Mars: A New View of the Red Planet

This is a fabulous book, but not for casual browsing, but rather to savor a huge amount of fascinating, but mainly orbiter aerial photos. For those old enough to remember the first 200 odd pixel monochrome Mariner pictures of Mars, the images in this book are like science fiction. Giles Sparrow has undoubtedly put a lot of effort into this sumptuous volume. The text is measured, knowledgeable, up-to-date, covering virtually every aspect of the planet , but short on geological analysis. Otherwise, A to Z stuff. Personally I would have preferred more geologically informative captions (with more sizing-scales as a previous reviewer mentions), but of course this would require a lot more research. Rather than a seeming tendency in places to include 'bling' images (and rare ones) which are thin on info, I would have been interested in more classic images packed with a lot more explanatory data - even at the risk of being speculative. Don't misread me here. This is a book filled with up-to-date images (and text), mainly from orbiters, and strictly speaking, it is ultimately an aerial-survey of Mars. Nonetheless, it has enough to more than satisfy the appetite of all interested in this desolate, violent and fascinating world. (See below for PS) It is a visually gorgeous book which comes perilously close to being 'ultimate'. Certainly there is nothing of its kind in print. No one interested in planetary exploration should be without this tome. PS. If I have a quibble, it is that I would have liked more 'Rover' type-photos, the sort of "Postcards from Mars' (Jim Bell) panoramas, the sort of groundviews that one not versed in interpreting aerial ( and false coloured) imagery could relate to... PPS. Quercus, there is still a gap in the market for the 'ultimate' Rover photo-book, something that continues where Jim Bell left off ten years ago.......... with the sort of 'terrestrial-type' ground-level panoramas unique to the Rovers - backed-up with geologically informed text on the topography and orogeny in picture...(where Bell was short)

We bought this for a friend, he loved it a big star gazer and planet knowledge. Thought it was fantastic and the large book with great pictures. Just couldn’t believe how big the book was.

...as a coffee table - it's a whopper of a book. But this allows the photography, which is stunning, to make the jaw drop. Each page is 17" tall and 14" wide, so a double page spread is nearly two and a half feet wide. I think I'm going to be saying 'wow' a lot in the near future. Worth £50, so at £12 or so it's also a monster bargain.

A superb book; visually stunning, fascinating and knowledgeable. So much work went into this, really a masterpiece. 10/10

Amazing book!! You get an awful lot of book for your money (I just have to find somewhere to put it now). This is a first class publication , well written and the plates are fantastic.

Good, informative colourful

Spectacular pictures, but like other reviewers it needs more geological content

Huge plates, lots of them and magnificently informative. Even as a scientist I found myself in awe of the views presented.

Mars... if your curious about Mars them this is the book for you... loaded with information and beautiful pictures... so detailed... its a lovely book for your collection!!!

What else do i need now..

Great book lots of excellent photos

Strong recommendation. It goes into great detail, excellent photos, timelines and numerous other great explanations and illustrations.

Excellent in every aspects. Definitely love it.