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The Halo Trilogy
Gates of Mars
IN THE AGE OF SURVEILLANCE, HOW CAN A PERSON GO MISSING?
The year is 2187. Crucial Larsen, a veteran of the brutal Consolidation Wars, is working as a labor cop on Earth. The planet is a toxic dump and billions of people are miserable, but so what? It's none of his business. He's finally living a good life, or good-enough. But then his beloved kid sister, Essential, disappears on Mars, and he's summoned up-universe to aid the investigation. When Crucial demands to know why Halo, the all-powerful artificial-intelligence overseeing Earth and Mars on behalf of the ruling Five Families, can't (or won't) locate his sister, he comes face to face with a life-threatening and apathy-ending realization: Essential is a revolutionary.
Blending science-fiction with elements of classic hard-boiled detective stories, Gates of Mars, the first book of The Halo Trilogy, is the eighth novel by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall.
The year is 2187. Crucial Larsen, a veteran of the brutal Consolidation Wars, is working as a labor cop on Earth. The planet is a toxic dump and billions of people are miserable, but so what? It's none of his business. He's finally living a good life, or good-enough. But then his beloved kid sister, Essential, disappears on Mars, and he's summoned up-universe to aid the investigation. When Crucial demands to know why Halo, the all-powerful artificial-intelligence overseeing Earth and Mars on behalf of the ruling Five Families, can't (or won't) locate his sister, he comes face to face with a life-threatening and apathy-ending realization: Essential is a revolutionary.
Blending science-fiction with elements of classic hard-boiled detective stories, Gates of Mars, the first book of The Halo Trilogy, is the eighth novel by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall.
- GenresScience FictionMystery
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2020
72 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen McFall
17 books140 followersI live, write and play in the Pacific Northwest, not far from vampire country. I love genre fiction, and with Clark, I've written twelve books.
Our first book, published two decades ago, was about a cowboy and vampire falling in love. This sexy, authentically Western, laugh-out-loud series also has a serious metaphysical edge and has now moved into cult-classic status. We wrote four books in the Cowboy and Vampire Collection and then branched out into science fiction, alt-history, and romance. As you can tell by our moving from genre to genre, our interests are eclectic. We like to explore and shake up tropes.
As for my bio, I was born in Washington, DC, and spent many years working as a journalist and science writer. I love to hike, hang out around water and spend time with family and friends. I'm also working on an art project in which I paint geologic slices of the earth. Check out Instagram @katmcfall for more on that.
Our first book, published two decades ago, was about a cowboy and vampire falling in love. This sexy, authentically Western, laugh-out-loud series also has a serious metaphysical edge and has now moved into cult-classic status. We wrote four books in the Cowboy and Vampire Collection and then branched out into science fiction, alt-history, and romance. As you can tell by our moving from genre to genre, our interests are eclectic. We like to explore and shake up tropes.
As for my bio, I was born in Washington, DC, and spent many years working as a journalist and science writer. I love to hike, hang out around water and spend time with family and friends. I'm also working on an art project in which I paint geologic slices of the earth. Check out Instagram @katmcfall for more on that.
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April 2, 2025
Gates of Mars (The Halo Trilogy Book 1) by Kathleen McFall & Clark Hays
Civilization on Earth is enduring hardships. The wealthy have finally jettisoned Earth’s inhabitants for Mars, leaving behind a planet filled with turmoil and vanquishing the dreams of its consumers. The five-family contingency on Mars is solely focused on making money and enjoying the opulent lifestyle offered on the red planet.
Crucial Larsen receives word that his adored sister has gone missing on Mars. An ex-military man, Crucial heads to Mars with the help of Mel, his ex-girlfriend, and her new love, Jynks, who just so happens to be prominently placed at the head of Mars security. Upon arriving on Mars, Crucial deduces that there is more to the mystery than meets the eye. The task of actual policy enforcement is taken on by the virtual AI system Halo. A significant flaw is who controls the framework of Halo and what directives the system is to follow. Halo’s all-seeing eyes have maintained a world meant to keep the current families in control; however, there is word of dissidence coming from the Korolev Crater; a group simply known as the Variance has secretly emerged with a new weapon to use in the war against the totalitarian regime on Mars.
