Continuing our focus on science, this week’s New York Times headline reads In a Rock on Mars, NASA Sees ‘Clearest Sign of Life’ So Far. NASA’s Perseverance robotic rover discovered minerals in hardened mud that may be evidence of life on Mars. For those fascinated by Mars, and the possibility of life on it, we invite you to discover the following acclaimed titles for adults and younger readers:
THE SIRENS OF MARS: SEARCHING FOR LIFE ON ANOTHER WORLD by Sarah Stewart Johnson
WINNER OF THE PHI BETA KAPPA AWARD FOR SCIENCE
“Sarah Stewart Johnson interweaves her own coming-of-age story as a planetary scientist with a vivid history of the exploration of Mars in this celebration of human curiosity, passion, and perseverance.”—Alan Lightman
In this beautifully observed, deeply personal book, Georgetown scientist Sarah Stewart Johnson tells the story of how she and other researchers have scoured Mars for signs of life, transforming the planet from a distant point of light into a world of its own.
THE MARTIAN: A NOVEL by Andy Weir
A mission to Mars. A freak accident. One man’s struggle to survive. From the author of Project Hail Mary comes “a hugely entertaining novel that reads like a rocket ship afire” (Chicago Tribune).
“Brilliant . . . a celebration of human ingenuity [and] the purest example of real-science sci-fi for many years . . . utterly compelling.”—The Wall Street Journal
A CITY ON MARS: CAN WE SETTLE SPACE, SHOULD WE SETTLE SPACE, AND HAVE WE REALLY THOUGHT THIS THROUGH? by Kelly Weinersmith, Zach Weinersmith
With deep expertise, a winning sense of humor, and art from the beloved creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, the Weinersmiths investigate perhaps the biggest questions humanity will ever ask itself—whether and how to become multiplanetary. Get in, we’re going to Mars.
RED MARS by Kim Stanley Robinson
Winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel
Discover the novel that launched one of science fiction’s most beloved, acclaimed, and awarded trilogies: Kim Stanley Robinson’s masterly near-future chronicle of interplanetary colonization.
“A staggering book . . . the best novel on the colonization of Mars that has ever been written.”—Arthur C. Clarke
THE BIG BOOK OF MARS: FROM ANCIENT EGYPT TO THE MARTIAN, A DEEP-SPACE DIVE INTO OUR OBSESSION WITH THE RED PLANET by Marc Hartzman
Mars has been a source of fascination and speculation ever since the ancient Egyptians observed its blood-red hue and named it for their god of war and plague. But it wasn’t until the 19th century when “canals” were observed on the surface of the Red Planet, suggesting the presence of water, that scientists, novelists, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs became obsessed with the question of whether there’s life on Mars. The Big Book of Mars offers a comprehensive look at our relationship with Mars—yesterday, today, and tomorrow—through history, archival images, pop culture ephemera, and interviews with NASA scientists.
MISSION TO MARS: MY VISION FOR SPACE EXPLORATION by Buzz Aldrin; Leonard David
Can astronauts reach Mars by 2035? Absolutely, says Buzz Aldrin, one of the first men to walk on the moon. Celebrated astronaut, brilliant engineer, bestselling author, Aldrin believes it is not only possibly but vital to America’s future to keep pushing the space frontier outward for the sake of exploration, science, development, commerce, and security. In Mission to Mars, Aldrin plots that trajectory, stressing that American-led space exploration is essential to the economic and technological vitality of the nation and the world.
MAKING TIME ON MARS by Zara Mirmalek
An examination of how the daily work of NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) was organized across three sites on two planets using local Mars time. Mirmalek, herself a member of the mission team, offers an insider’s view of the MER workplace and community. She describes the discord among MER’s multiple temporalities and examines issues of professional identity that helped shape the experience of working according to Mars time.
FOR YOUNGER READERS
THE LION OF MARS by Jennifer L. Holm
Mars may be a world far, far away, but in the hands of Jennifer L. Holm, beloved and bestselling author of The Fourteenth Goldfish, it can’t help but feel like home.
MARS: EXPLORE THE MYSTERIES OF THE RED PLANET (DK)
This ultimate guide to Mars launches 7–9 year olds on a breathtaking journey through the past, present, and future of the Red Planet with stunning illustrations, photographs, and fascinating information. Packed with fun illustrations by artist Mark Ruffle, combined with images from space agencies such as NASA and ESA, information panels, and diagrams, children will adore this essential guide to the Red Planet. This reissue has been created to ensure the facts and information are up to date with the latest science and technology.
For more information on these and related titles visit Mars
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Posted: September 12, 2025