I Read Books: In The Courts Of The Crimson Kings

 

In The Courts Of The Crimson Kings

On a Mars that was terraformed in the deep past, Americans and the Eastbloc both have bases. The native Martians, not quite human, have been civilised since Earth’s stone age. Once a planetary empire, they are in decline as the planet dries out and city states act to conserve resources. Their technology is based on genetic engineering, with squid-like engines, and low energy machines.

Jeremy Wainman goes out on an archaeological expedition, hiring Teyud za-Zhalt as a mercenary to captain the local crew of the landship. But events are moving, even on slow old Mars. In the seat of the Tollamune Emperors – the Courts Of The Crimson Kings under Olympos Mons – plots revolving around the Wet Worlders and Teyud herself spin out.

A little alternate history, some biological science fiction and a great big lot of sword-and-planet, somehow made slightly more plausible. The Martians themselves – pragmatic, unsentimental, not-quite-alien in viewpoint – are a highlight of the book. Swashbuckling on Mars that sharply escalates – possibly too frantically paced.

Read This: Updated old school planetary adventure
Don’t Read This: Just a bunch of Mars nonsense