A City on Mars
Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?
Published on 10. October 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
448 pages
978-0-14-199330-0 (ISBN)
Description
WINNER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY TRIVEDI SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE 2024
ONE OF THE TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW SCIENTIST BEST SCIENCE BOOKS OF THE YEAR
GUARDIAN BEST SCIENCE AND NATURE BOOK 2024
A HUGO AWARD WINNER FOR BEST RELATED WORK 2024
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
THE #2 MOST GIFTED BOOK IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
From the bestselling authors of Soonish, a brilliant and hilarious off-world investigation into space settlement
Earth is not well. The promise of starting life anew somewhere far, far away - no climate change, no war, no Twitter - beckons, and settling the stars finally seems within our grasp. Or is it? Bestselling authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith set out to write the essential guide to a glorious future of space settlements, but after years of original research, and interviews with leading space scientists, engineers and legal experts, they aren't so sure it's a good idea. Space tech and space business are progressing fast, but we lack the deep knowledge needed to have space-kids, build space-farms and create space nations in a way that doesn't spark conflict back home. In a world hurtling toward human expansion into space, A City on Mars investigates whether the dream of new worlds won't create a nightmare, both for settlers and the people they leave behind.
With deep expertise, a winning sense of humour and art from the beloved creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, the Weinersmiths investigate perhaps the biggest questions humanity will ever ask itself - whether and how to become multiplanetary.
ONE OF THE TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW SCIENTIST BEST SCIENCE BOOKS OF THE YEAR
GUARDIAN BEST SCIENCE AND NATURE BOOK 2024
A HUGO AWARD WINNER FOR BEST RELATED WORK 2024
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
THE #2 MOST GIFTED BOOK IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM
From the bestselling authors of Soonish, a brilliant and hilarious off-world investigation into space settlement
Earth is not well. The promise of starting life anew somewhere far, far away - no climate change, no war, no Twitter - beckons, and settling the stars finally seems within our grasp. Or is it? Bestselling authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith set out to write the essential guide to a glorious future of space settlements, but after years of original research, and interviews with leading space scientists, engineers and legal experts, they aren't so sure it's a good idea. Space tech and space business are progressing fast, but we lack the deep knowledge needed to have space-kids, build space-farms and create space nations in a way that doesn't spark conflict back home. In a world hurtling toward human expansion into space, A City on Mars investigates whether the dream of new worlds won't create a nightmare, both for settlers and the people they leave behind.
With deep expertise, a winning sense of humour and art from the beloved creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, the Weinersmiths investigate perhaps the biggest questions humanity will ever ask itself - whether and how to become multiplanetary.
Reviews / Votes
Scientific, educational, and fun as hell -- Andy Weir, bestselling author of THE MARTIAN and PROJECT HAIL MARY Can a book be hilarious, deeply-researched, utterly original and wise all at the same time? If it's by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith, of course it can. This is a sensational book; whether you read it in your snuggle tunnel or your pregnodrome, read it -- Tim Harford, author of HOW TO MAKE THE WORLD ADD UP A refreshing, clear-headed breath of life-support oxygen amidst all the tech-bro naivety and hype on space colonisation. Impeccably researched and argued, yet witty and very easy to read. Superb! -- Professor Lewis Dartnell, author of BEING HUMAN Listen up, humans. How to poop in space will be the least of our concerns. Herein are challenges most space-heads, including me, never even considered: not just technological, but legal, ethical, geopolitical. Despite the breadth and depth of research, this is a clear, lively, and hilarious read. Slam dunk, Weinersmiths! -- Mary Roach, author of FUZZ AND PACKING FOR MARS There's a tendency to have a rather ethereal and even utopian view of space settlement. Kelly and Zach Weinersmith bring us a highly entertaining and down to Earth (or should one say down to Mars?) view of our future in space, filled with humour and cogent insights -- Professor Charles Cockell Engaging, wildly informative, insightful and frequently funny * The Sunday Times Book of the Week * An exceptional new piece of popular science . . . Forceful, engaging and funny... an essential reality check for anyone who has ever looked for home in the night sky . . . hilarious. The breezy prose is studded with charming cartoons . . . This book will make you happy to live on this planet-a good thing, because you're not leaving anytime soon * New York Times Book Review * If humanity's future looks to be in doubt, is living off-world not the ultimate insurance policy for our species? A City on Mars... answers this question very bluntly: don't pin your hopes on it... All this makes the book sound a much grimmer read than it is. It is peppered with cartoons and jokey-back references, and between each section are interludes tackling some enjoyable anecdotes from space -- James Ball * The Spectator * This might be the best book ever written about humans in space, or at least the funniest. I don't know of anything else quite like it: an extended, comical confrontation between the dreams of space colonies and the gross, dangerous, tedious realities. Read it before you go -- Scott Aaronson, University of Texas at Austin A very funny book, underpinned by deadly serious questions about the future of humanity * the Times *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 122 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
328 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-14-199330-0 (9780141993300)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Dr. Kelly Weinersmith | Zach Weinersmith
A City on Mars
Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?
E-Book
11/2023
Penguin Books Ltd
€10.99
Available for download
Persons
The Weinersmiths, a wife-and-husband research team, co-wrote the New York Times bestselling Soonish. Dr. Kelly Weinersmith is adjunct faculty in the BioSciences Department at Rice University. Her research has been featured in The Atlantic, National Geographic, BBC World, Science, Nature and more. Zach Weinersmith makes the acclaimed webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal. His work has been featured in The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, Slate, Forbes, Science Friday and elsewhere.