Tims' interview with the author of the popular "Grand Tour" series of science fiction novels. "Mars Life" is the 3rd installment the epic saga begun with "Mars" and "Return to Mars" in a high-tech adventure about the 4th planet from the Sun. Ben Bova explores how space exploration will affect our society in the not-so-distant future.  Ben Bova was a former president of the Science Fiction Writers of America, President Emeritus of the National Space Society and is the author of 115 non fiction and futuristic novels. Mr Bova, we greatly appreciate the time you've taken out of your schedule to answer our questions and hope that they are thought provoking. If you were to compare the writers visions of the future in the 50's and the now 00's, what would you say are the greatest differences? --I think we were much more optimistic in the 1950s. We had more faith in our technology, and in our ability – and willingness – to use it wisely. This is probably because most of the writers in the field were scientists or engineers or involved personally in technology in one way or the other.

Today’s writers are more apt to be from the non-technical side of academia, and therefore have neither the faith nor the vision that writers of the 1950s did.

Like Myself you are a keen fencer, do you find that after so many years
with blade in hand, that the brain tends to come up with answers a lot
quicker & inventive as a by-product of improved subconscious reaction?
With that do you think it helps as a writer?

--I don’t think fencing has helped my writing, except to give me some
experiences to write about.

What is your opinion of Pluto (which for many years the last planet in
our solar system) being reclassified?

--Pluto’s reclassification as a minor planet is understandable among
astronomers, although I know from personal acquaintance that it has
ticked off some planetary scientists (especially the ones involved in
the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. But changing its
name doesn’t change its nature. Remember Galileo’s remark: “…things come
first and names afterward.”


If given the choice of a planet (be it one of ours or a fictional one)
to live on, which would you choose and why?


--Earth is the planet I’m best adapted to, but as my knees get older I
think that living in the Moon’s one-sixth gravity might be nice. I’d
certainly like to walk on the red sands of Mars, though, bt I wouldn’t
want to live on Mars full-time.


Considering the advances in technology with items such as I-pods,
Eco-Cars and mobile phones, where do you think the science fiction
writer can go next?

--Anywhere he or she can imagine!

Visit Ben Bovas' website at www.benbova.net and look out for his new novel Mars life. Avalible at Amazon.com here and Amazon.co.uk here. 

Look out the our review of "mars life" coming soon.