The Strange

This book resonates with Golden Age sci-fi vibes. Set in the wonderfully described frontier that is the Mars colony, Ballingrad captures the difficulty and hardship experienced by people who venture to the edge of civilisation in hopes of a better life and reminds us that it is these hardworking people that build the foundations for everything that comes after.

Annabelle is a young girl who embarks on a journey seeking justice after bandits steal the last recording of her mother's voice. On her quest she falls in with a gang of ne’er-do-wells while all communication and transport from Earth mysteriously… show more.

The Strange is a science fiction/horror mashup. Ballingrud writes away from his breakout genre, but it's barely noticeable unless you’ve read Wounds and are privy to Ballingrud’s ability to throw a knockout punch. Ballingrud’s doesn't do scientific explanations, but this isn’t an Andy Weir novel, and Ballingrud artfully tells us to "go fish" on that front. I actually kind of dig it.

Where Ballingrud excels is in crafting his wild west world on the red planet. It’s easy to envision Mars as a wasteland and the travelers and colonizers making their way along the wastes in the hopes of making… show more.