Return to Mars

Description

Return to Mars by Ronald R. Van Stockum, Jr.

Art by Steven P. Eilers

“Fasten your seatbelts for another amazing adventure from the pen of Ronald R. Van Stockum, Jr. Bringing together characters that rival the Mad Hatter, Mary Poppins, or Voldemort, the author takes us with them on a fantastic space journey. Tony, the adventurous reporter , begins quite innocently by knocking on the door of Doctor Heironymous Newton, who leads him down a farm path to an unusual barn made of orange tile blocks. With a space journey unfolding before his eyes, Tony looks askew, his way of “tricking my logical mind to observe, record, and retain certain data … to absorb and catalogue.” Come along on a fanciful ride and meet up again with characters we know and love, or love to hate in Van Stockum’s previous books.

As we’ve enjoyed before, the teacher, biologist, writer, serves up a delicious fiction science along with allusions to history, literature, movies, the Bible, gender, and more. Van Stockum employs a free style which can change a person or tense and sometimes offer tongue-in-cheek references to education, news media, and the status quo. It all adds up to a delightful read.

You will find yourself with an urge to jump on board the next time you’re invited to ‘Return to Mars.'” – Mary Popham

Mary Popham’s book review have appeared in the Courier-Journal, The Louisville Review, and other venues. Her short story collection is entitled Love is a Fireplace, and her novel, Back Home in Landing Run.