The Long Mars

The Long Mars is a science‑fiction novel co‑authored by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. It was first published in the United Kingdom by Bantam Spectra on 2014‑09‑09 and in the United States by Del Rey Books. The novel is the third installment in The Long series, following The Long Earth (2012) and The Long War (2013), and preceding The Long Cosmos (2016).

Overview

The Long Mars expands the series’ central premise: the existence of an infinite series of parallel Earths, accessible via a simple mechanical device known as a “stepper.” In this volume, the protagonists explore alternate versions of Mars that exist on many of these parallel worlds. The narrative follows a diverse group of explorers—including former astronaut Joshua Calvert, linguist Heather, and the genetically engineered soldier Tanish, among others—as they travel to various versions of the Red Planet, each with differing histories, ecosystems, and levels of colonisation.

Plot Summary

The novel begins with the discovery of a stepper capable of reaching worlds where a Mars‑like planet has undergone distinct evolutionary and technological trajectories. The explorers encounter:

• A Mars that remains a barren iron‑rich world, never having been terraformed.
• A Mars that has been fully terraformed and hosts a thriving human civilization.
• A Mars whose surface bodies have evolved in an ecosystem radically different from Earth, producing exotic flora and fauna.
• A Mars in which an early, divergent evolution led to the dominance of intelligent non‑human life forms.

Throughout the narrative, the characters confront ethical dilemmas regarding interference, the consequences of colonisation, and the broader implications of an infinite multiverse for humanity’s place in the cosmos.

Themes

Key themes explored in The Long Mars include:

• Exploration and colonisation – examining the moral responsibilities of exploring and potentially exploiting alien worlds.
• Parallel evolution – speculative biology and the divergent paths life could take under different planetary conditions.
• Multiversal identity – the psychological and societal effects of knowing that innumerable alternate realities exist.

Reception

Critical response was generally positive. Reviewers highlighted the novel’s imaginative world‑building and the seamless blending of Pratchett’s character‑driven humor with Baxter’s hard‑science speculation. The Guardian praised the book for “expanding the possibilities of the series while retaining its human heart.” Kirkus Reviews noted the “intricate plotting and thought‑provoking speculation” but mentioned that the novel’s extensive cast could be challenging for readers unfamiliar with earlier entries.

Publication Details

Series Context

The Long Mars is part of a collaborative series that explores the concept of the “Long Earth” – an infinite set of parallel Earths reachable via simple technology, challenging conventional notions of geography, economics, and humanity’s future. The series is notable for being one of the few major works co‑written by Pratchett, a prolific fantasy author, and Baxter, a leading hard‑science science‑fiction writer.

Adaptations

As of the knowledge cutoff date (June 2024), there are no confirmed film, television, or stage adaptations of The Long Mars. Plans for adaptation have been discussed informally but have not resulted in any publicly announced projects.

See Also

• The Long Earth (novel)
• The Long War (novel)
• The Long Cosmos (novel)
• Parallel universes in fiction
• Terraforming in science‑fiction literature

References

• Pratchett, T., & Baxter, S. (2014). The Long Mars. Bantam Spectra.
• “The Long Mars review – Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter’s multiversal marvel.” The Guardian, 10 September 2014.
• “The Long Mars.” Kirkus Reviews, 12 August 2014.