Join humanity’s mad blast toward Mars in this rollicking near-future satire

“You’d like to be the first man on Mars, the next Neil Armstrong, wouldn’t you?”

Astronaut Addy Johnson and his wife, Bria, beat the odds (and dodge a publicity scandal) to be on NASA’s first crewed mission to Mars, along with another astronaut couple. The foursome are best friends and chart-topping bandmates in the runup to their mission, supporting each other as they grapple with personal conflicts and the rigors of training in Antarctica.

After the “Boeing Deepthrust” rocket launches the astronauts toward the stars, tensions run high when Addy, misjudging the impact of defying Mission Control—and the wishes of Bria and the other crew members—ponders a risky gambit to outrace their Chinese competition to the Red Planet. Facing a challenge that could end their deep space voyage, they experiment with the peculiar cargo someone smuggled onboard.

This big-hearted satire by first-time novelist Richmond Scott is a scintillating read for sci-fi fans. Addy and his crew share their adventure with a vibrant ensemble of characters including amorous robots and reality TV stars. Set in a not-too-distant future overrun by corporate sponsorships and a collective obsession with celebrity, Tripping Toward Mars takes you on a dazzling, high-spirited ride.