Red Lightning

by John Varley Narrated by Eddie Lopez

Overview

It doesn't matter that Ray Garcia-Strickland's father was one of the first men on Mars. The now overdeveloped planet has lost its hip factor, its luxurious hotels-like the one Ray's father manages-overrun with gravity-dependent tourists from Earth. Ray is over the Red Planet.

Soon he gets his own chance at interplanetary adventure when an unknown object hits Earth and causes a massive tsunami. Ray heads back to Florida to help family and friends who've survived the devastation-and soon learns the so-called natural disaster could have unnatural consequences.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Ray Garcia-Strickland is just another Martian teenager. Sure, his parents are two of the ultra-famous original Mars colonists (as detailed in Varley's rollicking Red Thunder), but who cares when he's got school, girls and airboard tricks to think about? Then an object traveling at the speed of light slams into Earth, causing a massive tsunami that swamps Atlantic islands and coasts, including Ray's grandmother's Florida home. When the Garcia-Stricklands return from wading through the horrifying aftermath in search of survivors, they find that Ray's eccentric uncle, Jubal, has developed a gizmo that stops time and used it to mail himself to Mars. Drawing unabashedly on current events from 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina, the author mixes space opera-esque adventure and merriment with uncensored images of disaster areas and teenage sex. At his Heinlein-channeling best, Varley preaches the gospel of individual responsibility with all the fervor of a space-age libertarian revival preacher. (Apr.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

A highly satisfying sequel to Red Thunder (2004). In Red Thunder, eccentric genius Jubal invented the free-energy "Squeezer" technology, and his cousin Travis uses it to power a low-budget mission to Mars. Now, 23 years later, humanity has begun to settle the Red Planet and space travel has become common. Life on Mars is pretty good for 17-year-old Ray Garcia-Strickland, even if he doesn't seem to know it, but that all changes when an object impacts with the Earth, causing a massive tsunami. Ray's family and some friends travel to Earth to help relatives they have there. They experience horror after horror, seeing a devastated Florida as they reunite with family friend Travis and together travel to rescue Ray's grandmother. In the wake of this tragedy, Jubal-who is considered the most important man in the world since only he truly understands his invaluable Squeezer technology-goes missing. Three months after Ray and company return to Mars, a fleet from Earth invades, then questions Ray, Travis and the others concerning Jubal's whereabouts. The central mysteries of the novel concern what exactly happened to Jubal, as well as the nature of the object that struck the Earth. To reveal answers would spoil much of the fun, but suffice it to say that though the plot elements are seemingly disparate, they do all come together in the end. Much more than a simple adventure story, full of poignant moments and relevant social commentary.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940178751664
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	12/07/2021
Series:	The Thunder and Lightning Series , #2
Edition description:	Unabridged

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