The bluish tint of my jetpack thrusters dissipates. Through my visor, my eyes absorb the terraforming details of the dome-like structures placed strategically on this foreign rock. Sheer environmental forces are ever shifting, causing reprise and hesitation on every page. While the planet's terrain was on full display, so were the corresponding issues on Earth, whose occupants' only attainable dream is winning a lottery ticket to board a trip bound for Mars and serve the whims of the rich. Bleakness personified! I am tasked with following Crucial Larsen’s attempt to save Earth’s residents from further decay. Co-authors Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays's story exposes readers to a futuristic horror tale in which multiple groups compete to cultivate and use cutting-edge technology, rendering the owners access to the deepest recesses of the world without detection, creating a further advantageous divide.
My first impression of this novel was one of redundancy. A well-known storyline involves the wealthy repressing those requiring resources to survive. Rinse, repeat. This story does not reinvent the wheel. Adding to this thought is Crucial’s character, our daring vet, who follows a familiar theme as well, à la Jack Reacher, perhaps. I found that the lush landscapes of the environment help bring a sense of oneness for the characters' locations and problems. Behold a beautifully constructed planet, bursting with newness for infantile eyes to discover. I read steadily; the narrative deftly concealed factual tidbits using subterfuge amongst the tales' cold shadows.
No fluff, no bluff, well, perhaps a little bluff. This was your straightforward endeavor. Mars Canvas drew my interest, and I wasn’t disappointed. This delivered to my expectations, nothing more, nothing less. Enough so that I will read the next book in the series to see what results from all the mayhem. A solid read. I am giving this 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 stars.
Many thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
Civilization on Earth is enduring hardships. The wealthy have finally jettisoned Earth’s inhabitants for Mars, leaving behind a planet filled with turmoil and vanquishing the dreams of its consumers. The five-family contingency on Mars is solely focused on making money and enjoying the opulent lifestyle offered on the red planet.
Crucial Larsen receives word that his adored sister has gone missing on Mars. An ex-military man, Crucial heads to Mars with the help of Mel, his ex-girlfriend, and her new love, Jynks, who just so happens to be prominently placed at the head of Mars security. Upon arriving on Mars, Crucial deduces that there is more to the mystery than meets the eye. The task of actual policy enforcement is taken on by the virtual AI system Halo. A significant flaw is who controls the framework of Halo and what directives the system is to follow. Halo’s all-seeing eyes have maintained a world meant to keep the current families in control; however, there is word of dissidence coming from the Korolev Crater; a group simply known as the Variance has secretly emerged with a new weapon to use in the war against the totalitarian regime on Mars.
The bluish tint of my jetpack thrusters dissipates. Through my visor, my eyes absorb the terraforming details of the dome-like structures placed strategically on this foreign rock. Sheer environmental forces are ever shifting, causing reprise and hesitation on every page. While the planet's terrain was on full display, so were the corresponding issues on Earth, whose occupants' only attainable dream is winning a lottery ticket to board a trip bound for Mars and serve the whims of the rich. Bleakness personified! I am tasked with following Crucial Larsen’s attempt to save Earth’s residents from further decay. Co-authors Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays's story exposes readers to a futuristic horror tale in which multiple groups compete to cultivate and use cutting-edge technology, rendering the owners access to the deepest recesses of the world without detection, creating a further advantageous divide.
