A City On Mars

Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, And Have We Really Thought This Through?

by Kelly Weinersmith, Zach Weinersmith

eBook, 448 pages

Published Nov. 7, 2023 by Penguin Press.

ISBN:: 978-1-9848-8173-1

(6 reviews)

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? Critically acclaimed, bestselling authors Kelly and Zach Weinersmith set out to write the essential guide to a glorious future of space settlements, but after years of research, they aren’t so sure it’s a good idea. Space technologies and space business are progressing fast, but we lack the 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 nightmares, both for settlers and the people they leave behind. In the process, the Weinersmiths answer every question about space you’ve ever wondered about, and many you’ve …

Can you make babies in space? Should corporations govern space settlements? What about space war? Are we headed for a housing crisis on the Moon’s Peaks of Eternal Light—and what happens if you’re left in the Craters of Eternal Darkness? Why do astronauts love taco sauce? Speaking of meals, what’s the legal status of space cannibalism?

With deep expertise, a winning sense of humor, 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.

Get in, we’re going to Mars.

4 editions

Marek reviewed A City on Mars by Kelly Weinersmith

Clear-eyed, humane, and deeply considered overview of space settlement science and fantasy, from Kelly and @ZachWeinersmith@mastodon.social

5 stars

This is a careful, immensely well-informed, and persuasively comprehensive examination of the domain of settlements in space.

Kind of spoiler alert (but not really): They are not optimistic, certainly not in the short- or even medium-term. What the book does is share the reasons for their stance. And while there is a certain accuracy to the term 'disillusionment' here, in that they started the project optimistic and wanted to provide a popular introduction to how it will all be achieved, the end result is not a 'downer'.

What the authors get across - I think implicitly, but they also take time at various points to be very explicit about it - is that they love the science. They enjoy not the power fantasies of "Wild West in Spaaaaaaace!!" but the complexity, intricacies and crazy dynamics of life, and just as importantly living; being human in space, and on other …

This is a careful, immensely well-informed, and persuasively comprehensive examination of the domain of settlements in space.

They point out that striking out for the Final Frontier is less a prospect of strapping on a space suit and marching, steely-eyed toward Star Trek, or even the Expanse, world conquering and infinite fame. It's a bit more like saying "I want to move to live and work in one of those toxic rare metal manufacturies in China. Maybe raise a family in the foundry there, if we can avoid dying of poisoning, asphyxiation, or radiation." Except the China thing is likely to be more pleasant.

What they suggest instead is more ambitious, more visionary, and ultimately a great deal more heroic too. Something that would really stretch what our species is capable of, require efforts to transform technology and social organisation. They see that as worthwhile and inspiring, and they aren't afraid of the hard work and long-term thinking it would require. (Or at least, they aren't afraid of signing other people up for it, let's be realistic here.)

It's a book that can change your perception of space, space settlement, and your relationship to the world around you. I really like the Weinersmiths. They seem like excellent people.

As a chaser to this excellent shot, I would recommend the entirely different "How Infrastructure Works" from Deb Chachra. A different perspective on our relationship to the world, but one which makes very similar points about how deeply and fundamentally we are bound into our own world. bookwyrm.social/user/wildenstern/review/3831758/s/debchamastodonsocials-book-will-change-your-perspective-on-the-world-connect-you-to-roots-and-implications-you-werent-aware-of

Courts reviewed A City on Mars by Kelly Weinersmith

Excellent Overview of the Difficulties of Space Settlement

5 stars

This was fun to read, but still very educational. There is a lot of hype around space settlement and the Weinersmiths thoroughly show all the little details that are very important, but do get glossed over in the discussion because people are overeager in dreaming of a space frontier.

My takeaway from the book: Let's conserve Earth first, take our time to develop a lot more understanding about space settlement and the advanced technology we might need, and then when we have sorted out everything here on this planet, then we might start thinking about colonizing this void out there that is trying to kill us. Makes sense to me.

Nacho reviewed A City on Mars by Kelly Weinersmith

Ligero pero profundo, entretenido pero riguroso

4 stars

Recuerdo de pequeño tener libros de ciencia para niños profusamente ilustrados con visiones tremendamente optimistas de un futuro que nunca fue, lleno de hábitats espaciales y colonias en diferentes lugares del sistema solar. Esos libros aunque a mí me llegaron en los 80 seguramente estuviesen concebidos en los 70, una década en la que todavía llegaban misiones a la Luna y en la que vistos los avances exponenciales que se consiguieron en tan pocos años el cielo ya no era el límite. A nuestra generación se le prometió un programa espacial apasionante y al final, además del trauma colectivo al ver explotar el Challenger en el 86, nos tuvimos que conformar con ser testigos de logros como el amartizaje de Curiosity o el fly-by a Plutón que, aunque excepcionales, palidecen cuando los comparas con lo que me habían prometido aquellos viejos libros. En estos últimos tiempos de turbocapitalismo las grandes promesas de exploración espacial ya no vienen de libros de ciencia para niños sino de billonarios divorciados que lidian con su crisis de la mediana edad con el muy freudiano hobby de construir cohetes gigantescos. Y aquí entra este libro. Un jarro de agua fría contra ese tecnooptimismo que nos están vendiendo, analizando todos los problemas que la tozuda realidad pondrá a las promesas de tener colonias en Marte más pronto que tarde. Un libro ameno y ligero pero documentadísimo en el que desgranan no sólo los problemas más obvios (el espacio es un lugar hostil que quiere matarte, una especie de Australia pero sin wombats para hacerlo más llevadero) sino también otros a los que en principio no les prestarías tanta atención como los legales y sociológicos. Una lectura divertidísima que no puedo dejar de recomendar a todos los que tengáis interés en la exploración espacial.