A Hand on Mars

In this hard science-fiction novel, a crew travels millions of kilometers to explore a dead world. Instead, they discover the darkest corners of themselves. The Ares mission was built to survive unexpected, extreme conditions: sixteen humans and sixteen advanced machines working in tandem. But when they unearth an impossible artifact in the unspoiled sands of Valles Marineris, the expedition spirals into chaos. Away from Earth and stripped of the truth, the Ares becomes a sealed pressure cooker of mutiny, suspicion, and fear. As exiled Captain Sunny fights her way back to the ship, the crew must confront a terrifying situation and attempt to explain the unexplainable. Narrated by Glitch, a highly advanced mining robot forced to navigate the chaotic landscape of human emotion, A Hand on Mars is a brilliant, pulse-pounding exploration of the human mind. Duration - 8h 41m. Author - Francis Malka. Narrator - Jim Briggs. Published Date - Tuesday, 13 January 2026. Copyright - © 2026 Francis Malka ©.