My first impression of this novel was one of redundancy. A well-known storyline involves the wealthy repressing those requiring resources to survive. Rinse, repeat. This story does not reinvent the wheel. Adding to this thought is Crucial’s character, our daring vet, who follows a familiar theme as well, à la Jack Reacher, perhaps. I found that the lush landscapes of the environment help bring a sense of oneness for the characters' locations and problems. Behold a beautifully constructed planet, bursting with newness for infantile eyes to discover. I read steadily; the narrative deftly concealed factual tidbits using subterfuge amongst the tales' cold shadows.
No fluff, no bluff, well, perhaps a little bluff. This was your straightforward endeavor. Mars Canvas drew my interest, and I wasn’t disappointed. This delivered to my expectations, nothing more, nothing less. Enough so that I will read the next book in the series to see what results from all the mayhem. A solid read. I am giving this 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4 stars.
Many thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
July 3, 2020
While not the only genre I’ve been reading or watching lately, science fiction is certainly what is bringing me the most comfort. From The Expanse to Aurora Burning, all I want is some great space battles, some peril in the vacuum of space, and some prescient tech that is just on the verge of I want it\need it now. And Gates of Mars ticks off all those boxes and more!
One of the aspects of science fiction that I’m most drawn to is that it encourages crossing with all the other genres. McFall and Hays have skillfully blended together a hard-boiled detective novel with futuristic sci-fi tech, set the majority of the action on Mars, and added dash of action\adventure and humor. The writing is visual and lush, bringing the everyday in 2187 to life. The jeopardy which the characters experience throughout the novel is palpable and heart-racing. I was enthralled from start to finish.
The world building is on point in this novel. Here’s a list of some of the aspects that I really enjoyed/am very terrified could be very real very soon. (And my fellow sci-fi fans/junkies/geeks will know what I’m referencing here!):
-Sheetmeat gyros. Future food always fascinates me!
-Mushrooms are the major building materials.
-Halo, the all-knowing computer system is somewhere between HAL and AIDAN.
-Ocular communications devices (OCD) for everyone. You get an eye implant! You get an eye implant! Makes carrying around a laptop obsolete.
-Targeted ads on the OCD. I already see targeted ads on social media from shopping online. Imagine those ads popping up even more frequently. The more you slow down or notice the ads, the more they appear on your eye feed. 😲
-Terraforming on Mars with a side of Jurassic Park recreation of extinct animals.
I could go on! There are so many enjoyable aspects in Gates of Mars that will fill the sci-fi void in any reader’s heart!
Characters in Gates of Mars are well-developed and realistic. Crucial, our main detective, is an apathetic hero, living his life, minding his own business, maintaining an emotional distance from the day to day dreary life on Earth. But then his younger sister’s disappearance drives him to Mars, where he must confront the emotions and reality he’d rather ignore. (I’m so there with Crucial about ignoring reality!) Nothing like having to deal with an ex-girlfriend, a missing sister, and a potential conspiracy to mess up the silence that he most desires! My favorite character in the novel is Sanders, the Martian representative assigned to assist Crucial while on Mars. I wish I could tell you ALL ABOUT HIM. But that would spoil your fun! I’ll leave it at his deadpan delivery is just my sense of humor.
On the important to me side of reading, I can report to you, dear reader, that the ending of Gates of Mars is an actual ending and not a cliff hanger that frustratingly stops in the middle of a scene. We have a conclusion to the novel while setting up the rest of the trilogy.
The imagination of McFall and Hays must have been running at light speed while writing this book! Well-developed worlds, believable characters, and prescient ideas have me anxiously excited for the next installment of The Halo Trilogy.
One of the aspects of science fiction that I’m most drawn to is that it encourages crossing with all the other genres. McFall and Hays have skillfully blended together a hard-boiled detective novel with futuristic sci-fi tech, set the majority of the action on Mars, and added dash of action\adventure and humor. The writing is visual and lush, bringing the everyday in 2187 to life. The jeopardy which the characters experience throughout the novel is palpable and heart-racing. I was enthralled from start to finish.
