The Martian Contingency
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About the book
Mary Robinette Kowal returns to Mars in this latest entry to the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Lady Astronaut series. “Kowal masters both science and historical accuracy in this alternate history adventure.”—Andy Weir, author of The Martian, on The Calculating Stars Years after a meteorite strike obliterated Washington, D.C.—triggering an extinction-level global warming event—Earth’s survivors have started an international effort to establish homes on space stations and the Moon. The next step – Mars. Elma York, the Lady Astronaut, lands on the Red Planet, optimistic about preparing for the first true wave of inhabitants. The mission objective is more than just building the infrastructure of a habitat – they are trying to preserve the many cultures and nuances of life on Earth without importing the hate. But from the moment she arrives, something is off. Disturbing signs hint at a hidden disaster during the First Mars Expedition that never made it into the official transcript. As Elma and her crew try to investigate, they face a wall of silence and obfuscation. Their attempts to build a thriving Martian community grind to a halt. What you don’t know CAN harm you. And if the truth doesn’t come to light, the ripple effects could leave humanity stranded on a dying Earth... Lady Astronaut The Calculating Stars The Fated Sky The Relentless Moon The Martian Contingency At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 7.9 across 53 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 22% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Rankings average of 7.8. That is how 7.8 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardcover | 7.9 | 53 | 100% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“4 stars, Metaphorosis reviews Summary Elma York has reached Mars - living on the surface itself with her husband Nathaniel and a crew of others as the deputy administrator to prepare the way for colonists (or is the term offensive?) still in orbit. But there's something the administrator and many others aren't telling her - something that happened on the mission that built the first dome - and it's important. Review I enjoyed the first book in this series, The Calculating Stars, but somehow managed to miss the next two books. I had no trouble picking up the thread in this one, though. As …”
Frequently asked
What is The Martian Contingency rated?
7.8 out of 10, from 53 reader ratings across 1 independent sources.
Is The Martian Contingency worth reading?
Readers give it 7.8/10 from 53 ratings in open sources.