Before Mars - (Planetfall Novel) by Emma Newman (Paperback)

About the Book

"After months of travel, Anna Kubrin finally arrives on Mars for her new job as a geologist and de facto artist-in-residence. Already she feels like she is losing the connection with her husband and baby at home on Earth--and she'll be on Mars for over a year. Throwing herself into her work, she tries her best to fit in with the team. But in her new room on the base, Anna finds a mysterious note written in her own handwriting, warning her not to trust the colony psychologist"--

Book Synopsis

Hugo Award winner Emma Newman returns to the captivating Planetfall universe with a dark tale of a woman stationed on Mars who starts to have doubts about everything around her.

After months of travel, Anna Kubrin finally arrives on Mars for her new job as a geologist and de facto artist in residence--and already she feels she is losing the connection with her husband and baby at home on Earth.

In her room on the base, Anna finds a mysterious note, painted in her own hand, warning her not to trust the colony psychiatrist. A note she can't remember painting.

When she finds a footprint in a place that the colony AI claims has never been visited by humans, Anna begins to suspect that she is caught up in an elaborate corporate conspiracy. Or is she losing her grip on reality? Anna must find the truth, regardless of what horrors she might discover or what they might do to her mind.

Review Quotes

"Before Mars is an expertly woven story that includes elements of science fiction and intrigue to keep the reader guessing from page to page...very accessible for readers who are new to the series."--Booklist

"A psychological thriller wearing the cloak of a gripping sci-fi story...delivered in excellently page-turning fashion"--LA Times

"A thrilling read."--Space.com

"Part science fiction, part corporate conspiracy thriller...[Newman] channels both Andy Weir and Elon Musk to craft a compelling space odyssey."--Mountain Times

"A slow-burn psychological thriller...a science fictional spin on the gaslighting theme as novels such as Girl on the Train."--Financial Times

"Emma Newman has done it again...Before Mars was tremendously engaging and surprising. The Planetfall Series is easily one of my favorite ongoing science-fiction series."--SFF Reviews

Praise for the Planetfall novels

"Cathartic and transcendent."--The New York Times

"Exceptionally engaging...A vivid, riveting read."--The Washington Post

"Gripping and sorrowful, this imaginative story is a satisfying return to Newman's future of greed and hope."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A thrilling tale of murder, mystery, and madness...Will keep you riveted until the very last page."--Kameron Hurly, author of The Stars Are Legion

"Emma Newman creates addictive page-turners."--Starburst Magazine

"The murder investigation will intrigue readers, while the overall feeling of something more sinister happening keeps the pages turning until the unexpected conclusion."--Booklist

About the Author

Emma Newman is the author of Planetfall, After Atlas, Before Mars, and Atlas Alone, and is also a professional audiobook narrator, narrating short stories and novels in all genres. She also cowrites and hosts a Hugo nominated podcast called "Tea & Jeopardy." Emma is a keen role-player, gamer, and designer-dressmaker.