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Natasha Pulley

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The Mars House: A Novel Hardcover – March 19, 2024

by Natasha Pulley (Author)

4.5 123 ratings

Editors' pick Best Science Fiction & Fantasy

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A compulsively readable queer sci-fi novel about a marriage of convenience between a Mars politician and an Earth refugee.

As Recommended By: Amazon * LitHub * Gizmodo * New Scientist * LGBTQ Reads * Reactor Magazine * KOBO Canada * BookRiot

In the wake of an environmental catastrophe, January, once a principal in London's Royal Ballet, has become a refugee in Tharsis, the terraformed colony on Mars. There, January's life is dictated by his status as an Earthstronger-a person whose body is not adjusted to lower gravity and so poses a danger to those born on, or naturalized to, Mars. January's job choices, housing, and even transportation are dictated by this second-class status, and now a xenophobic politician named Aubrey Gale is running on a platform that would make it all worse: Gale wants all Earthstrongers to naturalize, a process that is always disabling and sometimes deadly.

When Gale chooses January for an on-the-spot press junket interview that goes horribly awry, January's life is thrown into chaos, but Gale's political fortunes are damaged, too. Gale proposes a solution to both their problems: a five year made-for-the-press marriage that would secure January's future without naturalization and ensure Gale's political success. But when January accepts the offer, he discovers that Gale is not at all like they appear in the press. They're kind, compassionate, and much more difficult to hate than January would prefer. As their romantic relationship develops, the political situation worsens, and January discovers Gale has an enemy, someone willing to destroy all of Tharsis to make them pay-and January may be the only person standing in the way.

Un-put-downably immersive and utterly timely, Natasha Pulley's new novel is a gripping story about privilege, strength, and life across class divisions, perfect for readers of Sarah Gailey and Tamsyn Muir.

Print length

480 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date

March 19, 2024
Dimensions

6.37 x 1.44 x 9.56 inches
ISBN-10

1639732330
ISBN-13

978-1639732333
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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Delightful . . . The Mars House moves as nimbly as its ballet-dancer hero . . . pivoting toward something that's both nuanced and fresh. The result is both an epic love story and a deft political thriller.” ―The Washington Post

“British bestselling author Natasha Pulley is best known for historical fiction, but in The Mars House, she imagines a world in the future . . . If you love Isaac Asimov and Margaret Atwood for their speculative look at what the future may hold, you won't be able to put down The Mars House.” ―The Globe and Mail

“Already one of my favorite books of the year . . . There's palace intrigue, a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers plot, sassy footnotes, and also there are mammoths! It's a total delight from start to finish.” ―Lit Hub's Most Anticipated Books of 2024

“[A] futuristic blend of science fiction and romance that uses its alien setting to explore . . . climate change, immigration, gender ideology, and political corruption . . . an utterly unique and gently beautiful love story rooted in a complicated exploration of our need for connection and a place to call home . . . the sort of book that will stick with you long after you reach its final page.” ―Paste Magazine

“Pulley astonishes in this thorny and addictive sci-fi romance.” ―Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Full of charming details and gender-bending gallantry, this imaginative thriller is a pleasure to read.” ―Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“Readers will appreciate all the delightful details of worldbuilding, character arcs, and slow romantic tension. Exquisitely layered and entertaining, Pulley's latest novel is a queer tale of planetary refugees, politics, and populist views (and mammoths).” ―Library Journal

“This book has everything. Intergalactic climate refugees! Slow-burn queer romance! Gender-fluid aliens! Political intrigue with a whiff of murder! Natasha Pulley's newest seems to defy categorization, but I'd venture to guess it'll appeal to fans of Ursula K. Le Guin, N.K. Jemisin, and Mary Doria Russell. Plus, Pulley wrote one of my favorite books of 2015, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street-a twisty-turny steampunky historical fiction tale-that I still think about often. This one promises to be just as thrilling.” ―theSkimm

“The Mars House is narratively compelling . . . and stylistically welcoming, with a wit that tends towards whimsy.” ―Locus Magazine

