The Music of Mars-Chuck Has a Spy Problem

Chuck’s concerned about Konklin’s spies within MarsVantage… I have no proof. Either my board members disbelieve or don’t care, but I know Peter Konklin has spies in my company, MarsVantage. For over a decade, Konklin and his company have been one step ahead of us. As soon as we get traction in an area, we … Read more

The Music of Mars-Frank and the Knowledge Keepers

Franks talks about the Knowledge Keepers… Just after my engagement to Lori, she inducted me as an initiate in the Knowledge Keeper Order. She taught me the ins and outs until she died in the Airlock Accident. When the public catches Knowledge Keepers in action, they see clowns, which is designed to cover our actual … Read more

The Music of Mars-Behind the Story

In The Music of Mars, I wanted to explore practical aspects of having a colony on Mars, which means dealing with planetary separation, and how various elements of such a distance affected character motivation and actions. Today, it takes around 260 days (a tick under nine months) to travel from Earth to Mars with the … Read more

The Music of Mars-Why Gretchen Went to Mars

Gretchen shares her reasons for going to Mars… After my husband non-renewed our marriage contract, I completed the residence change application. The Housing Ministry assigned me housing to match my single status. In other words, it was small. Don’t get me wrong, it was pleasant enough–far better than living in a Quonset hut in Antartica. … Read more

The Music of Mars-The Caretaker’s Perspective

The Caretaker, the lone Bvindu on Mars, shares his thoughts on current events… For over 100,000 orbits, I safeguarded the knowledge and treasures of my people, the Bvindu, on this dead planet, fourth from the star. I eagerly await the day my people return for me and our heritage, so I can leave the control … Read more

TMOM-Erin’s Perspective

Erin, MarsVantage’s top pilot, shares her thoughts on current events… If events would’ve happened a few months earlier, I would’ve known everything. But after I turned down Frank’s marriage proposal, he made himself scarce. Actually, he’s been avoiding me. I hurt him, and he’s still in pain. When Frank approached me to back up his … Read more

The Music of Mars–Peter Konklin’s Side

Peter Konklin shares his perspective: Twelve years ago the government stole my Mars division after a small, unfortunate accident. That now-independent company, MarsVantage, is striving to prosper. And it’s mine, regardless of what the government thinks or what the incorporation papers say. Back then, I couldn’t stop the government, moved by the public outcry over … Read more

The Music of Mars–Chuck’s Story

Chuck O’Donnell shares his perspective: Lately, I’ve been watching Washington, D.C. close in on my company, MarsVantage. Bumping up the export fees to and import fees from Earth were straightforward, directly affecting the bottom line. Their other tactics, however, were more creative, like enacting the Space Transport Safety Act requiring significant upgrades to all space-going … Read more

The Music of Mars–Frank Speaks

Frank Brentford shares a few thoughts: I lived on Mars my entire life, learned engineering from my dad, and worked my way to engineering manager in MarsVantage. When going through my dad’s things, I found a crystal fragment that generates electricity when submerged in water according to his handwritten journal. With a new, local energy … Read more

Book Signing

On February 7th, I’ll have my first solo book signing at Comic Logic in Ashburn, VA at 5 p.m. If you’re local, check out the comics, collectables, and my book. GeorgeI’m an author living in northern Virginia with a wife and a cat. In the late ’80s, I worked on the International Space Station project. … Read more