It follows on from the end of Green Mars and has a much wider scope than the previous two books, covering an entire century after the second revolution and showing the spread of human settlements across the solar system-a process Robinson terms the Accelerando. It picks up the story from Red Mars, following the lives of the remaining First Hundred (and their children and grandchildren) until a second revolution begins in the 2120s.īlue Mars takes its title from the stage of terraforming that has taken place allowing atmospheric pressure and temperature to increase so that liquid water can exist on the planet's surface, forming rivers and seas. Green Mars takes its title from the stage of terraforming that has taken place allowing plants to grow. Most of the surviving members of the First Hundred are forced into hiding.

The situation results in a violent revolution in 2061, in which many of the First Hundred are killed, and much of Mars' infrastructure, notably the space elevator, is destroyed. Several cases of sabotage of terraformation infrastructure occur, blamed on anti-terraforming forces. However, due to the greed of the transnational corporations, which dominate and control the nation states of Earth, the new Martian towns become overcrowded and undermaintained.

Later, 'the First Hundred' colonists (composed - for the most part - of Russians and Americans) establish the first settlement on Mars (called 'Underhill') and lay the groundwork for more scientists and engineers to follow.

Red Mars starts in 2027 with the first colonial voyage to Mars. Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.

Red mars trilogy