The Long Mars
(Long Earth 3)
📘 About This Book
THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER 'Imaginative, sense-of-wonder at its best . . . thrilling stuff from the masters' Independent on Sunday 'A thrilling and ceaselessly entertaining ride' SFX 2040-2045: In the years after a cataclysmic eruption there is massive economic dislocation as populations flee to myriad Long Earth worlds. Sally, Joshua, and Lobsang are all involved in this perilous work when, out of the blue, Sally is contacted by her long-vanished father and inventor of the original Stepper device, Willis Linsay. He tells her he is planning a fantastic voyage across the Long Mars and wants her to accompany him. But he is not what he seems. For Joshua, the crisis he faces is much closer to home. He becomes embroiled in the plight of the Next: the super-bright post-humans who are beginning to emerge from their 'long childhood' in a hidden community located deep in the Long Earth. Ignorance and fear are causing 'normal' human society to turn against the Next - and a dramatic showdown seems inevitable . . . ___________________ The Long Mars is the third in the Long Earth series.
📖 Summary
The Long Mars, published in 2014 and spanning 451 pages, is a Sunday Times top 10 bestselling work of fiction that continues the grand, imaginative exploration of the multiverse started in the collaborative universe of Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter. Set between the years 2040 and 2045, the narrative unfolds in a world radically altered by a cataclysmic eruption. This disaster triggers massive economic dislocation as terrified populations flee their traditional homes to seek refuge among the myriad alternate realities known as the Long Earth worlds. Mankind is spreading outward, stepping laterally through infinite versions of our planet, attempting to build new lives away from terrestrial catastrophe. Amidst this sweeping backdrop of migration and survival, familiar figures return to the stage. Sally, Joshua, and Lobsang find themselves deeply involved in the perilous work of managing the exodus and helping humanity adapt to its sprawling new reality. However, the fragile stability of this expansion is soon disrupted by unexpected messages and close-to-home crises. Out of the blue, Sally is contacted by her long-vanished father, Willis Linsay, the original inventor of the Stepper device that made multi-world travel possible in the first place. Willis reveals a grand and audacious ambition: he is planning a fantastic voyage across the Long Mars and wants Sally to accompany him on this unprecedented trek. Yet, as Sally engages with her estranged father, she quickly realizes that he is not what he seems, hiding complex motives beneath his charismatic exterior. At the same time, Joshua Valienté faces a crisis that is much closer to his own life and heart. He becomes intimately embroiled in the plight of the Next, the super-bright post-human beings who are beginning to emerge and evolve within the sprawling tapestry of the Long Earth. These intellectual successors to humanity possess capabilities and perspectives that challenge the very definition of what it means to be human, and Joshua must navigate their delicate, unfolding situation. As these narrative threads intertwine, the novel expands its canvas to examine not just the physical thrills of exploring an endless red planet, but also the philosophical, social, and economic consequences of a species unbounded by a single world. Readers are treated to a thrilling and ceaselessly entertaining ride that combines hard science fiction concepts with profound questions about humanity's future, generational divides, and the responsibilities of creation. Through intricate world-building and a profound sense of wonder, the book captures the awe and terror of stepping into the unknown.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Imaginative and filled with a profound sense of wonder
Thrilling and ceaselessly entertaining narrative pace
Expands deeply on the fascinating multiverse world-building
Engages with thought-provoking themes regarding post-human evolution
⚠️ Cons
Some readers may find the pacing uneven due to multiple shifting subplots
Requires familiarity with the broader premise of the series to fully appreciate the context
✍️ About the Author
Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) was an English author celebrated for the 'Discworld' series, a satirical fantasy saga spanning over 40 novels known for its wit, social commentary, and inventive world-building.
View all books →❓ FAQ
Who authored The Long Mars? +
The book was written by Stephen Baxter.
When was The Long Mars published? +
It was published in 2014.
How many pages does the book contain? +
The book contains 451 pages.
What major disaster triggers the economic dislocation in the story? +
A cataclysmic eruption causes massive economic dislocation as populations flee to the Long Earth worlds.
Who contacts Sally out of the blue with an invitation for a voyage? +
Her long-vanished father and inventor of the original Stepper device, Willis Linsay, contacts her.
