This volume provides a history of Martian exploration from the earliest stirrings of human curiosity about the planet right up to the 1990s when, after a lull of 20 years and after suffering through the disappointments of the Russian Phobosand American Mars Observer missions, we stood again poised on the verge of a more vigorous phase of exploration of the planet. Highly recommended by "Astronomy" and "Sky and Telescope" journals. B&W illustrations. "A history of fascination.