Without a doubt, we know Mars held intelligent life sometime in the past. Perhaps aliens are still here.
–Gretchen Blake, archaeologist
Blackballed from archaeology on Earth, Gretchen Blake consults for MarsVantage to discover a revolutionary energy source in a remote Martian cave with odd symbols as her sole clue. MarsVantage isn’t the only interested party—Interplanetary wants the prize and MarsVantage itself.
Can she navigate a web of bribery, theft, spies, and murder attempts to discern the symbol’s meaning and reveal the energy source? Does more await, possibly changing humanity’s future?
A 2018 The Wishing Shelf Book Awards Finalist.
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Characters
Gretchen – The government forced me to move to an appropriately sized apartment after my husband non-renewed our marriage contract. If I don’t get work soon, they’ll transfer me into dirty, ill-maintained public housing. Check out how I’d cast this role.
Frank – On Earth, Washington is slowly squeezing MarsVantage with taxes, fees, and regulations. If we don’t change course, we’ll go under for sure. Now’s the time to spend the money to hire an archaeologist to go after the energy crystals known as Marsium121 that is sealed behind odd symbols in a Martian cave. Check out how I’d cast this role.
Chuck – Peter Konklin planted spies within my company, MarsVantage. As Frank is fond of saying, either we’re the unluckiest company around, or someone is feeding Konklin confidential information. Between that and Earth finding ways to hinder our success, I’m not sure how MarsVantage will survive. Chuck out how I’d cast this role.
Peter Konklin – My competition, MarsVantage, will soon be mine. The regulators and congresspeople are doing my bidding, slowly squeezing MarsVantage. I just need to stop the archaeologist consultant that they hired. I don’t know what she’s after, but MarsVantage doesn’t spend money they don’t have to. And I’ll do whatever it takes. I’d prefer to bribe Gretchen, but I’ll eliminate her if it comes to that.
The Caretaker – As this planet died, my people, the Bvindu, evacuated in search of a new world to inhabit. They transferred my consciousness into the master control system. My mission was to safeguard of history, knowledge, and cultural treasures. Their return is long overdue, and I trapped, unable to search for them until a pair of aliens wandered into my power generator.
Below are quick links to posts featuring more in-depth thoughts from the characters.
Gretchen I, II, and III
Frank I and II
Chuck
Erin
Peter Konklin
Caretaker
Some other posts…
The government and blackmarkets play a role in the novel.
Check out some behind the story information and information about quotations I used.
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