I finally managed to read the last few pages of The Smithsonian Book of Mars, which I started reading back in April (I've been busy). It's a great book, covering the major planetary geology and climatology topics and reviewing the robotic exploration of the planet up to today.

Coincidentally, I received on the same day an advance copy of William Hartmann's A Traveller's Guide to Mars. I've only had a chance to flip through it, but already it looks like what I have been searching for for quite some time. Hartmann approaches the surface geology and geography of Mars as one might a foreign country, presenting the sights and attraction of the various regions of the planet. What seems unique about this book is the ground-level perspective he uses -- the look and feel of the book (I can't yet speak for the content) make you feel like you are right down near the surface features he is describing, rather than floating high above. Interestingly, the book includes a number of paintings by the author from this "on the ground" perspective...one would think a coffee-table book of such art, if scientifically accurate and photorealistic, would be a big seller.

I look forward to reading it.