TL;DR: “A City on Mars” by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith is a 400-page exploration of space settlement with humor detailed analysis, and a touch of skepticism. Originally enthusiastic about space colonization, the authors critically examine the challenges of living on Mars, from biology and psychology to technology, law, and population viability. They raise important questions about human adaptation to space, reproduction, and habitat creation, highlighting the lack of knowledge in these areas. The book emphasizes the need for careful consideration and research before embarking on large-scale colonization efforts.
The challenges of building habitable settlements on the Moon or Mars, including construction and recycling, are explored in “A City on Mars.” The lack of detailed plans and reliance on speculative ideas, akin to historical colonization efforts, raises concerns. The book delves into space law, revealing complexities and the tendency among enthusiasts to believe they are exempt from legal restrictions. The authors observe a streak of libertarianism in the space settlement community, questioning the idealistic view that space will eliminate scarcity. The contradiction arises from the belief in both profit-driven motives and an expectation of altruism in space exploration. The book casts doubt on the feasibility of this philosophy in the pursuit of successful space colonization. space settlement with humor
In a more realistic take on how societies function when there is only one source for the vitals of life, the Weinersmiths draw on the experiences (positive and negative) of company towns. It’s not all bad: Some company towns were very well run and fair, while others could have been dedicated as a shrine to tin-pot dictatorships. There is no reason, the Weinersmiths argue, to think we will not see the same in space, with the added benefit of not being able to escape from the company towns.