That often can be a problem with Hard SF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_science_fiction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_science_fiction) the characters us

That often can be a problem with Hard SF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_science_fiction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_science_fiction) the characters usually take the back seat. There also was definitely some loose plotting in there. All that said Red Mars is essential the canonical book when it comes to Mars colonization. Some excellent ideas are imaginatively explored within.