Review: Heirs of Mars- Preludes by Joseph Robert Lewis

Title:		Heirs of Mars- Preludes
Author:        Joseph Robert Lewis
Publisher:		Joseph Robert Lewis
Pub Date:		03/05/2011
ASIN:		B004QTOO4E

Pages:          39

These three short stories are set before the events of the novel Heirs of Mars, and describe life on Venus, Earth, and Mars in the years and days before the novel begins.

To Reign in Heaven (19 years before the novel) - India is a synthetic woman in love, passing a blissful year studying Venus and reveling in a shared dreamspace with her silksteel lover. But when her Mother chooses to sacrifice her children, India’s memories of love will be her only weapon to save her brothers and sisters.

To Walk the Earth (18 years before the novel) - Victoria is ready to move into the wilderness, far away from the manufactured monotony of modern life. But her boyfriend decides to go to Mars instead, leaving her to enjoy one last motorcycle ride all alone.

To Serve in Hell (1 day before the novel) - Neil is just a man struggling to get through another day on Mars: lousy food, cramped quarters, and a child who doesn’t understand why he can’t have a puppy. But when a cloner arrives, Neil has a chance to take control of something for once in his life, and to avenge the death of his parents.

(Summary and cover via Goodreads)

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This is actually a collection of 3 short stories taking place before the novel "Heirs of Mars." The stories certainly did their job. I have never read the original novel, so I think there were some points that I may have missed in the stories that I wouldn't have had I been more familiar with the characters. However, the stories certainly left me wanting to know more about this world. The first two stories take place almost 2 decades before the novel, while the last story leads directly into the first chapter (which is also included here).

This is pure science fiction. The world seems to involve conflict between bots and humans. Also, there's an interesting aspect of being able to clone people into synthetic bodies. Almost a morphing of the two worlds that are fighting. I was entertained and interested by these stories. I will definitely be adding "Heirs of Mars" to my to-read list.

Copy of this book won in website giveaway.