Mars 3D - A Rover's-Eye View of the Red Planet Author: Jim Bell Publisher: Sterling ISBN: 978-1402756207 Price: £14.99 (Hb), 160pp
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Jim Bell is a planetary scientist working on those intrepid Martian rovers Spirit and Opportunity. But just like you and especially me he has that childlike love of everything 3D. This
passion for Mars is rolled out over 160 pages in this beautiful and well-captioned book, with over 60 images in anaglyphic stereo, some in full colour.

Scheduled to last just 90 days after  touching down in January 2004, the rovers are still exploring today five years on, having survived several computer glitches, extreme Martian winters, energy sapping dust storms, faulty drive wheels and getting stuck in thick Martian dust traps. For all this, their discoveries have been simply amazing. They have seen first-hand evidence of past episodes of Martian water, flooding the plains in which they are exploring. They have revealed much about theweather and how the bedrock has been laid down over the millennia. They have even seen space-borne meteorites lying on the surface of Mars. And all of this recorded by their colour stereo cameras.

Whilst the book looks trite and childish, Jim Bell's intimate knowledge of the rovers gives us a depth of understanding that no ordinary writer can provide, and the book's design and feel are correct. The 3D vistas within the pages will inspire a new and younger audience to the unfolding drama.

The book's cover has an integral 3D viewer, allowing the reader to instantly see Martian surface features in fabulous stereo, safe in the knowledge that the blue-red glasses will never be lost. This great idea might, however, have its pitfalls for those that need to wear glasses for close up work.

Easy reading, easy captions, easy 3D.

Greg Smye-Rumsby