The world building is on point in this novel. Here’s a list of some of the aspects that I really enjoyed/am very terrified could be very real very soon. (And my fellow sci-fi fans/junkies/geeks will know what I’m referencing here!):
-Sheetmeat gyros. Future food always fascinates me!
-Mushrooms are the major building materials.
-Halo, the all-knowing computer system is somewhere between HAL and AIDAN.
-Ocular communications devices (OCD) for everyone. You get an eye implant! You get an eye implant! Makes carrying around a laptop obsolete.
-Targeted ads on the OCD. I already see targeted ads on social media from shopping online. Imagine those ads popping up even more frequently. The more you slow down or notice the ads, the more they appear on your eye feed. 😲
-Terraforming on Mars with a side of Jurassic Park recreation of extinct animals.
I could go on! There are so many enjoyable aspects in Gates of Mars that will fill the sci-fi void in any reader’s heart!
Characters in Gates of Mars are well-developed and realistic. Crucial, our main detective, is an apathetic hero, living his life, minding his own business, maintaining an emotional distance from the day to day dreary life on Earth. But then his younger sister’s disappearance drives him to Mars, where he must confront the emotions and reality he’d rather ignore. (I’m so there with Crucial about ignoring reality!) Nothing like having to deal with an ex-girlfriend, a missing sister, and a potential conspiracy to mess up the silence that he most desires! My favorite character in the novel is Sanders, the Martian representative assigned to assist Crucial while on Mars. I wish I could tell you ALL ABOUT HIM. But that would spoil your fun! I’ll leave it at his deadpan delivery is just my sense of humor.
On the important to me side of reading, I can report to you, dear reader, that the ending of Gates of Mars is an actual ending and not a cliff hanger that frustratingly stops in the middle of a scene. We have a conclusion to the novel while setting up the rest of the trilogy.
The imagination of McFall and Hays must have been running at light speed while writing this book! Well-developed worlds, believable characters, and prescient ideas have me anxiously excited for the next installment of The Halo Trilogy.
June 30, 2020
The Gates of Mars is a great book by the author team of Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays, who possess some impressive writing skills. This first book of the Halo Trilogy presents a nightmarish time for humanity in the year 2187, where all humans are monitored by an all knowing AI entity known as Halo, which can see 3 moves ahead of everyone. The most minute movements of each human being are tracked through ocular implants known as OCDs which insure there is absolutely no privacy and no escape from a unrelenting bombardment of advertisements constantly scrolling across one’s visual field. There is also no escape from the absolute rule and subordination of the Five Families and their companies.
The nefarious ruling families are the:
DuSpoles, who own Intex-ADM. They feed the populations of both Earth and Mars. I can’t even imagine how delicious their sheet meat must be.
Singhroys, who own Amadis Corporation – They run the health and entertainment industries.
Tartarics, who own ABC Royale company which builds robots and operates Halo but since one family alone cannot be trusted to be fair in the AI’s operations, each of the Five families has someone on the Guidance Council to oversee all activities.
Fehrvens, who own Thyssen-Bronner, a company that builds everything from cheese knives to mushroom apartments. Yes...the cement for buildings is a mushroom extraction in this future.
and the Blevins, who own UKD2, a company that makes weapons as well as cops and soldiers.
The Earth that was first destroyed and is now ruled by the Five Families is a hellish landscape. The oceans have dried and the forests are gone. Most of earth’s animals are now extinct except for rats, raccoons, coyotes and pigeons. The population who are fortunate enough to live in one of those mushroom apartments mentioned above have their basic needs fulfilled but the others…those who live on the edges of dried up river beds are covered with scaly, scorched dry-rot skin. These unfortunates won’t live past 30.
The Five Familes have made a pleasant life for themselves and those under their protection on Mars. While still in the process of being terraformed, the inhabitants live in terrascaped, climate controlled, park-like domes. All Earthers dream of winning a lottery ticket to the haven of Mars. It is the one thing that gives hope to the hopeless.
