From Publishers Weekly
Benton Hawkes, diplomat-hero of this rumble-tumble start to a new Shatner series, is, like the hero of the author's Tek novels, a cut-from-cardboard macho man. Around the end of the next century, Hawkes is sent to Mars to deal with the human colonists there, on the verge of rebellion because of their slavelike status. The situation is critical, for Earth's population will quickly starve without Martian supplies. The plot and the speculative concepts grounding it are shaky at best, resulting in a novel that distinguishes itself as neither science nor fiction. Hawkes, however, will appeal to those who like their heroes Hollywood-style, a man whose integrity gets him into scrapes that he punches, shoots and slices his way out of. His crises are nearly endless, so fans of hardboiled SF ("And now, he thought, he was going to Mars. Heaven help whoever he found there") could do worse that to join him in his bloody quest. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Star Trek actor and sf author Shatner begins a new series featuring diplomat Benton Hawkes. As punishment for negotiating fairly, he is sent to Mars as its governor to quell unrest among the human colonists who supply all of Earth's food. Tight writing, rather than character development, propels this action/adventure. Fans of his "Tek" series will enjoy.Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Whatever future the Tek universe may have, its author now turns his attention to that new hardy perennial subject matter of sf, a human-settled Mars. His new yarn inaugurates a projected series featuring diplomat Benton Hawkes, who begins the book appalled at the prospect of becoming governor of Mars. He is yet more appalled at the number of attempts on his life that promptly ensue, leading to some extremely well done action scenes. In spite of the best efforts of unknown enemies, he reaches Mars, and with his female assistant, Dina Martel, exposes the corrupt Earth influences that have the Martian settlers on the verge of blood-red revolution. This a very different sort of book from the Tek tales--more somber in tone, smoother in the reading, largely devoid of satire, and with political and military scenarios developed along classic sf lines. For some readers, it will recall Heinlein's Moon Is a Harsh Mistress (of course, the cat-loving sf community may have problems with the dog-loving protagonist). It is a workmanlike, highly readable tale that will doubtless please Shatner's substantial audience. Roland Green

From Kirkus Reviews
First of a new cycle from the author of the interminable Tek series, this set in the mid-21st century and featuring grumpy fiftysomething career diplomat Benton Hawkes. Having annoyed his politico bosses, Hawkes is coerced into accepting the governorship of Mars, where a giant problem is looming: The red planet is a huge factory churning out essential food and goods for Earth's desperate billions, but the Martian workers are kept in virtual slavery. Hawkes finds himself in deep trouble before he leaves Earth, what with the bomb under his car and then a military assault on his mountain farmstead; the bad guys even shoot his dog. But several assassination attempts later, he arrives on Mars with his aide, Dina Martel (but can he trust her?) and orders the quarrelling factions to the negotiating table. Surprisingly, both workers and management agree on what needs to be done. So who's scheming to disrupt the talks? Who wants Hawkes dead? It will be obvious to readers--though sadly not to the characters themselves--that Red Planet, Inc., and the Earth League have vested interests in maintaining the status quo. Hawkes himself is forceful and appealing if none too bright. As for the rest, Shatner will have to do better than stock situations, hackneyed plotting, and such ludicrous Trekkisms as spaceships with built-in gravity and instantaneous communications between Mars and Earth. -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Benton Hawkes is a career diplomat, the best in his field. He is also a maverick, and in his last posting he made some very powerful people angry. Hawkes expected some repercussions, but he was unprepared for the punishment his commanders would mete out: he has been assigned to the planet Mars. Hawkes loves wide-open spaces; the thought of living in the cramped mining tunnels of Mars horrifies him. But events on the Red Planet threaten the living conditions of everyone on earth, as well as the lives of the Martian colonists. Sick of their slavelike lives, the colonists are approaching a state of open revolt - none of the promises they were made a generation ago have been kept. But raw materials from Martian mines have become vital to Earth, and revolution will not be tolerated. A diplomat of Benton Hawkes's patience and experience is the only chance for peace. Hawkes knows the situation is more desperate than official reports indicate. Two attempts made on his life before he even got to Mars have proved that. Why is it worth so much to someone to have the revolution take place? Who is setting Hawkes up to fail - and probably to be killed in the process? Can he find a way for the colonists and the Red Planet Corporation to compromise and build a peaceful world - on the planet whose name has always stood for war?

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Benton Hawkes, diplomat-hero of this rumble-tumble start to a new Shatner series, is, like the hero of the author's Tek novels, a cut-from-cardboard macho man. Around the end of the next century, Hawkes is sent to Mars to deal with the human colonists there, on the verge of rebellion because of their slavelike status. The situation is critical, for Earth's population will quickly starve without Martian supplies. The plot and the speculative concepts grounding it are shaky at best, resulting in a novel that distinguishes itself as neither science nor fiction. Hawkes, however, will appeal to those who like their heroes Hollywood-style, a man whose integrity gets him into scrapes that he punches, shoots and slices his way out of. His crises are nearly endless, so fans of hardboiled SF ("And now, he thought, he was going to Mars. Heaven help whoever he found there") could do worse that to join him in his bloody quest. (Apr.)

Library Journal

Star Trek actor and sf author Shatner begins a new series featuring diplomat Benton Hawkes. As punishment for negotiating fairly, he is sent to Mars as its governor to quell unrest among the human colonists who supply all of Earth's food. Tight writing, rather than character development, propels this action/adventure. Fans of his "Tek" series will enjoy.

BookList - Roland Green

Whatever future the Tek universe may have, its author now turns his attention to that new hardy perennial subject matter of sf, a human-settled Mars. His new yarn inaugurates a projected series featuring diplomat Benton Hawkes, who begins the book appalled at the prospect of becoming governor of Mars. He is yet more appalled at the number of attempts on his life that promptly ensue, leading to some extremely well done action scenes. In spite of the best efforts of unknown enemies, he reaches Mars, and with his female assistant, Dina Martel, exposes the corrupt Earth influences that have the Martian settlers on the verge of blood-red revolution. This a very different sort of book from the Tek tales--more somber in tone, smoother in the reading, largely devoid of satire, and with political and military scenarios developed along classic sf lines. For some readers, it will recall Heinlein's "Moon Is a Harsh Mistress" (of course, the cat-loving sf community may have problems with the dog-loving protagonist). It is a workmanlike, highly readable tale that will doubtless please Shatner's substantial audience.

Kirkus Reviews

First of a new cycle from the author of the interminable Tek series, this set in the mid-21st century and featuring grumpy fiftysomething career diplomat Benton Hawkes. Having annoyed his politico bosses, Hawkes is coerced into accepting the governorship of Mars, where a giant problem is looming: The red planet is a huge factory churning out essential food and goods for Earth's desperate billions, but the Martian workers are kept in virtual slavery. Hawkes finds himself in deep trouble before he leaves Earth, what with the bomb under his car and then a military assault on his mountain farmstead; the bad guys even shoot his dog. But several assassination attempts later, he arrives on Mars with his aide, Dina Martel (but can he trust her?) and orders the quarrelling factions to the negotiating table. Surprisingly, both workers and management agree on what needs to be done. So who's scheming to disrupt the talks? Who wants Hawkes dead? It will be obvious to readers—though sadly not to the characters themselves—that Red Planet, Inc., and the Earth League have vested interests in maintaining the status quo.

Hawkes himself is forceful and appealing if none too bright. As for the rest, Shatner will have to do better than stock situations, hackneyed plotting, and such ludicrous Trekkisms as spaceships with built-in gravity and instantaneous communications between Mars and Earth.