A planets worth of research went into this book. Its a deep dive into all things Mars, or planetary living generally. The book is a collabroative effort by husband and wife team Dr Kelly Weinersmith and Zach Weinersmith. Each topic explored and referenced to the edge of the orbit of professionals, scholars and enthusists. It's the politics of planets, the science of space and highights the crash landing of any attempts to live long term on another planet. The skills needed, the experiments on society, people and animals needed between now and a possible space faring civilisation which raises many red flags. Any chapter could be explored further into a post apocalyptic or dystopian novel. That section on childbirth in space - it will give you shivers, no matter how many 'sucky pants' we pack to take to our new 'spome' in the stars. Each chapter effectively shuts down the idea of living on mars long term, but they accept that we may find a way to navigate around each obstacle. You'll need more than optimism alone to concur space. The authors, and their imaginary character Astrid, explores the horrors that await us if we're to become a multi-planatary species. The future may be lightyears away, but if we're thinking that far away, on reflection of this book, I feel like I will need an excuse note.

This reviewer would like to be excused from space travel in the future.

A well rounded book. Highly reccomened for the space curiois and sci-fi authors looking for a starting point for the grim reality of spac.e

A really fun and interesting overview of the barriers to space settlement in the near term. The science and legal wranglings are challenging knotty subjects made accessible and entertaining (really hard!). A really stand out piece of popular science writing that put me right off going into space!