Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy

[Communist Mutant From Outer Space]

I am about to begin reading this book as I intend to write an essay about it, on the topic of "Politics". Could anyone who has read it give me an idea as to whether or not it would be a good enough book for that sort of topic, and if it is, what political topics can be explored through reading it? Any help would be appreciated, as long as there's no spoilers. If it impossible not to spoil it while discussing this, then I will wait until I've read it to receive any answers.

[Heretek]

I think it depends on which you focus on, or if you do the series as a whole. I never got to finish the last book, but throughout the series there is the issue of severing ties from earth and founding a new type of society, and one of the main proponents of this is a doctor of the main cast. Their ideas could be vague at times, but eventually crystallized into something coherent. Another issue is colonialism, and the way earth interacts with the Martians. There's also environmental concerns that get brought up a few times.

If the Mars trilogy doesn't pan out, I could recommend the other book 2312 by the same author. The politics in that book are much more of the focus and central issue.

[Homo Songun]

I read the whole trilogy. I'm certain that Robinson is some kind of leftist. You need to read the whole thing to get the true sweep of Robinson's vision of Martian politics. The first book is the best though.

I actually am pretty ambivalent about the series, there are lengthy passages about Martian geology that are just incredibly dull. And there are multiple chapters containing borderline stereotypical depictions of French, Arab, and Japanese people, IMO.

The most annoying thing for me though is that Robinson sets up different Martian political factions that fight each other to the death, but there is no convincingly material basis for the political differences. They just kill each other for the sake of vague ideas.

In summary, heavy-handed but fun.