Description

Mary Robinette Kowal explores Mars once again in this compelling new installment of the acclaimed Lady Astronaut series, winner of Hugo and Nebula Awards.

“Kowal brilliantly balances scientific precision with historical authenticity in this alternate-history adventure.” — Andy Weir, acclaimed author of The Martian, speaking about The Calculating Stars.

Decades after the devastating meteorite collision that destroyed Washington D.C. and created a global climate crisis threatening human extinction, the survivors on Earth have embarked on an ambitious international mission to build colonies in orbit and on the Moon. Now humanity turns its attention outward—to Mars.

Elma York, known as the Lady Astronaut, lands on Mars filled with optimism, determined to pave the way toward an era of true Martian settlement. Her team’s mission goes beyond merely constructing livable habitats; they aim to sustain humanity’s rich culture and diversity, while intentionally leaving behind the prejudice and hatred that plagued Earth.

Yet, from the moment they touch down, Elma senses something deeply unsettling. She spots troubling hints of a catastrophic failure that occurred during the earlier First Mars Expedition—one not recorded in official accounts. As she and her crew strive to uncover the truth behind this hidden event, they run into a persistent wall of secrets and obstruction. Progress toward building a flourishing Martian settlement stalls, increasingly jeopardized by mysteries of the past.

In a world where hidden truths can become deadly dangers, the truth must come out—or humanity’s dreams of a safe new home could collapse, inevitably leaving mankind stranded on a planet racing toward ruin.

This belongs to the Lady Astronaut series, including these acclaimed novels:
The Calculating Stars
The Fated Sky
The Relentless Moon
The Martian Contingency