I really liked the book and found it fascinating. You can tell that a lot of research went into the scientific details.The book has no slow parts, and keeps your interest throughout. Recommended for all readers. ★★★★★

I'm not a sci-fi fan, but I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well-developed and believable. The scenario was intriguing. How the characters dealt with events and with each other was engrossing. I would hope that the people on earth would behave in a more civilized manner, but then we are dealing with humans here. Alain had an amazing amount of detail about how space explorers could actually survive on a different planet in such a way that it would be worth the trip. I'm getting to work on my biosphere. Enjoy the adventure. ★★★★★

I really liked this book because, mainly, the characters were well developed, as well as the plot being interesting to follow. The scientific part of the book was interesting, and I'm assuming that it is accurate after reading Gunn's bio. One of the ways I judge a book is if I think about the characters and plot after I finish the book, and in this case, I did. Now I want to read the sequel. (Is there a sequel??)

★★★★★

A Tale of Two Planets is good read which kept my interest throughout. The plot moves at just the right speed, and covers a lot of ground. It is hard to find in most science fiction literature, but this book actually has a lot of 'real' science, and is presented in a way which supports and enhances the story. I learned many scientific concepts in an enjoyable fashion while reading the book. ★★★★★

This novel is like one of those birthday packages that arrive in the mail unannounced. You do not know what to expect until you open it. A Tale of Two Planets is an unexpected pleasure. Always eager for an adventure, I quickly strapped myself into the Arean Explorer, ready to join the crew of Aeronauts on a three-year trip to Mars. Mystery is my favorite genre and Isaac Asimov has proved that Sci-Fi and Mystery make good bedfellows. In the novel, A Tale of Two Planets, Alain Gunn has done the same. Before reading this novel, what I learned from the book cover was that the author is a retired military officer, a surgeon and medical school professor, and a scientist who enjoys scuba diving. I knew next-to-nothing about DNA, biospheres, MHC sequences, or vaccine production. I still found this tale fascinating. Every scene contains tension or conflict that makes reading the next chapter necessary. The cast of characters was diverse, with distinct and essential roles that kept the plot active and steadily moving forward. Multiple settings were woven into a tapestry of events that culminated in a credible and satisfying climax. ★★★★★

Thoroughly enjoyed the story. ★★★★★

The scientific detail in this Sci Fi novel is astounding. Much of the medical particulars are accurate and based on present knowledge. i suspect the engineering details recounted in a spaceship trip to Mars are accurate as well. Well done Dr. Gunn. Tom Grollman, MD ★★★★★

I bought the book early and it's now been a couple of months since I finished it. The technological details are excellent, particularly involving medical matters, space flight and related hazards, and survival on Mars. Interactions among the characters is well done. There is a lot of suspense, though you may be able to predict certain consequences. There's enough mystery to make this a sci-fi mystery read. Oh yes, there's some romance too. My only dislike has to do with graphic portrayal of sexual encounters, which I don't care for much. Read this first, then read "Red Exodus," which starts about 25 years later. I just finished it and will write a review under that title. My next purchase will be "If Pigs Could Cry," although I understand it is very different from Gunn 's first two books.

★★★★★

This is a fascinating book about an ill-fated expedition to Mars that just happens to launch right before a global pandemic ravages Earth. I found this book in one of Amazon's "New Voices of Sci-Fi" lists and was glad I did. The science in this book is so detailed that it didn't seem like science fiction... it reminded me a bit of "2001: A Space Odyssey" in the way it clearly and plausibly described the life of a crew living in space. You really empathize with the crew and their desperation and paranoia as they worry that the disease may be present on the ship, and that there may not be an Earth to return to after their mission. You also respect the crew's ingenuity as they deal with disaster after disaster. This isn't Star Trek with the magic "reverse the neutrino flow" pseudo-science to solve problems; every solution seems brilliant and based in true science. Looking forward to future novels by Alain Gunn. ★★★★★