Essential Larsen won one of those tickets. She went to Mars and then disappeared. Her brother, Crucial Larsen must travel there to find her if he can. With that, the adventure begins.
While reading, I got fleeting glimpses of many science fiction books and movies from my past.
Some of them that come to mind are The Fifth Element, Brave New World, Blade Runner, and 2001 A Space Odessy (Halo reminded me of Hal). Gates of Mars has elements of all of these and more. Something Crucial says makes me fear for our own future, “We can’t go anywhere. We can’t not work, we can’t not do their bidding, we can’t tell them to go to hell. They make or grow everything. All the food, all the tech, all the medicine. We rely on them for everything. How do you stand up to petty gods who hold life and death in their hands and use Halo to tip everything in their favor?” While the idea that such a future could possibly await humanity; the story is told with such humor and wit that you must root for the hero and the heroine to prevail. I’m looking forward to reading the other 2 books in this trilogy.
The nefarious ruling families are the:
DuSpoles, who own Intex-ADM. They feed the populations of both Earth and Mars. I can’t even imagine how delicious their sheet meat must be.
Singhroys, who own Amadis Corporation – They run the health and entertainment industries.
Tartarics, who own ABC Royale company which builds robots and operates Halo but since one family alone cannot be trusted to be fair in the AI’s operations, each of the Five families has someone on the Guidance Council to oversee all activities.
Fehrvens, who own Thyssen-Bronner, a company that builds everything from cheese knives to mushroom apartments. Yes...the cement for buildings is a mushroom extraction in this future.
and the Blevins, who own UKD2, a company that makes weapons as well as cops and soldiers.
The Earth that was first destroyed and is now ruled by the Five Families is a hellish landscape. The oceans have dried and the forests are gone. Most of earth’s animals are now extinct except for rats, raccoons, coyotes and pigeons. The population who are fortunate enough to live in one of those mushroom apartments mentioned above have their basic needs fulfilled but the others…those who live on the edges of dried up river beds are covered with scaly, scorched dry-rot skin. These unfortunates won’t live past 30.
The Five Familes have made a pleasant life for themselves and those under their protection on Mars. While still in the process of being terraformed, the inhabitants live in terrascaped, climate controlled, park-like domes. All Earthers dream of winning a lottery ticket to the haven of Mars. It is the one thing that gives hope to the hopeless.
Essential Larsen won one of those tickets. She went to Mars and then disappeared. Her brother, Crucial Larsen must travel there to find her if he can. With that, the adventure begins.
While reading, I got fleeting glimpses of many science fiction books and movies from my past.
Some of them that come to mind are The Fifth Element, Brave New World, Blade Runner, and 2001 A Space Odessy (Halo reminded me of Hal). Gates of Mars has elements of all of these and more. Something Crucial says makes me fear for our own future, “We can’t go anywhere. We can’t not work, we can’t not do their bidding, we can’t tell them to go to hell. They make or grow everything. All the food, all the tech, all the medicine. We rely on them for everything. How do you stand up to petty gods who hold life and death in their hands and use Halo to tip everything in their favor?” While the idea that such a future could possibly await humanity; the story is told with such humor and wit that you must root for the hero and the heroine to prevail. I’m looking forward to reading the other 2 books in this trilogy.
July 1, 2020
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Gates of Mars is the futuristic science fiction noir novel that I never knew I needed! This feels like Eagle Eye meets Bladerunner meets a classic film noir! There are so many classic sci-fi elements blended together with innovative prose to give the reader an immersive experience in an Earth that's been largely left to waste and a flourishing Mars with it's own political and socio-economic sphere. The narrative picks up with Crucial Larsen, a cop on Earth who feels that he's got it pretty good at this point in his life. Unfortunately, Crucial gets summoned to Mars to help find his sister, Essential, who has gone missing. The synopsis of the book begins with an incredibly prescient question: IN THE AGE OF SURVEILLANCE, HOW CAN A PERSON GO MISSING?
