Is there a rebellious streak in us to desire characters who short-cut the bureaucracies around us? Desire the oft-told stories of good people who cannot fit into big projects? Thumbing their nose at regulations- Varley has conspirators outmaneuver the local law, FAA, NASA and a slew of others. Doing what? Taking a jaunt to Mars.You will love how they settle issues of leadership, as well as adapt and test items. The story has its emotional moments, and people change as a result. And yup, their reward is great.It says a lot about me that I welcome and expect the next big space travel breakthrough to be discovered by independent researchers and not a military/industrial combination.This is a series: get them all because you will want to see where they take you.