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Pages: 1 Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Book: "The Rivers of Mars"       #5321355 - 07/17/12 02:07 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I've just finished a truly remarkable book titled "The Rivers of Mars - Searching for the Cosmic Origins of Life" by Piers Bizony (who I'd never heard of before this). The vintage is 1997; at the time of writing, the MGS and Pathfinder probes had just been launched. This book is a real revelation. It starts with our first up-close views of Mars; then proceeds through the Viking landers and what they found, what was interpreted, what was right and wrong about it; then moves to the origins of life on Earth, and does some comparative planetology; covers the Mars meteorites; and looks at upcoming Mars investigations. But he doesn't stop there. Panspermia, partial panspermia, the Drake equation, the Anthropic Principle, the limits and end of evolution - everything is covered, from all sides of the arguments. Bizony throws down the gauntlet, and dares you to consider everything from every angle. Mars is just a lengthy lead-in to bigger and bigger questions. It's like he opens a door, then explores everything inside the room, only to open another door into a larger room - over and over. Nothing is sacred - science, religion, dogma of any sort - all is challenged and explored. Nowhere does he actually take a side in all of it. He isn't trying to convince the reader of anything. But he sure as hell makes you think about a lot of things! After reading this I felt as though my brain had been slapped around. This was a completely unexpected gem, and now an important addition to my library. Pick up a copy, or get it from the library. It's not large - under 200 pages. I think you'll be glad you did. Post Extras:       beatlejuice scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 04/05/11 Loc: Hamilton, ON,Canada Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: Rick Woods]       #5321383 - 07/17/12 02:55 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Rick, that sounds like a book I would really enjoy. I am looking for it as I type. Eric Post Extras:       cliff mygatt Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/27/09 Loc: Kitsap County, WA Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: beatlejuice]       #5321675 - 07/17/12 10:20 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I just ordered a used copy from Amazon for $1. Thanks for the recommendation, Rick. Post Extras:       rockethead26 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/21/09 Loc: Indiana, USA Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: Rick Woods]       #5321945 - 07/17/12 12:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks for the recommendation, Rick. Just ordered a copy, too. Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: rockethead26]       #5324048 - 07/18/12 07:44 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks also, Rick. This sounds like a very enjoyable read which I'm looking forward to = just ordered a used copy from Amazon! Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: Crow Haven]       #5380353 - 08/22/12 01:51 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Has anyone received their copy and read this yet? I'd love to know what you think of it! Post Extras:       rockethead26 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/21/09 Loc: Indiana, USA Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: Rick Woods]       #5380677 - 08/22/12 09:10 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rick, I'm about 60% through it and am enjoying it a lot. I agree with you in that I like the way he presents both sides of arguments and then leaves them alone without injecting his own biases. I've learned a lot so far and am looking forward to finishing the book. I was waiting to finish the book before commenting, but since you asked... Thanks for the recommendation! Post Extras:       cliff mygatt Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/27/09 Loc: Kitsap County, WA Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: rockethead26]       #5380741 - 08/22/12 09:45 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rick, I have not started it yet, it is in my stack right below my current read "The Case for Mars" by Zubrin. I will let you know! Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: cliff mygatt]       #5381245 - 08/22/12 03:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I've received my copy along with several other Mars books, (I also have Zubrin's "The Case for Mars") a used copy of "To the End of Time" (where's the rest of the chapters to "Last and First Men" though???), and a used copy of "Watchers of the Skies" so I have just started on "The Rivers of Mars". I'm at the apatite in rocks part (and in our teeth!) and am really enjoying this book a great deal and learning a lot through it. Thanks for recommending this book! ---Maya Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: Crow Haven]       #5381711 - 08/22/12 08:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I've received my copy along with several other Mars books, (I also have Zubrin's "The Case for Mars") a used copy of "To the End of Time" (where's the rest of the chapters to "Last and First Men" though I know! Mine came the same way! I was *BLEEP*. Luckily it's online in several places; here's one: http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/s/stapledon/olaf/last/ I found a book discussion site that talked about it, and found a link (not this one, but a link is a link), and printed off the missing chapters. I had another thread on Stapledon here, I think the other link is there. Zubrin is one persuasive character. Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: Rick Woods]       #5381714 - 08/22/12 08:27 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I know! Mine came the same way! I was *BLEEP*. OK, OK! I was angry, in a liquid format. How's that? Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: Rick Woods]       #5382772 - 08/23/12 01:08 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Me too, I don't care for censorship! Many thanks for the link to the missing chapters!!! Zubrin's books/ideas got me interested in the Mars Society years ago and I appreciate those efforts to discover ways to make human missions to Mars a reality some day. Let's go! Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: Crow Haven]       #5382950 - 08/23/12 02:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   It seems that when a guy like Zubrin, who has a lot of *really* good ideas, goes on and on for long enough, people start to view him as quaint and eccentric, and stop listening to him, even though his ideas are as good as ever. I guess it's the same principle as ignoring something long enough and it will go away - it becomes background noise. The same sort of thing - overexposure - has happened to global warming, alternative energy, and a lot of other stuff. Edit: I really need to check my spelling better before hitting "submit". Edited by Rick Woods (08/23/12 05:11 PM) Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: Rick Woods]       #5383025 - 08/23/12 03:27 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   At least there still are those who haven't stopped listening... There is, I agree, plenty of ignoring going on...and apparently a desire to suppress science findings. I'm very concerned with where that could lead. Post Extras:       Rick Woods Postmaster Reged: 01/27/05 Loc: Inner Solar System Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: Crow Haven]       #5610862 - 01/07/13 08:27 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I dredged this thread back up just to see if many people ended up reading "The Rivers of Mars", and what you thought about it? I recall I was *very* impressed with it! Post Extras:       Crow Haven Pooh-Bah Reged: 01/09/09 Loc: Betwixt and Between Re: Book: "The Rivers of Mars" [Re: Rick Woods]       #5610963 - 01/07/13 09:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I found this small book mind-opening right through to the last pages! It's become one of my favorites! It touches on so many topics of interest to me and is presented so clearly. Really a great read. Thanks for mentioning it, Rick. ---Maya Post Extras:       Pages: 1

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