Return to Mars cover art

Return to Mars

Preview
This Season's Biggest Deal

$0.99/mo for 3 months + $20 Audible bonus voucher

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 28 December, 2026.
More purchase options

Return to Mars

By: Ben Bova
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
Get this deal

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends 28 December, 2026. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $30.83

Buy Now for $30.83

This Season's Biggest Deal | $0.99/mo for 3 months + $20 Audible bonus

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo. after 3 months - terms apply.
Summary

What Jamie Waterman discovered on Mars was astonishing. What he survived was remarkable—but it was only the beginning.

Six years after the first manned Martian expedition, a second has been announced, this one motivated purely by its profitable potential. Half-Navajo geologist Jamie Waterman, a veteran of the first mission, feels his conflicted soul beckoning him back to the eerie, unforgiving planet. As commander of the new exploratory team, he will have to contend with a bitter and destructive rivalry, a disturbing new emotional attraction, and deadly, incomprehensible “accidents” that appear to be sabotage—all of which could doom the mission to failure. But there are still great secrets to be uncovered on this cruel and enigmatic world, not the least of which is something he glimpsed in the far distance during his first Martian excursion: an improbable structure perched high in the planet’s carmine cliffs—a dwelling that only an intelligent being could have built.

©1999 Ben Bova (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Fantasy Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera

Critic Reviews

“Where Bova shines is in making science not only comprehensible but entertaining.”

(New York Times Book Review)

“Provocative and believable…Bova writes with sparkling clarity.”

(St. Petersburg Times)

“Bova makes the speculative hard science aspects of this novel vivid and appealing.”

(Publishers Weekly)

“Characterization is better than usual in this kind of adventure, the pacing is brisk, the scientific details are convincing, and Bova's depiction of the Martian environment is outstanding indeed. No one who enjoyed Mars is likely to turn down this lively continuation of it.”

(Booklist)

“Bova skillfully develops plot and characters in this tale, showing the talent that has earned him six Hugo Awards…Highly recommended.”

(Library Journal)

“Combines speculative fiction with psychological thriller…Rudnicki does a wonderful job reading this story, and [it is] quite possible to lose oneself in his performance…Excellent.”

(SoundCommentary.com)

“Absorbing and thoroughly satisfying: Mars fans will pounce, while newcomers will feel welcome too.”

(Kirkus Reviews)
All stars
Most relevant
Jamie fights to be included in the expedition. He is put in charge. There are unexplained accidents, who is the saboteur. Read to the end to find out

Book 2. Six Years On

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This is a great story but the narrator’s excruciating Australian accent nearly spoiled the whole reading for me.

Great story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.