The earth is near

By Luděk Pešek and K.J. Charles

Book Overview

A doctor accompanying the first expedition to Mars describes the journey and the mental and physical challenges that face the nineteen astronauts. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0878880666
• ISBN13: 9780878880669
• Release Date: January 1974
• Publisher: Bradbury Press
• Length: 205 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Mars is Unforgiving

In the preface to the 1978 retrospective release of his novel, "Prelude to Space," Arthur C. Clarke wrote something to the effect that on 20 July 1969, every moon landing depicted in science fiction was rendered obsolete. And although such pre-1969 works may remain enjoyable, in terms of reality, this is certainly the case. In some ways, the SF predictions of humans landing on Mars have also fallen into that category, despite the fact that such a historic moment has yet to happen. This is due to our evolving understanding of the Red Planet, and the changes in the types of technology that may someday get us there. In many ways, Ludek Pesek's "The Earth is Near" may be something of a fly in amber when it comes to predictive SF literature. It is a product of its time. Still, in many ways it was an enjoyable read. Imagine a space program where R&D budgets are apparently limitless. Like the author's imagination, this seems to be the case of the Project Alpha depicted in the book. Humanity's first journey to Mars is a BIG expedition. On page one Pesek states that the mission begins with fire, that age-old symbol of conquest. The ship, the crew, and the goal are all huge. And once the giant expedition of six joined vessels is underway, Pesek writes both fluidly and in detail about how such a big box expedition might unfold. But more interestingly Pesek explores the psychology and dynamics of a crew that increasingly seems restive and flawed. There are no heroes here. In this regard "The Earth is Near" may be unique in the literature of SF Mars writing. Without going into spoilers I enjoyed this book and the many details presented. In many ways Pesek's take on the Mars expedition was drawn from a variety of Arctic expeditions. At least, that was my sense of what may have influenced the writing. Indeed such long expeditions to Earth's poles have some similarities to a Mars journey in terms of duration, hardship, and confrontations with a hostile and alien place. The all-male crew has its struggles, as occasionally does the writing. The continuous travails of the convoys of exploration across the Martian deserts became a bit redundant. Also, the peevish causes of infighting among the expedition's leadership feels tedious. Some disconnects in plot or narrative could have been flaws in the translation, although the story kept mostly together and was consistent. Still, Ludek Pesek did a great job conveying a sense of wonder. An artist as well as a writer, his descriptions of Mars based on data up to that time (1971) were poetic. And I was intrigued by the crews' flaws and failures. Pesek elevated an idea that in our hubris to conquer the universe the empty places we visit will have a much greater impact on us, for better or worse, than we will have on those faraway places. A short novel, it was packed with many ideas and situations I was not expecting. I would like to see this novel released again but this time with the author's amazing artwork included, if possible. Perhaps not for everyone. Still, it was a thoughtful and enjoyable sojourn into speculative fiction.