Red Mars

Lore & Background

Political tensions escalate between Earth's transnational corporations (transnats) and Martian colonists led by Arkady Bogdanov, who argues against Earth authority. John Boone, the 'First Man on Mars,' is assassinated at Frank Chalmers' instigation. In 2061, Bogdanov launches a revolution against transnat troops. The rebellion fails after the space elevator cable is cut, Phobos is destroyed, and Martian cities are bombarded. Most of the First Hundred die; survivors flee to a hidden refuge called Zygote under the south pole, established by Hiroko Ai. Earth descends into world war, leaving hundreds of millions dead, with transnats forming police states.

Reader's Guide

Red Mars is significant as the foundational entry of the Mars trilogy, establishing the series' central themes of terraforming, political autonomy, and the conflict between scientific progress and natural preservation. The novel's detailed portrayal of Martian settlement and its character-driven narrative set a new standard for hard science fiction. Its awards—the BSFA Award in 1992 and the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1993—underscore its critical acclaim. The book introduces the 'Red' versus 'Green' ideological divide that persists throughout the trilogy, and its depiction of a failed revolution and Earth's collapse sets the stage for the subsequent novels. The novel's influence extends to later works like Robinson's 2312, which shares themes of terraforming and extreme longevity.

Did You Know?

• Red Mars won the BSFA Award in 1992 and the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1993.
• The Ares spacecraft was built from clustered space shuttle external fuel tanks boosted into orbit.
• The 'Russell cocktail' is a biochemical formula to thicken Mars' atmosphere, named after Sax Russell.
• The hidden refuge Zygote is located under the Martian south pole.