The Empress of Mars

By: Kage Baker

Narrated by: Nicola Barber

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

When the British Arean Company founded its Martian colony, it welcomed any settlers it could get. Outcasts, misfits, and dreamers emigrated in droves to undertake the grueling task of terraforming the cold red planet - only to be abandoned when the BAC discovered it couldn't turn a profit on Mars.

This is the story of Mary Griffith, a determined woman with three daughters, who opened the only place to buy a beer on the Tharsis Bulge. It's also the story of Manco Inca, whose attempt to terraform Mars brought a new goddess vividly to life; of Stanford Crosley, con man extraordinaire; of Ottorino Vespucci, space cowboy and romantic hero; of the Clan Morrigan; of the denizens of the Martian Motel, and of the machinations of another company entirely - all of whom contribute to the downfall of the BAC and the founding of a new world. But Mary and her struggles and triumphs are at the center of it all, in her bar, the Empress of Mars.

Based on the Hugo-nominated novella of the same name, this is a rollicking novel of action, planetary romance, and high adventure.

©2009 Kage Baker (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Most writers’ alternate universes are fun to visit, but Kage Baker’s is one I wouldn’t mind moving to: the Barsoom of Edgar Rice Burroughs... seen through the eyes of a writer far more poetic, vastly more scientifically literate, and with an infinitely superior sense of humor. Even as science-fictional taverns go, the Empress of Mars is memorable, a joint I hope I’ll be able to return to many times.” (Spider Robinson)

Wonderful Story

I'm so glad to have discovered this Author, and so sad that she is not with us anymore. Her books a truly imaginative, and the characters are engaging. I wish she would have expanded it into a series....But taken as it is, its a great book. Thanks to audible for putting this on a special priced selection.

Superb narration

This is the first Nicola Barber narrated book I listened to and I was hooked ever since. She adds an extra element to this already great story. Don't expect star trek, or laser gun fights - its just a well written story that happens to be set on Mars. Highly recommend.

I love this book.

This is quirky, funny, endearing and even uplifting story of the first colonists on Mars. Not only is this a sci-fi, “wild west” adventure, but it is a subtle indictment of what society considers “normal”. Historically, “Go west, young man” was a polite way of saying “Go way, weird guy”. This is the case with the initial population of Mars.

In this future, mainstream society is atheist, vegetarian, and non-alcoholic. So those who subscribe to a religion, raise cattle, or drink beer are societal outsiders. The dumping of mental institutions’ population has always been an excellent way to seed the new frontier, especially when antisocial behavior is what put the person in “hospital”. It’s an excellent way to get a blue collar workforce for a completely hostile environment.

It’s nice to see that corporate greed and corruption is alive a well in the future. Pay to move employees somewhere (Mars), then close down the business, lay off the workers and let them fend for themselves. Let’s not forget corporate sabotage, fraud, intimidation… all the oldies but goodies.

The center of this counter culture society is a bar at the end of the habitable tubes filled with people who are at their metaphoric “end of the line”. This cast of characters is well worth the listen. I especially enjoyed the malfunctioning interpreter program used to translate the local Pan-Celt dialect to Italian. There also a lone American that runs a mobile casino\dental\insurance\investment\hmmm…“companion” business. It’s fun to see how the dysfunctional make a functional society.

Plesant interesting book

Would you consider the audio edition of The Empress of Mars to be better than the print version?

The Woman reading this book is very good, very plesant, and it really made for a good read.

What other book might you compare The Empress of Mars to and why?

I read this book just after finishing the Mars Triology (Kim Stanley Robinson), and this book was a nice alternative universe for Mars. Not the NASA version but the British emperial version.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"A Beer on Mars"

Any additional comments?

I wish the book was longer, or that more books in same universe would follow. I really liked many of the characters, and the tone of the book. I am used to bigh thick books, and this one did feel a bit thin.

Engaging Frontier Story

Would you listen to The Empress of Mars again? Why?

Yes to pick up on detail that I'm sure I missed the first time through.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved the driver's, their characters and mission.

A Fun Book

The time is in the future but parents still have issues with kids and people are still looking to make deals. Some interesting characters out there in space, a little rough around the edges but with good intentions and spirit, almost like the early pioneers of Australia.

I honestly didn't know what to expect but..

this book really drew me in. this was just a great story and wish it had another book to follow it.

Space Western with Promise But No Plot

A space western that has promise, but lost me in the end with no cohesive plot, just a loose conglomeration of vignettes that seem like ideas for episodes of a TV show, but which never really came together and gelled for me. Also, after having read the descriptions of the other books in this "series," I can't see how this one fits in with the master story-arc at all.

Audiobook reader was wonderful, creating a multitude of characters with many different varieties of accented English, as well as mannerisms and tones. Would definitely listen to more of her work.

Wonderful, witty story!

I keep coming back to this story again and again. It's hilarious and heartbreaking. The characters are brilliant.

A modern, female centered, tale of colonization.

Llight fronteir adventure featuring the sort of mis-fit cast of characters one would expect in a Gothic western. Spiced with romance and corporate colonialism, and a main character who bears a small resemblance to Esther Short, a thorn in the side of the Hudson's Bay Corporation. Much fun!