This slim novel, published in 1951/1952, was a delightful little read. I think it must have been one of Clarke's earlier novels, as it doesn't feel quite as polished as his later works. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this simple space story. It's a fairly low-energy novel, in that despite the fact that the main character is flying in a space ship to Mars, there is a sense of the routine and commonplace about it. That's intentional, as the plot is based around the idea of this science-fiction author being the first passenger on this new spaceship and one who is going to visit the growing Martian colony and write dispatches back to Earth for popular consumption. Because the author is not an astronaut himself, there is a sense of wonder about the trip (my favourite part was definitely the transit between Earth and Mars!) and I could only imagine myself what it would be like to look with my own eyes upon the stars, unfiltered and blazing bright. The part set on the Mars colony is a little more dull - mostly because the colony itself is thinly sketched by Clarke and the colonists are given little chance to jump off the page. But apart from these negatives, I really did enjoy this book for the stimulus it provided my imagination. To set foot on another planet and gaze off into the far void of space in which Earth is but a speck. To fight for your very survival on a world which is not your own. To dream of a future in which ships hurtle throughout the solar system in twirling patterns of comforting routine. To imagine standing on a moon of Saturn and gazing up into that planet filling half the sky. The wonders of creation dazzle the mind and to read works that make me feel such emotions is something that brings me much joy.