“Pulley has wrapped an enemies-to-lovers, fake-marriage romance in a fascinating sf-world package . . . Magnetic . . . Charming . . . Readers will have incredible fun reading about this slow-burn romance, the itch of two creepy background mysteries, and a delightful scene involving judgmental mammoths.” ―Booklist

““The novel-set on Mars in a vaguely distant apocalyptic future-will likely be the most immersive, surprising, charming book I'll read all year.”” ―Chicago Review of Books

““Absolutely riveting.”” ―AudioFile Magazine

“[V]isionary . . . Subverting a tale about creeping interplanetary fascism with the power of profound, even reckless compassion, The Mars House is a dazzling novel about humanity's future.” ―Foreword Reviews

“An incredibly ambitious novel . . . The Mars House is a complex and captivating story.” ―Reactor Magazine

“Few writers combine such warmth and heart with such consummate skill at Natasha Pulley. She sends the reader our into the skies, and deep into themselves, places we never knew we could travel. Reading her is both a joyful and profound experience-and The Mars House is her most daring, ambitious and exciting book yet.” ―Catriona Ward

“Natasha Pulley heads to the gulags, then to an atomic village, in her latest to combine fast-paced action and imaginative settings with beautifully developed queer relationships.” ―CrimeReads Queer Mysteries and Thrillers to Read All Year Long on THE HALF LIFE OF VALERY K

“Natasha Pulley builds a surreal world that slowly reveals immense dangers. It's an absorbing Cold War thriller as well as a tribute to courage and determination.” ―Christian Science Monitor on THE HALF LIFE OF VALERY K

“Brilliantly conceived, vibrantly realized, and complexly suspenseful.” ―Booklist, Starred Review on THE HALF LIFE OF VALERY K

“Fans of such stories will be richly entertained by the lavish world-building and breakneck plotting of Natasha Pulley's The Kingdoms…Beautiful, surreal imagery appears throughout the novel, too . . . Clear a weekend if you can, and let yourself be absorbed.” ―The New York Times Book Review on THE KINGDOMS

About the Author

Natasha Pulley is the internationally bestselling author of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, The Bedlam Stacks, The Lost Future of Pepperharrow, The Kingdoms, and The Half Life of Valery K. She has won a Betty Trask Award, been shortlisted for the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award, the Royal Society of Literature's Encore Award, and the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, and longlisted for the Walter Scott Prize. She lives in Bristol, England.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury Publishing (March 19, 2024)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639732330
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639732333
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.7 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.37 x 1.44 x 9.56 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #42,067 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #487 in Exploration Science Fiction
- #1,588 in Science Fiction Adventures
- #2,016 in LGBTQ+ Romance (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 123 ratings

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Natasha Pulley

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Natasha Pulley was born in Cambridge. She read English Literature at Oxford before doing an MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. In 2013 she went to Japan on a scholarship from the Daiwa Anglo Japanese Foundation. She lived in Tokyo for a year and a half, learning Japanese and researching her first book, 'The Watchmaker of Filigree Street'. She spent several months in Peru courtesy of a travel grant from the Society of Authors, chasing llamas and researching 'The Bedlam Stacks', and more recently, spent some time in Shanghai studying Mandarin for 'The Mars House'. She lives in Bristol.

