[X] My Assistant

[dvandorn]

I'm a re-reader. When I come across a book I truly enjoy (even fiction), I'll re-read it many times. Some books I have read literally hundreds of times since my childhood.

I have read 'Roving Mars' by Steve Squyres probably 10 to 12 times since I got it when it came out a couple of years ago, though I hadn't re-read it in the last year or so. I just re-read it again.

It leaves a very unfinished feeling, reading Steve try to wrap up his book with "Well, gee, here we are at sol 227 for Opportunity and sol 248 for Spirit, and God only knows how few sols we have left." Talking about the incredible longevity the rovers had demonstrated. and how, as much as it would hurt, he would be incredibly proud of everything the MERs had accomplished if they died the next sol.

And here we are, more than a THOUSAND sols later, with two rovers that are, for the most part, still going strong. With untold adventures behind them that Steve could hardly have imagined when he was trying to wrap up their story.

I guess this is a somewhat roundabout way of saying...

I WANT MORE!

We need 'Still Roving Mars,' Steve. And then, when it comes time, 'Roving Mars Far Longer Than Anyone Would Have Believed.' And finally, 'The MER Story, or How We Drove to Join MSL'...

In other words, all kidding aside, it's time not for an extra chapter or two, but a whole second book. Steve doesn't have to do it alone -- there are lots of people who could contribute to follow-on books. But what I want, very specifically, is that "inside look" into the day-to-day operations and science planning that we got from the first book.

Anyone else think it's useless waiting for these little buggers to die before the next book comes out? I mean, I really don't want to wait until 2015 just to get the next thrilling installment...

-the other Doug

[dvandorn]

Thanks for the warm regards, Climber! However, I will somewhat diffidently point out that I'm the *other* Doug -- that doesn't render me unreal. (I do quite a good enough job of that all by myself, thanks... )

-the other, but nonetheless real, Doug