THE MARS HOUSE by Natasha Pulley

4 stars

With Earth being flooded due to climate change, humans have set up colonies on Mars as refuge. January, the principal dancer of London’s Royal ballet, seeks to escape flooded London as he faces starvation. As a means of survival, he accepts a spot at the Chinese colony on Mars called Tharsis (which brings to mind the colony being a catharsis for Earth climate refugees).

Given Mars low gravity, newcomers from Earth become prejudicially known at “Earthstrongers” by the “Natural people” born to Mars and after many generations fully acclimated to life on the low gravity planet. The new arrivals are forced to wear tight and heavy metal cages to prevent them from damaging the Natural people. As immigrants, they live in substandard housing and only have the option of low paid manual labor which keeps them impoverished. Moreover, they’re pressured to undergo a dangerous medical procedure called “naturalization” to further weaken them, which renders many unable to walk and almost guarantees nerve damage. But without undergoing the procedure the Earthstrong lack access to better jobs, food and the security that comes with citizenship.

In a chance encounter, January meets Senator Aubrey Gale who’s running a fierce anti-immigration campaign against the Earthstrong, wanting them all to be naturalized. After the encounter, January ends up being jailed in a perceived threat- diminishing all of his propects of survival on Mars without undergoing naturalization- which he resists out of both prinicipal and also as all his life he’s relied on his strong muscles and body as a dancer. Gale, who’s the elite of the elite on Mars and running to win the ruling consul position, ask January into a 5-year marriage of convenience to win more Earthstrong votes. January, without viable alternatives, accepts.

What follows is an intricate plot of political machinations, a cool look at potential advanced future tech developments, ethical debates about what makes people more powerful – strength or power, and an unexpected budding romance between January and Gale.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.