I've just started rereading this book for the second time, and I'm continually reminded of what a
delight it is. The descriptions of the
Martian landscape and its effect on the "First 100" colonists are
evocative and moving. This is definitely
not a book for strict fans of "
space opera", or anyone who has trouble with rich descriptive passages.
Other excellent features include: uncompromising attention to realistic technical details, a large cast of complicated characters, and a wide range of weird and unusual philosophies. (Oh yeah, and over-50 characters who still have lots of sex, a goal I hope to attain one day...)
I can't decide if I'm a "Red", favouring an un-terraformed Mars in near-pristine state, or a "Green", supporting terraforming as a complement to Mars' natural riches. Robinson supports both philosophies well, though the Greens become the dominant group in the books.