The book goes on to explore this question in a beautifully thought-provoking story that all sci-fi fans should read! There is an incredibly interesting power structure within the book, with the Five Families ruling over Earth and Mars gives the book a distinctly noir feeling, almost like a gangster novel. But in space! There are vivid descriptions that gave me visceral reactions at certain points. I thoroughly enjoyed the show-not-tell style of writing employed here. So many innovative ideas about how people in this world live, class structures in this future world, and stark juxtapositions between the ultra-rich and the ultra-poor. This is truly a thought-provoking book, on par with the best of the science fiction genre.
Talking characters, Crucial is flawed, deep, and written in such a way that you just want to hug him, even though he hates it because he's a curmudgeon who wants more from life but can't quite achieve it. Keeping world-shattering secrets can do that to a person! Crucial runs into so many characters along the way, with the ever-present HALO in his ear, and it's such a cool journey from Earth to Mars and back again! From Sanders to Jynx, everyone has a purpose and all of the characters are well-developed!
This was a book I couldn't put down and you should absolutely read it if you are a fan of futuristic science fiction in the vein of Bladerunner! Did I mention that there are giraffes? There are totally giraffes and an unrequited love story mixed in with hard science-fiction of the futuristic kind. I don't know what else to say other than, READ THIS BOOK!
Thank you to Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Gates of Mars is the futuristic science fiction noir novel that I never knew I needed! This feels like Eagle Eye meets Bladerunner meets a classic film noir! There are so many classic sci-fi elements blended together with innovative prose to give the reader an immersive experience in an Earth that's been largely left to waste and a flourishing Mars with it's own political and socio-economic sphere. The narrative picks up with Crucial Larsen, a cop on Earth who feels that he's got it pretty good at this point in his life. Unfortunately, Crucial gets summoned to Mars to help find his sister, Essential, who has gone missing. The synopsis of the book begins with an incredibly prescient question: IN THE AGE OF SURVEILLANCE, HOW CAN A PERSON GO MISSING?
The book goes on to explore this question in a beautifully thought-provoking story that all sci-fi fans should read! There is an incredibly interesting power structure within the book, with the Five Families ruling over Earth and Mars gives the book a distinctly noir feeling, almost like a gangster novel. But in space! There are vivid descriptions that gave me visceral reactions at certain points. I thoroughly enjoyed the show-not-tell style of writing employed here. So many innovative ideas about how people in this world live, class structures in this future world, and stark juxtapositions between the ultra-rich and the ultra-poor. This is truly a thought-provoking book, on par with the best of the science fiction genre.
Talking characters, Crucial is flawed, deep, and written in such a way that you just want to hug him, even though he hates it because he's a curmudgeon who wants more from life but can't quite achieve it. Keeping world-shattering secrets can do that to a person! Crucial runs into so many characters along the way, with the ever-present HALO in his ear, and it's such a cool journey from Earth to Mars and back again! From Sanders to Jynx, everyone has a purpose and all of the characters are well-developed!
This was a book I couldn't put down and you should absolutely read it if you are a fan of futuristic science fiction in the vein of Bladerunner! Did I mention that there are giraffes? There are totally giraffes and an unrequited love story mixed in with hard science-fiction of the futuristic kind. I don't know what else to say other than, READ THIS BOOK!
Thank you to Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
February 22, 2025
Gates of Mars is a gripping blend of sci-fi adventure and political intrigue, set in a future where Mars holds humanity’s next great challenge. McFall & Hays craft a compelling narrative filled with vivid world-building, high-stakes conflict, and well-developed characters. The story keeps a steady pace, weaving together mystery and action while exploring themes of power and survival. While some plot points feel predictable, the engaging writing and immersive setting more than make up for it. Fans of dystopian sci-fi will appreciate this thrilling start to the series. A strong, thought-provoking read that leaves you eager for the next installment.
September 7, 2022
Read for SPSFC Semifinalists!
