Mars, a 1992 novel by Ben Bova

Mars, a novel by Ben Bova (1992)

Pictured: Paperback (New York: Bantam Spectra, 1993). #56241-X, 549 p., $5.99. Cover art by Pamela Lee. Here’s the promotional piece from the back cover:

It is a world shrouded in mystery -- a planet pocked by meteors, baked by ultraviolet light, and covered by endless deserts the color of dried blood. To this harsh and unforgiving planet travel the twenty-five astronauts of the international Mars mission. Now, as the landers touch down and the base dome is inflated and the robotic explorers are sent aloft, they must somehow come together in a struggle of discovery and survival. Battling deadly meteor showers, subzero temperatures, and a mysterious “Mars virus,” these intrepid explorers are on their way to the most incredible and shocking discovery of all. Epic in scope, unparalleled in execution, Mars is an unforgettable portrait of space, politics, science, and humanity that captures for all time the mystery and wonder of an alien frontier.

Ray Bradbury said of Mars, “There’s a lot of fine territory here, and Bova covers it in grand style,” and Arthur C. Clarke called Mars “the definitive novel about our fascinating neighbor.”

Mars was reviewed by Kirkus Reviews. It is the first novel in a Bova trilogy, followed by Return to Mars (1999) and Mars Life (2008).