The Belt

In this jam-packed science fiction thriller from Lehman (The Realm of Tiny Giants), ambitious Mars colony exobiologist Miguel Hernandez finally makes the discovery he hopes will cement his legacy: microfossils in Sinus Meridiani, proof that life evolved independently on Mars. But before he can collect more samples and publish his findings, he’s branded an outlaw by Lowell Colony’s mayor Andre Rand, who’s long resisted Miguel’s efforts to make Meridiani, a southern region of the planet most likely to have supported alien life, a research preserve. As Miguel flees deeper into the Martian wilderness, he and his four brightest students are pulled into a power struggle that extends out to the asteroid belt and beyond. Lehman jumps unexpectedly between points of view in fast-paced vignettes, pulling more and more characters into a vast political conspiracy. Who is behind this conspiracy, and what is their goal? Perhaps inevitably, the answer is somewhat anticlimactic, but the struggle to survive in the lawless frontier and its effect on these complex and varied characters makes for an enjoyable read. Fans of the Expanse series will find the worldbuilding familiar and enjoy the multilayered political landscape. While not groundbreaking, this is sure to appeal to those looking for a gritty, action-packed Martian survival story. (Self-published)