Product Description

It’s 24 on Mars: a nonstop futuristic thrill-ride, all in one day, through the critical events which were the breaking point for the underclass of Martian citizens and precipitated a revolution to break the Martian colonists free from the formidable Sol System government. The formerly red planet—now in danger of again becoming red, blood red—would never be the same, nor would the human race. It was one day that changed the course of history for the Solar System, raging from hand-to-hand combat to piloted armored mecha suits clashing to an enormous space battle, with dedicated heroes on both sides of the conflict wondering if they were doing the right thing—and if they would live to see another day. And wondering, as well, if the spark of this new war, that would eventually reach across whole star systems, would bring them peace One Day on Mars.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18526 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 464 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781416591573
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Travis S. Taylor—“Doc” Taylor to his friends—has earned his soubriquet the hard way: He has a doctorate in optical science and engineering, a master's degree in physics, a master's degree in aerospace engineering, all from the University of Alabama in Huntsville; a master's degree in astronomy, and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University. Dr. Taylor has worked on various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for the past sixteen years. He's currently working on several advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space-based beamed energy systems, and next generation space launch concepts. In his copious spare time, Doc Travis is also a black belt martial artist, a private pilot, a SCUBA diver, has raced mountain bikes, competed in triathlons, and has been the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of several hard rock bands. He currently lives in Alabama with his wife Karen, and their daughter.

Customer Reviews

Hard SF at a blistering pace
Doc does the physics of hard SF better than anyone. The battle sequences - especially where ships are involved - are the kind of hard hitting SF Baen has made it's calling card. My concerns with this book are the characters. There are far too many repetitive scenes of bloodthirsty pilots being blown away seconds after they are introduced. Also, a list of specific terms and definitions would be helpful.

The politics may be a little heavy-handed, as well.

Good, Fast Scifi
The Tau Ceti Agenda
One Day on Mars (Tau Ceti Agenda)
Travis Taylor has done it again with this exciting, action packed book.

Taking place in the future, ODOM is an explosive tale of rebellion, freedoms and both good and evil taking place within a forty-eight hour period. While the character focus jumps between three or four main characters, unlike some authors Travis makes it easy to distinguish when the story focus changes.

Once more does he nail the hard scifi on the head with the hammer. Nobody nowadays, with the possible exception of David Weber, can write the hard science the way he does. While in past books this has become a problem at times, in ODOM Travis hits his stride perfectly and is able to blend the action and adventure into the story. This ability allows for the technical matters to be melded with the action, creating a seamless story for telling.

The reason I gave this four stars instead of five, though, is the length of it. ODOM is fairly short, and could use some more fluff and background for the political situation. This is just my own opinion, however, and while it doesn't hurt the novel without the background, it still leaves you wondering "Why don't they just...?" in certain parts.

A great read still, though, and highly recommended.

If you don't like morphing Transformers in your military sci-fi... stay away!!!
I really, really tried hard to like this book and even managed to work through 2/3 of it before finally putting it down, unfinished.

While I was hoping for something along the line of many of the Kris Longknife, Vatta, or Serrano series, from this novel, I was very disappointed. I was also very much into David Drake's futuristic novels of armored warfare and David Sherman's futuristic Marines, I found "One Day on Mars" lacking.

I would like to think Mr. Taylor might be prior service, and drawn a lot of what he was writing from his own experience but I found the feeling mixed. While there were many jargons and `military-speaks' throughout the book, at the same time, I found myself repeatedly coming across someone being referred to, by his rank of second lieutenant; that might not be very important in itself and would have served fine the first couple of times around to introduce that character but by the middle of the book, it became very tiresome, long-winded and sounding uncomfortable, reading about how second lieutenant this, second lieutenant that. From personal experience, I served as such and never, NEVER, have I had anyone addressed me as `Second Lieutenant..."; from enlisted ranks to superior officers, 2nd and 1st lieutenants were all lumped together by all, with no real rank difference... the only time I was addressed as 2nd Lt was when I was getting my butt chewed by my CO. So, why, why would Mr. Taylor felt the need to repeat it over and over. Awkward.

Finally, I would like to address the main reason why I couldn't finish the book. I agreed with the other reviewers about Transfomers and such. It appeared that Mr. Taylor was writing for the far younger crowds than someone who would enjoy an oldie like Robert Heinlein's "Starship Troopers"!

I never could understand the benefits of some futuristic war machines transforming into robots with arms, legs and wings to fight. If whatever weapons were readily available, why relocate them from such secured mountings just to hold them in some mechanical hands!!!? Would that have assisted in better aiming? I found heavily mounted crew-served weapons like machineguns and autocannons far more stable and accurate than if I were to fire something by hands alone. So why? And to have some space-based fighter planes morphing into giant mechanical eagles to fly, fight and land!? Come on! I feel like I was watching some Saturday morning cartoons instead of reading what I hoped was some serious military sci-fi.

So, fellow sci-fi readers, if you do not care for giant fighting robots like I do, leave this book for someone else. Whatever good writing or what was left of possibly great story lines were overshadowed by the juvenile inclusions of fighting, transforming robots... Ops, I meant 'Mecha'.

Sad, I tried very hard to finish the book, and even harder to like it. Oh well, onto something else then.