrabay might.

I'm still in contact with Martyn, though I doubt he has spare copies.

[gaspodex.livejournal.com]

Theres the Kim Stanley Robinson Mars trilogy ...

Although its fiction a lot of the first books terraforming stuff was based on current (at the time of publishing) Thinking ...

Red Mars is worth a read if you haven't.

[johnrw.livejournal.com]

Zubrins book (and the previous one Entering Space: creating a spacefaring civilization) Do cover the long term terraforming of Mars, but not in any Depth, given the energetics and timescale involved he's more concerned with the practicalities of the early colonists (extracting water and materials from martian soil, CO2 from the atmosphere and so forth) to support the early colonists
I do have a copy of
_The Case for Mars : The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must_ by Zubrin, it's been a while since I read it and I currently can't find it (I think I know who borrowed it though!) but it covers the ground covered in Entering Space in more detail It's too long ago for me to be more specific. However if you want I can let you have it when I get it back.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Thanks for hte comments. I'll probably buy my own copy of Zubrin's book as they're pretty cheap second-hand.

[johnrw.livejournal.com]

One quick thought, Terraforming Mars forms part of the background the Niven's The Barsoom Project. but I don't think it has the detail you're looking for.