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Star Svensdotter #3
Red Planet Run
Twelve years have passed since the events of A Handful of Stars. Star continues to silently mourn Caleb’s death, World Builders, Inc. is completing its first asteroid-based Bernal sphere, and the Svensdotter twins are of a restless age. When the opportunity to undertake a survey mission of Mars’ Cydonia region presents itself, Star leaps at the chance.
Drifting above Mars' surface, the family rediscovers the wonder of pure exploration. With strength and humor, Star addresses her parenting difficulties, battles 21st century piracy, connects with a self-sustaining Martian colony, and discovers a mysterious link with the red planet’s—and Earth’s—ancient past.
In this concluding volume of the trilogy, Svensdotter comes to terms with the repercussions of The Big Lie and is forced to look back to Terra as well as out to the stars.
Drifting above Mars' surface, the family rediscovers the wonder of pure exploration. With strength and humor, Star addresses her parenting difficulties, battles 21st century piracy, connects with a self-sustaining Martian colony, and discovers a mysterious link with the red planet’s—and Earth’s—ancient past.
In this concluding volume of the trilogy, Svensdotter comes to terms with the repercussions of The Big Lie and is forced to look back to Terra as well as out to the stars.
9 pages, MP3 CD
First published January 1, 1995
31 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Dana Stabenow
102 books2,125 followersDana Stabenow was born in Anchorage and raised on 75-foot fish tender in the Gulf of Alaska. She knew there was a warmer, drier job out there somewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 17, 2019
Red Planet Run (A Star Svensdotter Adventure)
I loved this story much more than the two previous. I felt the two previous were doing quite well at paying homage to Robert Heinlein. There is nothing wrong with that but for some reason I felt I was seeing more of the true Dana Stabenow throughout this book. I can't really say that with utmost authority since I've not read any of her other books than this series.
The story picks up where we left Star in the previous. She is on the verge of finishing the grand project of creating the first of her small world. Helen, the devil in the details in this story, thinks its time for Star to move on. She wants Star to help map out Mars and find more possible evidence of the Prometheans whose relics have been found in the asteroid belt.
With Helen one never know how much of the information she gives out is true.
Star resists but then seems to have a change of heart while deciding that she needs a change of scenery for her children, who seem to be getting out of hand. Brother Moses is at it again and he's bringing a mob against Star; and her children have found a way to change him and his followers skin color to green. They don't have a sense of humor about this.
This story often seems to plod along but I attribute that mostly to the need to explain much of the science and politics of the time. It's also important to take note that we now should consider these stories to be alternate universe stories because they were designed to take place within decades of the year they were written that they have become somewhat outdated. Unless we landed on Mars already and I've just been out of touch.
With that in mind though, the arrival on Mars and their adventures in a balloon almost smack of steam-punk which adds to the now alternate history. Either way it doesn't really take away from the story.
In this story Star is still being dogged by her past. William Kwan, ex space patrol now killer, and friend of her ex friend/arch enemy Greys has been striking out against the asteroid miners. Star has a close call with the man. When Helen suggests that there might be evidence of an alien weapon pointing at where the planet now asteroid belt Prometheus and Star decides she and her children need a change, Star thinks she's gotten rid of her troubles with Kwan.
Unfortunately trouble follows Star.
It is good to see that in the adventures on Mars in the balloon Star is forced, by her children, to become more humanized in regards to their fathers death. They rightfully feel she doesn't talk about their father at all. They also seem to want to try to give her religion but that doesn't quite work out so well. The storyknife ceremonies were a nice touch and fit in quite well with that brief moment of grief and acceptance of hope for what may come. I was not convinced that Star was convinced yet of an afterlife- she's a hard sell.
Even though these are now a bit dated and as I mentioned an alternate history I'd love to see more. Though Star has some problems with her own self induced dehumanized condition she's a strong and independent character whose life indicates that there might be some sacrifices to maintaining her sense of self as it is while showing us that it's all worth it in the long run.
And though there is a moment when we might have seen some foreshadow that Elizabeth might have tried to communicate with them. There really is not enough to whet the appetite for some of us who want to know more about what happened to her.
We could use some more Star Svendotter books.
J.L. Dobias
I loved this story much more than the two previous. I felt the two previous were doing quite well at paying homage to Robert Heinlein. There is nothing wrong with that but for some reason I felt I was seeing more of the true Dana Stabenow throughout this book. I can't really say that with utmost authority since I've not read any of her other books than this series.
