The Martian Race by Gregory Benford (1999)

I first encountered Gregory Benford through his short stories in the science-fiction magazines of the 1960s and 1970s, and I enjoyed many of his novels throughout the 1980s. I am not sure why he fell off my reading list, but I have recently started catching up on the books I missed.

The novel follows an ambitious privately funded expedition to Mars in the near future, blending engineering, exploration, political maneuvering, and the search for indigenous Martian life. As usual, Benford grounds the story in solid science while leaving room for the sense of awe and wonder that has always distinguished his best work.

Benford's treatment of biology is particularly imaginative. I still remember how much I enjoyed Blood Music, and the same fascination with biological systems appears here. I was less convinced by the Martian anaerobes. Their extraordinary strength and speed felt more like superpowers than plausible evolutionary adaptations. Even so, the broader ecosystem is imaginative and internally consistent enough that I was willing to suspend my disbelief.

The spacecraft, engineering, and technology are equally satisfying, and the characters feel like real people rather than stock adventure figures. The combination of believable science, engaging characters, and an exciting story made this an excellent read. I am looking forward to the second book in the series. 5/5 stars.