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4.5 out of 5

123 global ratings

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LadyCaterina1121

An love story like no other

Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024

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Natasha Pulley is my favorite author so I had extremely high expectations for the Mars House. Even they were exceeded! The Mars House is at heart a love story in the purest sense. The love and trust that can grow between two people, between groups of people united for a common goal of survival, and what really makes a family. January Stirling, principal dancer, must flee London when it floods and becomes unlivable for good. The only place willing to offer a place to live is a settlement on Mars. But Mars is not some glowing paradise either. The residents of Mars have been genetically altered to live in the lower gravity of Mars and regard humans straight from earth as dangerous because of their greater strength. On Mars, Earthstrong humans must wear cages to keep from accidentally hurting their lighter-gravity counterparts and are very much second-class citizens. Unless of course they’re willing to undergo experimental surgery and other treatments designed to naturalize them to Mars. This has many drawbacks, including loss of mobility that may be permanent, and one big benefit: citizenship and healthcare and universal basic income. One of the loudest voices for making naturalization mandatory is Senator Aubrey Gale, who was injured in a protest that turned into chaos and a riot by, you guessed it, an Earthstrong person. So when they and their publicity department tour the plant that January must do manual labor in just to survive, an off-hand remark January is goaded into saying leads to him being imprisoned for hate speech and when he’s finally freed his choices are bleak. Senator Gale’s political opponent from a rival House points out that they casually destroyed a man’s life for a sound bite and they’ve had no idea and given him not a second thought. Aubrey’s solution is literally the last thing anyone would expect. They propose a marriage of convenience to January for the next five years, and at the end of it, January will be free and wealthy, and not need to naturalize and give up the ability to dance. The catch? His entire life will be broadcast constantly to all of Mars. The Senator is terrified of all Earthstrong people. Oh, and the last fiancé went missing along with the Senator’s twin. What could possibly go wrong? Just about everything, and that’s just the beginning. But along the way, can Audrey and January forge a friendship and true partnership out of their sham marriage? And yes, if you’ve been reading Natasha’s social media, I can confirm that there are in fact mammoths. Along with a giant husky named Kasha. Please read this wonderful story!

3 people found this helpful

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mare

Sunshine out of darkness.

Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024

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I recommended this book to a friend, and she read the description and said it sounded pretty intense and dark. Objectively speaking, probably so. But I found myself really enjoying how the main character liked people, and was so caught by whimsy and the sheer quirky oddities of life. His perspectives and moments of joy leavened what could have been a weighty and grim story. The footnotes were also so much fun…

In addition, I liked how this book made me think about language and how it evolves, and how it reflects a culture. It also made me think about strength and power. And it made me consider how complacent we are in our first world countries with our many advantages and protections against dangers others less fortunate are exposed to constantly. Made me shift uncomfortably to imagine a time when we might be the third world, disadvantaged people.

Highly recommend.

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Plot Trysts

5 star reading experience, 3 star themes

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024

The Mars House: five star reading experience with three star themes. I was invested in everything on the page and as long as I didn't think too hard about it, it was pretty perfect. First, some basics: this is hard science fiction. Earth is a flaming garbage heap, and there are climate refugees who need to escape their homelands. Some of them immigrate to Mars. Martian society was founded eight generations ago and has its own culture, adapted to the higher radiation and lower gravity of life on that planet. "Earthstrong" refugees are stronger and faster on Mars, although their life expectancy is lower; Martian "Naturals" are taller, slimmer, and have been genetically modified for the Martian climate. Earthstrongers don't know their own strength, making them a danger to their Natural neighbors.⁠ They can "naturalize," a process of acclimatizing to the Martian environment, but it's a difficult process that leaves even the luckiest with some kind of nerve damage. Without naturalizing, they can work only the most menial jobs, where their strength is an asset.⁠
⁠
It's in this setting that we meet MC January, an Earthstrong refugee. In his former life, he was the principal of the London Ballet. On Mars, he barely ekes out a living in a water factory. His dry British humor lands him in jail for threatening the life of a Senator. When he gets out, he's surprised to be offered a political marriage of convenience to that same Senator. January's only other choice as a convicted felon is forced naturalization, so he reluctantly agrees ... only to find himself falling for Senator Gale, who might be a "Naturals First" politician, but who's also ... really nice?⁠
⁠
Like I said, reading this book was a real pleasure. It might be lengthy, but I loved reading about Martian society, January's conflicted feelings about his place in it, and the slow (slooooow!) burn romance between him and Gale. It made me tear up at several points. After finishing it, though, I had to sit with my feelings and really think about what the book is trying to say. ⁠
⁠
Look, here's the thing: Gale is a right wing, immigration zero politician who marries January for the optics. I feel like Pulley is working with themes she's not sure what to do with. Speculative fiction is supposed to be fun, but it's also supposed to make you think. You know how some monster romance can end up using problematic images and themes without really meaning to? That's what it feels like here. For example, Earthstrong immigrants are truly dangerous to the Martian population. Gale is justified in being afraid of these immigrants - they lost a leg in an Earthstrong riot. If this is translated into today's world, are we meant to read this through the lens of European countries actually being at danger of losing their culture by accepting refugees from other parts of the world?