The story picks up where we left Star in the previous. She is on the verge of finishing the grand project of creating the first of her small world. Helen, the devil in the details in this story, thinks its time for Star to move on. She wants Star to help map out Mars and find more possible evidence of the Prometheans whose relics have been found in the asteroid belt.
With Helen one never know how much of the information she gives out is true.
Star resists but then seems to have a change of heart while deciding that she needs a change of scenery for her children, who seem to be getting out of hand. Brother Moses is at it again and he's bringing a mob against Star; and her children have found a way to change him and his followers skin color to green. They don't have a sense of humor about this.
This story often seems to plod along but I attribute that mostly to the need to explain much of the science and politics of the time. It's also important to take note that we now should consider these stories to be alternate universe stories because they were designed to take place within decades of the year they were written that they have become somewhat outdated. Unless we landed on Mars already and I've just been out of touch.
With that in mind though, the arrival on Mars and their adventures in a balloon almost smack of steam-punk which adds to the now alternate history. Either way it doesn't really take away from the story.
In this story Star is still being dogged by her past. William Kwan, ex space patrol now killer, and friend of her ex friend/arch enemy Greys has been striking out against the asteroid miners. Star has a close call with the man. When Helen suggests that there might be evidence of an alien weapon pointing at where the planet now asteroid belt Prometheus and Star decides she and her children need a change, Star thinks she's gotten rid of her troubles with Kwan.
Unfortunately trouble follows Star.
It is good to see that in the adventures on Mars in the balloon Star is forced, by her children, to become more humanized in regards to their fathers death. They rightfully feel she doesn't talk about their father at all. They also seem to want to try to give her religion but that doesn't quite work out so well. The storyknife ceremonies were a nice touch and fit in quite well with that brief moment of grief and acceptance of hope for what may come. I was not convinced that Star was convinced yet of an afterlife- she's a hard sell.
Even though these are now a bit dated and as I mentioned an alternate history I'd love to see more. Though Star has some problems with her own self induced dehumanized condition she's a strong and independent character whose life indicates that there might be some sacrifices to maintaining her sense of self as it is while showing us that it's all worth it in the long run.
And though there is a moment when we might have seen some foreshadow that Elizabeth might have tried to communicate with them. There really is not enough to whet the appetite for some of us who want to know more about what happened to her.
We could use some more Star Svendotter books.
J.L. Dobias
June 5, 2025
Finished this one a long time back and couldn't work up anything interesting to say about it, so I put it off...put it off.
The novel is fan service heavy series closer, nothing more.
I struggled to read this, in case that's not clear already. Long story short, a centuries old woman bored with her workaday life is manipulated into taking on a voyage to Mars that for unexplained reasons will probably kill her. The risks of this mission are never really explained, I mean at all, but it seems there is danger of some sort.
Anyway, Star does the obvious thing and commands her obstreperous twin teens to join her on this certain death mission. Her motives for accepting this mission are vague, as are her reasons for dragging her children into it, but that's just how this book rolls along. One thing keeps happening after another and nothing is ever explained in a way that makes any sense.
A very odd and out of place Inuit ritual, a couple of balloon rides, and Star getting laid later we arrive at the... end? That end was so unremarkable I can't remember a bit of how this closed out. Look, the real climax arrived with the second naming ceremony at the midpoint, and the resulting rapprochement with her children. After that surprisingly banal moment the rest of the novel just kind of unravels like a skein of yarn rolling down a flight of steps. I kept reading, since it's a short novel, but so far as I can recall there wasn't really a reason for the book to keep going.
It's okay since it's fan service and a series closer, a book written just to give us some happy endings, but unless you are already invested there is no reason to bother picking this up. Some series novels are like that, the author just refuses to put any more effort into coming up with plots after we get to know who the characters are and you are expected just enjoy spending time with them.
I prefer books in a series to be able to be read out of sequence and interesting on their own. That is unless the series is more of a saga than individual story arcs, because then it makes sense. Star Svensdotter is not really interesting enough to hang out with for fun, and nothing that happens in this novel needed knowledge from previous books in the series.
The novel is fan service heavy series closer, nothing more.
