This book is a tribute to the dreamers who have imagined human flight to Mars, even when government bureaucracies lost interest.And even though this was written twenty years ago, the fact that so much of it is still valid -- and still unique -- shows how little we've advanced in that time.

The book was well received at the time. Here are some samples:

"A timely and valuable document" - Sir Bernard Lovell, Nature; "For the space buff, it is all here" -Science 83; "Those who exult in man's destiny in space, or delight in solving engineering problems, will find that Oberg's book provides ample fodder" -Kirkus Reviews; "A carefully reasoned, hardheaded look" - American Library Association BOOKLIST; "Well-presented arguments, supported by excellent research" -Astronomy; "A detailed and scientifically accurate scenario..., exciting and easy to read." - NASA's "Explorer's Guide to the Universe". "Oberg expounds this thesis with infectuous enthisiasm for the general reader." - ASTRONOMY AND ASTRONAUTICS. Featured on James A. Michener's "Space" TV mini-series, April 18, 1985, in the joint CBS & Library of Congress "Read More About It" spot, narrated by Michener at the end of the program; one of three books recommended.

The sections describing how busy the crew will be on the long voyage from Earth to Mars was particularly intriguing, since everyone always assumes they will be bored. And the discussions of options using the small moons of Mars, Deimos and Phobos, are also highly original.

This is the first-ever non-fiction treatment of 'terraforming', altering other planets to make them habitable by Earth life. It draws heavily on science fiction and speculation.

The book is a classic, and was well received by reviewers at the time[...].

In later years other writers went beyond the book in technical details, but never in its breadth of creative vision. And it still has some really cute fictional vignettes of future terraforming activities to head each chapter.

A worthy addition to a space enthusiast's library.