But like I said, I was soooo invested in this romance and this world. I blew through this long book in two days. I cried at the end. I just don't know if I can fully enjoy it in the way I like to enjoy my books. (I love when my critical thinking center is engaged, and if I let that happen here, it will just be critical.)

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

4 people found this helpful

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Liblady

Satisfying read

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024

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Sci-fi with different gender norms providing the setting for the story, along with humans genetically modified to exist on Mars. Tension exists between normal earth humans and the mars residents for very varied reasons; but the underlying theme is about the commonality of humanity…. There’s a bit of mystery and perhaps some parallels to current events.

I am often guilty of abandoning books when pronouns depart from standard usage, but thoroughly enjoyed this read and recommend it to anyone tired of fluffy SF

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024

Verified Purchase

So many important ideas, examined with warmth, honesty and honor. And enough twists and turns that I caught myself gasping and saying, Oh, my! or Didn't see that coming!

Interesting characters, mostly loveable. Really well written and very hard to put down! I feel I've been left hanging, though. Hope that means there will be a part two.

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Top reviews from other countries

Ing

This is unquestionably 5 stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 9, 2024

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Natasha Pulley's The Mars House
There’s a reason I immediately bought this book to read as soon as I saw it was out and that reason is Natasha Pulley. I was not disappointed. She paints another magnificent story. This time it’s a little fantasy, a little sci-fi while weaving in profound questions as the blurb says, and also, definitely a page-turner. I enjoyed it so much that I know it’s a book I will read again.
However, the best thing about Pulley’s stories are her characters. I fell in love with January Stirling and resonated with the Senator, until I fell in love with them, too. January lands in Mars as a refugee from climate trauma on Earth and finds the resident seventh and eighth-generation people there much changed. Their language, physical appearance and culture has all evolved, making him feel as if he is a Neanderthal amongst a set of delicate-boned giants. As a London Royal Ballet principal, his physicality and strength are important to him, not just important but belong to his woven identity and to keep this safe for five years more he marries a Senator who holds the exact opposite views to him. The senator believes all immigrants should be asked to physically naturalise. This means a very much shortened life and significant health issues. Yet more is going on than these two being gently pitted against each other until they find love. There’s the mystery of what happened to the Senator’s previous lover, and this mystery as it unravels proves to dive deep into the politics of whether Mars should still be a colony of Earth or its own entity.
I want more stories like this one, where it doesn’t matter what sex you are, it’s irrelevant to love.

One person found this helpful

Liz

Absolutely Brilliant

Reviewed in Australia on March 29, 2024

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Natasha Pulley pulls you into a story unlike any other author I've ever read. It's a brilliant story penned by a wonderful author who builds a complex world of nuanced characters and emotions while being delightfully quirky and subtle all at once. I adored this, and I highly recommend it—even if you don't think it sounds like it's for you, I promise it's for you.

Bean a' Leanna

excellent read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 13, 2024

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A very satisfying story with a great twist at the end. Lovely writing too with well described images of Mars. I loved the mammoths!

gwydr

Brilliant like all her books!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 22, 2024

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Reading Natasha Pulley’s books always makes me happy. They are so clever, so imaginative, so nuanced. I read many many books a year but hers are always the best!

One person found this helpful

Ellie

Another Pulley novel to re-read many times

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2024

Verified Purchase

You can see what this novel is about in many other reviewers' comments, so I won't repeat the plot here. Anyone who's come across my comments on Natasha's other novels will have seen I re-read them a few times. That's because they are many layered and reveal more with each read. But the most alluring thing about the first read of the books is her astonishing use of language that's beautiful, illuminating and very satisfying. Totally original. Very moving. The Mars House is set in space, yes, rather than London, Russia, Brazil etc, but the story is typical Pulley, blending genres, plot and wonderful personal relationships to build a world that is not only a place to mirror what life in the West is currently like with all its problems and upheavals, but to show us perhaps a gentle way to get on better together despite them. None of this is hammered home. Pulley doesn't do hammering. She taps gently in rhythm with the action and relationships to give us an emotional experience like no other. I cannot recommend Natasha's books highly enough - this is another winner for me. Give it a try with an open mind?

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