I struggled to read this, in case that's not clear already. Long story short, a centuries old woman bored with her workaday life is manipulated into taking on a voyage to Mars that for unexplained reasons will probably kill her. The risks of this mission are never really explained, I mean at all, but it seems there is danger of some sort.
Anyway, Star does the obvious thing and commands her obstreperous twin teens to join her on this certain death mission. Her motives for accepting this mission are vague, as are her reasons for dragging her children into it, but that's just how this book rolls along. One thing keeps happening after another and nothing is ever explained in a way that makes any sense.
A very odd and out of place Inuit ritual, a couple of balloon rides, and Star getting laid later we arrive at the... end? That end was so unremarkable I can't remember a bit of how this closed out. Look, the real climax arrived with the second naming ceremony at the midpoint, and the resulting rapprochement with her children. After that surprisingly banal moment the rest of the novel just kind of unravels like a skein of yarn rolling down a flight of steps. I kept reading, since it's a short novel, but so far as I can recall there wasn't really a reason for the book to keep going.
It's okay since it's fan service and a series closer, a book written just to give us some happy endings, but unless you are already invested there is no reason to bother picking this up. Some series novels are like that, the author just refuses to put any more effort into coming up with plots after we get to know who the characters are and you are expected just enjoy spending time with them.
I prefer books in a series to be able to be read out of sequence and interesting on their own. That is unless the series is more of a saga than individual story arcs, because then it makes sense. Star Svensdotter is not really interesting enough to hang out with for fun, and nothing that happens in this novel needed knowledge from previous books in the series.
August 15, 2022
Another Stabenow Great Read!
What I enjoyed about this series was the character development over the span of the series. I respect an author that has the ability and skill to create characters that readers care about. They are so real that when something tragic happens to a character I am left sobbing. At times I had to stop reading book 2 in the series. When I start a Stabenow book I can't put it down till I finish.
What I enjoyed about this series was the character development over the span of the series. I respect an author that has the ability and skill to create characters that readers care about. They are so real that when something tragic happens to a character I am left sobbing. At times I had to stop reading book 2 in the series. When I start a Stabenow book I can't put it down till I finish.
December 15, 2017
I had my doubts, but she came through
I was semi-disappointed with book 2 of the series because Stabenow seems to broach a topic, then drop it. This book seemed to start out the same way. But she redeemed herself by the end. The only dangling thread: why didn’t the archaeological team on Mars answer their earlier hailings?
I was semi-disappointed with book 2 of the series because Stabenow seems to broach a topic, then drop it. This book seemed to start out the same way. But she redeemed herself by the end. The only dangling thread: why didn’t the archaeological team on Mars answer their earlier hailings?
November 5, 2020
The third in a series by Dana Stabenow. RPR has many Heinlein-like aspect which I adore.
The story of the life and times of a woman in space discovering just who she is and making a place for herself and her family in the new frontier.
I hope the future breeds hundreds at such strong women, then I’m confident the universe will be a wonderful place.
The story of the life and times of a woman in space discovering just who she is and making a place for herself and her family in the new frontier.
I hope the future breeds hundreds at such strong women, then I’m confident the universe will be a wonderful place.
September 19, 2018
Loved it! Wish to high heaven that it wasn't the last in the series!
May 22, 2022
good book!
Star, her twins and other questioners of how life came to be and who blew up a planet have a not so good time once again dealing with Kwan and his band of ruffians.
Star, her twins and other questioners of how life came to be and who blew up a planet have a not so good time once again dealing with Kwan and his band of ruffians.
May 26, 2024
A great read. This was my first Dana Stabenow book, and it’s a good plot.
October 21, 2012
The last of a trilogy of space operas, it was the least enjoyable. Following Star Svensdotter from a thriving, mercurial "society" to Mars could have proven another larger than life adventure for this experienced spacer, however, it never really captured attention, nor did it challenge the imagination like her first and second books of the trilogy. The trip to Mars was poorly imagined, with little to support it as a reason for an entire book. Though there was some excitement along the way to Mars, the attention to detail that we had come to expect in the first two books was absent in this one. I kept reading the book expecting it to have more of a purpose, but it never happened. The ending of the book never explained so many of the questions, situations, and events that had taken place in books 1 and 2 leaving me convinced that there were other Star Svensdotter novels out there. However, to my knowledge, the series just ended and my questions remain unanswered.
