Part 1: Festival Night Summary

'Red Mars' by Kim Stanley Robinson is an epic account of the colonization of Mars. Covering a span of three generations, Red Mars discusses terraforming, colonization, medical advancement, political power and a host of other topics that create a suspenseful, entertaining, and realistic look into the possible future of our species.

Festival Night begins by noting that, before the first man on Mars, people of Earth knew little about the planet, but believed there was life. Following the landing of Mariner and Viking, however, we knew more of the landscape and the planet, but still, we saw no life. It was only when we sent people that we could really understand the lifeless, yet powerful planet.

The chapter opens with a speech by John Boone to the people of Nicosia, the latest city on Mars. Frank Chalmers listens, and...