Red Thunder is certainly a novel of exploration and entrepreneurial spirit, but more importantly about the unlikely people who are doing it.

Red Thunder is solidly plotted by Varley who puts this bootstrapping space exploration novel into the near future (my guess is 10-20 years, but he never specifies).  The plot deals with the race to Mars.  China is going to get there first.  The US mission is lagging behind and has some potential troubles.  The cast wants to get to Mars first and figures out a believable way to get there thanks to an invention by the unconventional genius, Jubal.  From a technology stand point Varley does a good job covering all the points that came up in the book (i.e. how they heck are they going to enter atmospheres?). 

But Red Thunder really is not about going to Mars so much as it is about the people who wind up making the trip and all the ramifications before and after.  Not only ramifications for themselves, but humanity also.  Their trip to Mars will turn the Earth on its ear.

The cast of characters is a solid variety of people.  Two of the guys dream of being astronauts but circumstances dictate otherwise.  Manny, who tells the story, is doing his best to be in college and help his mom and aunt with the family business.  Dak is a solid fast and furious type mechanic in college.  The two girls are polar opposites.  Kelly is a very humble trust fund type of girl.  Alicia is a girl with a troubled background but proves her worth in Red Thunder.  Travis is the washed out astronaut who after a near mishap befriends the teens and is definitely the central character of the story though it is not told from his viewpoint.  Travis’ cousin is the unconventional genius Jubal, who is a pivotal character in regards to the technology in the novel.

The characters are deep and detailed, more importantly believable.  The one exception is  Jubal who is more of a plot device than a character per se.  Varley as always does a good animating the characters and you get to know them well.  Jubal just never rang true as a character.

From a role playing perspective Red Thunder is rife with opportunities.  Specifically the aftermath of the book opens many opportunities for near and far space RPG campaigns.  I could also say this about any of the other novels Varley has written (Gaia Trilogy, Nine Worlds in particular).  A GM could learn a few things about running a science fiction game because while Varley does appear to know a fair amount about the science it is always a backdrop to the plot and characters.

Red Thunder is not Varley’s best book, but what might pass as an average novel for him is still better than most other authors on a good day.  If you are into Varley , space exploration or Mars; Red Thunder is definitely worth picking up.  For everyone else I would pick up other of Varley’s novels and work your way to this one.