Mayan Mars

The author gives a captivating window into his own struggles with the polarity between science and religion. As a professor of engineering it is clear that Meyers has a command of the scientific background required to write such a novel, however in Mayan Mars he presents an intimate knowledge of the raw emotions in the human spirit. The reader glides easily between two parallel stories, one in the ancient Mayan world, and the other in the present day world of a scientist working hard to define himself. As they merge together the stories unfolds into one dramatic and inspiring commentary on the dangers of our own ambitions. This is an easy to read thriller that keeps you engaged, and leaves you thinking.

This book is not your typical sci-fi thriller. I was amazed at all the different themes that the author was able to incorporate into the plot. The depth of Mayan Mars ensures that the story keeps moving and there is never a dull moment. I finished the book in a few sittings. Having a science background, I thoroughly enjoyed the engineering and biological discussions presented in this book. However, there is something here to please everyone, so don't stray away! Overall, this is a great read for anyone that wants to experience something different in their reading.

This book contains a bit of everything....Shock wave technology, Mayan lore, modern biology, bad behaviour within a University Department, NASA blindness to outside criticism coupled with its unwillingness to admit that NASA "experts" might be incompetent. I found one minor technical error, an incorrect crystal structure for the low-pressure form of BN, that is irrelevant to the plot. With that exception, the technology and science presented in this book is accurate and essential to the development of the story.

Mayan Mars combines the thrilling suspense of the Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" with the imaginitive style of Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction". From the very beginning you realize that this is not your ordinary suspense novel. This story is a violent mix of the religious taboos of mayan culture juxtaposed with the lifestyle of leading modern scientists to produce a sexy, mature novel that is impossible to stop reading. I highly recommend Mayan Mars.

The theme of this novel is the juxtaposition of religion, through the old Mayan gods, and science, through modern space exploration. The novel starts in Yucatan, AD 514, and finishes in AD 2012, the end of the Mayan calendar. In Calakmul, the Mayan priest Kuk Kawil makes astrological measurements. He calculates the year in which Venus will each its lowest point in the firmament (AD 2012). This is the end of the calendar. The reddish halo of Mars haunts him and he searches for its significance. A human sacrifice is made. A vision comes to him that the end of the calendar will be marked by great bloodshed and followed by the redemption of the Mayan people. The main body of the novel covers the period between AD 2004 and 2012 (the end of Mayan Calendar). Meyers uses his intimate knowledge of scientific research to create a plot that is at the same time realistic and ominous. It involves NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, where scientists are planning an ambitious new program to bring Mars soil samples back to Earth. It also involves real metal fabrication processes such as explosive welding. There are good guys, bad guys and romantic interludes. The story covers exotic places, from the Yucatan to Japan to Southern and Baja California. I will not continue the description in order not to reveal the story. I can assure the readers that, once I started to read, I could not put the book down. I would not classify it as a thriller or as science fiction. It is a mixture of at least three genres and appeals to a broad audience. From what I read in the back cover, I can see how Meyers has used his broad knowledge acquired by living in Brazil, Europe, and the US to weave a rich plot that will keep the reader glued to the pages. This book should be of special interest to engineers and scientists because Meyers' background pulls him in that direction and every now and then we get glimpses at our research and scholarly world. The book also contains a strong warning: the perils to which uncontrolled and inconsequential technology can lead us. Many science researchers have written technical books and most have authored research papers. However, the number of those who have ventured into fiction is small. The novel by Marc Meyers is therefore an auspicious event. I loved the book and read it from cover to cover in a couple seatings. I give it a thumbs up!!!