April 28, 2013
Very different in feel from the previous two books in the series, this is an older, more reflective novel. Rather than spend time bursting into unexplored frontiers, this uses the setting of Mars, a planet that had so little potential that the US and the USSR (or their equivalents in this universe) both essentially ignore it, other than a token Russian settlement. Some of the mysteries from the previous book regarding life in the Solar System are explored, but it felt like everything was just toned down.
Still, an enjoyable book, but not up to the heights of the rest of the series.
Still, an enjoyable book, but not up to the heights of the rest of the series.
September 16, 2016
Enjoyable enough, but pretty un-exceptional. Stabenow knows how to spin an entertaining yarn, and though her first-person narrator sounds very contemporary (with the time period in which the book was published, 1995) her voice is engaging and snarky. Nice world-building and physics too--Stabenow has done her homework. The family history parts in the second chapter dragged things down some, so a star off for that, and no real surprises in the somewhat talky ending, either. Solidly constructed, but not riveting.
June 30, 2013
Excellent book. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book, skeptical even. I have read Dana Stabenow's Kate Shugak books for so long, that I didn't take this series seriously. But I loved this book. It was dense and smart and full of the complex, human characters that are part of why I love her writing. Humor, and people who are imperfect. and the previous book in the series was also excellent. It snuck up on me. Highly recommended.
June 2, 2016
3.5 I'm obviously late to the game here, and suppose it's better coming in with full knowledge there are only the three, than having year-in/out hoped her next might be a return. But I'll no less miss Star Svensdotter - a very different strong female lead from Kate Shugak, and (it turns out) a descendant of an alternate-history version of the Shugak clan. Don't come for great scifi; come for entertainment and some pretty terrific character development.
April 18, 2012
Similar to the first two novels, it kind of ambles along. There were some unexpected emotional scenes, and the ending was a bit hurried. Some of the story arcs seemed a little unfinished, however I read the book from the point of view as travelling vicariously through Star & her kids, so enjoyed it.
April 27, 2012
I loved it. I still don't fully follow when things get technical. Science was never my strong point. But I still love Star and those around her. She is such a strong person who has some great adventures and doesn't back down from a fight. I was sorry to finish this one knowing there isn't another one.
December 25, 2013
The challenges and villain were not up to the other books in the series; this book felt more like a travelogue than sci-fi or mystery. While I enjoyed some of the stops along the way, the science was outdated and the descriptions forced. Interesting speculation on the universe and archetypes at the end.
I will read at least one mystery by this author in the future.
I will read at least one mystery by this author in the future.
March 31, 2013
3.5 really.
Both for better and for worse, reads like a Heinlein juvenile with occasional R-rated moments.
At least in the 2nd & 3rd books of the series, she's mostly gotten away from the ghastly cultural stereotypes.
Both for better and for worse, reads like a Heinlein juvenile with occasional R-rated moments.
At least in the 2nd & 3rd books of the series, she's mostly gotten away from the ghastly cultural stereotypes.
February 14, 2016
I wish there was more. Ended on a neat philosophical note that could've driven the narrative ark further. Sadly it was left to peter out in favor of the Shugak novels, which I also want more of. I suspect there's a finite amount of time to work with, so I'll take what I can get either way!
August 25, 2016
Short and pleasant reading; I see now that I didn't read the first book and jumped into #2 and #3. Sometimes my tendency to grab-n-read off the pile bites me in the butt; this was probably one of those times, and I wonder what I missed.
Read
July 10, 2012I've only finished one chapter. Not sure if I'll try again, but not for now. Maybe it would be better if I read previous 2 first.
May 1, 2012
best of the series. Of course I am a fan.
September 14, 2012
Lots of Heinlein in here - a fun story. Lots of cool concepts introduced, but it's not buried in techno. It ends a little abruptly.
July 27, 2013
3.5 stars. I liked it, even through the techno jargon. But I was still reeling from the 2nd book's revelation.
April 30, 2017
Action and description.
Smart enough to keep me defining words, searching for latin translations, and feeling infeeior about my lack of poetic knowledge. Fast oaced enough to enjoy and descriptive enough to paint a picture.
Smart enough to keep me defining words, searching for latin translations, and feeling infeeior about my lack of poetic knowledge. Fast oaced enough to enjoy and descriptive enough to paint a picture.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews