[This Edition now OUT OF PRINT, see Second Edition]

This is an excerpt from a review in the School Library Journal, May 2001:

Adult/High School ...gripping and original epic of the first humans on Mars ...

...on Mars, the three survivors do not give up so easily. In an almost unbearably suspenseful series of events, by the skin of their teeth and their innate human cleverness, ...[the survivors] find ways to live on the alien planet.

... readers...who adjust to the pace soon gain a frightening sense of just how alien and hostile an environment Mars really is for humans, and through Cronin's clear exposition of scientific material, the struggle for survival is strongly enhanced.

The heroes are both believable and outrageous in their individuality, and when the end comes--with a powerful twist--readers will be longing for a sequel detailing more of their adventures.

            -- School Library Journal, Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information.

Pennsylvania School Library Association posted this review on the PSLA website in May 2002:

Set in 2038, this is an excellent hard science novel showing outstanding research and providing a hard look at political realities as well. Following a catastrophe, a Japanese Zen Master and two Americans on Mars are forced into thinking outside the box about every aspect of their existence. Part of two different missions, located far apart, sent by cultures with different values, each mission is doomed to death for different reasons. The politics of earth and an unexpected event play into this fascinating scenario. Great hard science fiction with such compelling characters, and cultural and ethical components, doesn't come along that often. Buy this book for any high school library!
          -- Pam Kavanaugh, Pennsylvania School Library Association, 2001 Recommended Titles, May, 2002.

This is an excerpt of an Amazon.com review by a Amazon Top-1000 reviewer, Bruce Crocker, a science teacher from Whittier, California, posted May 2001:

I really, really want you to read this book ... I want you to know how much I enjoyed the book ...

As It Is On Mars is a close cousin to books like Stan Robinson's Mars Trilogy and Greg Bear's Moving Mars. Thomas William Cronin combines suspenseful action and drama with thoughtful discussion of politics, economics, and philosophy. Like those authors, Cronin has done his research well and will make you think you are actually on Mars.

Being a geologist, earth science teacher, and cartophile, I enjoy books more when they get their geography correct and Cronin nails the geography. He even lets us in on the geographic feature naming process and does it well. ... He kept me up late several nights in a row. The characters in the book are very real- heroic by necessity and flawed by nature - good folks to spend a few evenings with. ...

Thomas William Cronin has given us an excellent addition to the ever increasing list of hard SF Mars fiction. I'm glad there is going to be a sequel, but I wish they would put it out sooner...

            -- Bruce Crocker, May 20, 2001.

Book Two: "Give Us This Mars"

This is an excerpt from a review in the School Library Journal, May, 2003:

This stand-alone sequel to As It Is on Mars (Tharsis, 2001) takes place six years later. Three survivors of two failed Mars missions, abandoned by Earth, have crafted a life for themselves in the Red Planet's Kasei Valley. Fortunately, one of them is a Zen master-surely one of the most unusual astronauts in all Mars fiction. Their knowledge of science and engineering is vital to their success, but equally important is their mental outlook: the level of risk is so great that any small misperception or personal weakness is likely to prove fatal to all.

When Earth discovers that the three are alive and have discovered valuable resources, the U.S. and Europe both resolve to "rescue" them and take over their operation. The Europeans arrive first. When the Mars residents (now including two children) refuse to leave, a roller coaster of a micro-war ensues in which each side has several critical advantages and the balance repeatedly shifts. In the end, only those with the strength of character to overcome personal illusions and accept Mars "as it is" can prevail.

This extraordinary tale balances hard science with character development; history, politics, and even romance also play important parts. Readers might well feel as though they have stood on Mars, seen its beauty, and experienced its dangers, and they will be impatient for the next entry in this outstanding saga.

            --School Library Journal, May 2003, Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA, Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This is an excerpt of an Amazon.com review by an Amazon Top-1000 reviewer, Bruce Crocker, a science teacher from Whittier, California, posted March 2003:

Thomas W. Cronin, author of As It Is On Mars, gives lovers of Mars fiction an excellent sequel in Give Us This Mars. The political and suspenseful elements are still there, but Cronin has ramped up the action in this second book. In Give Us This Mars, Denise Lavoisier, John Erway, their two children born on Mars, and Ichiro Sato have not only survived the decade since the first ill-fated manned mission to Mars, but have thrived. The United States and the European Union covet what the Martians have built, and both governments aim to take it from them. The EU crew, commanded by the villainous and brilliant Richard Derk, arrives on Mars first, and sets to work at the job of surveying the Kasei Valley area and "rescuing" the Martians. The Martians are prepared for the "rescue" attempt, but Derk is a tough adversary. Deceit vs. honest wit, superior strength vs. plucky resolve, big government vs. libertarian paradise - Give Us This Mars has all this and more. ...

            -- Bruce Crocker, March 2003

Pennsylvania School Library Association posted this review on the PSLA website in May 2004:

This timely book chronicles the tale of survivors of a failed mission who end up on Mars and their struggle to survive. This is a sequel to As It Is On Mars and takes place ten years later. When the U. S. and E. U. discover their survival, a battle breaks out to rescue them and claim their wealthy resources. Science fiction buffs and students interested in space travel will find this book exciting and insightful. Great read. Science fiction.

            -- Donna Darmofal, Pennsylvania School Library Association, 2003 Recommended Titles, May, 2004.

Book Three: "Glory Be To Mars"

Pennsylvania School Library Association posted this review on the PSLA website in May 2005:

This book and the two preceding it (As it is on Mars and Give us this Mars) should be in every high school library! Cronin has a PhD. in physics and has contributed to the research on mars that makes these books possible. Complex characters and social settings, political intrigue, and Martian engineering are hallmarks of the series.

This book would appeal to WWII buffs as well. It contains more battle strategy than the first two novels, but still creates a mars we can envision, with detailed pictures of the geography and the way of life necessitated by this harsh, but possibly livable, environment. Science Fiction.

            -- Pam Kavanaugh, Pennsylvania School Library Association, 2004-5 Recommended Titles, May 9, 2005.

This is an excerpt of an Amazon.com review by an Amazon Top-1000 reviewer, Bruce Crocker, a science teacher from Whittier, California, posted in April 2005:

Thomas W. Cronin has given readers a satisfying, exciting, nail-biting conclusion to his Mars series. The underlying themes of self-reliance, independence, and self-determination inform a book that is very different from the first two books of the series. Glory Be To Mars is a novel of war and strategy that takes place about 30 years on from Give Us This Mars. The Earth and the U.N. are determined to take Mars from the Martians. Their impetus for war is an alleged weapon of mass destruction that has been developed by the Martians. The Earth has superior numbers and technology - the Martians have their own Martian desert fox. The war plays out on an accurate version of Mars that is informed by data from the latest Mars missions. The children of the characters from the first 2 books are the main players.

Once the story gets rolling - an Earth attack on a nonmilitary Martian operation - the action never lets up [leave yourself a big block of time for reading - once you get started, you won't want to quit reading!]. My only concern involves Cronin's use of current biological knowledge [genetics] and that concern didn't take away from my ability to suspend my disbelief - hey it's fiction! - but I would love to have a discussion with Cronin about what traits are heritable in humans. I shall say no more on the subject since I refuse to be a spoiler and I want you to read this book. Besides fans of the first two books in this series and lovers of Mars fiction,

Glory Be To Mars should find a whole new audience in lovers of military fiction. I hate to see the series end here, so if Mr. Cronin can find another creative and non repetitive way to extend the series, I know I'll be ready for another great Martian read!