Mars > The near future > Across the Red Planet's stark, unforgiving expanse, a unique future society is emerging, one that teeters on the brink of triumph - and catastrophe.

With internal divisions amongst the Martians and relations between Mars and Earth careening towards breaking point, Ailia Bax, a war-weary journalist haunted by flashbacks from her past, is thrust into the heart of a brewing conflict where she must navigate a treacherous landscape of multilayered political intrigue, the fickleness of human nature, and her own demons.

Set against the backdrop of a vividly imagined Martian society composed of humans and sapient robots striving towards a utopian future and battling to preserve the pristine wilderness of the planet, Ailia is forced to delve deep into the complexities of Martian life. As she forges alliances, she becomes an unlikely ally in the Martians' fight for self-determination and makes decisions that will ultimately shape the fate of a new world.

That's if the planet and a terrorist bomber don't kill her first ...

"Dances with Wolves" meets "The West Wing" with an unlikely Martian heroine, EMERGENT MARS is a thought-provoking tale that combines the best elements of hard science fiction and environmentalism into a slow-burn political thriller. Compelling, immersive and realistic hopepunk from start to finish, with outstanding characters and superb world-building, it's a thoroughly engrossing read.