Overall Thoughts
How do you hide your true motives from an all-seeing AI in a one-on-one interrogation session? That’s the tension that runs through this story, and it lasts from the beginning all the way to the end. Oh yes, add to that how Earth is a desolate wasteland, inhabited by mutants and by people living only to pay off their debt to the few fabulously wealthy who have skipped the planet and are building a paradise on Mars. This is partially told in the present, as the main character, Crucial (his sister is named Essential) relays recent events to Halo, the AI, because his sister has gone missing in a world where everyone is monitored all the time. This is set up to be a trilogy, and I’m greatly looking forward to the next books, though they are not yet released.
Plot
I’ve related a bit of the plot already, but only on the “realtime” side. In the flashbacks, we learn a lot more about how Crucial is sent to Mars to investigate his sister’s disappearance. This is usually an honor only given to those debt-ridden Earthers who win a lottery to serve the powerful five families on Mars for a short time before being dumped back in the toxic wastelands and subsistence-level population living there. Of course, things aren’t what they seem, and odd occurrences mount as both the five families and suspected rebels interfere with the investigation. The story is tense all the way through, even through we know Crucial must live (as he’s relating the information) and even though he tells us some of the finale in the very first chapter. It’s a well-set up story with a lot to enjoy in the twists and turns.
Setting
This is set in the year 2187, in an unfortunately believable future. The Earth has gone through a catastrophic climate event, and with nothing left but basic needs and unsolicited advertisements, the uber-wealthy have turned society into a debt-based machine, feeding all the luxuries to themselves on Mars while sending their refuse, toxic emissions, and unwanted people back to Earth. This is aided by the AI, Halo, that monitors all people based on the family’s whims. It’s illegal not to be connected, and when the AI can see through everyone’s eyes (and even change what they perceive), it’s very easy to track down someone who has gone missing.
Character
As with every good story, the characters are the heart. Crucial is a reluctant hero with a regrettable past, and often makes poor choices in life and in relationships. We’re soon introduced to his ex-girlfriend and her new, vindictive, girlfriend (security chief on Mars), as well as some others Crucial already has cause to dislike. I especially liked the character of Sanders, who originally arrives as a sort of bodyguard. More is soon revealed, making him quite an adorable and funny character. Sex and gender both take backseats in the story, where relationships are judged by the type of people in them rather than what gender they are. In fact, the gender of the protagonist plays such a small role, I spent the first few chapters thinking Crucial was female, and it didn’t alter my perceptions one bit when talking about his past and future relationships. At their core, each character is built on their personality, wants, and needs. Overall, this was a very enjoyable book and I greatly look forward to the sequels. If you like investigations and mystery, future societies and AI, or fighting against an oppressive and all-seeing regime, try this book out!
Score out of 10 (My personal score, not the final contest score)
A missing-person investigation between Mars and Earth in a panopticon society. Excellent characters and tense action scenes. 8.75/10.
Overall Thoughts
How do you hide your true motives from an all-seeing AI in a one-on-one interrogation session? That’s the tension that runs through this story, and it lasts from the beginning all the way to the end. Oh yes, add to that how Earth is a desolate wasteland, inhabited by mutants and by people living only to pay off their debt to the few fabulously wealthy who have skipped the planet and are building a paradise on Mars. This is partially told in the present, as the main character, Crucial (his sister is named Essential) relays recent events to Halo, the AI, because his sister has gone missing in a world where everyone is monitored all the time. This is set up to be a trilogy, and I’m greatly looking forward to the next books, though they are not yet released.
Plot
I’ve related a bit of the plot already, but only on the “realtime” side. In the flashbacks, we learn a lot more about how Crucial is sent to Mars to investigate his sister’s disappearance. This is usually an honor only given to those debt-ridden Earthers who win a lottery to serve the powerful five families on Mars for a short time before being dumped back in the toxic wastelands and subsistence-level population living there. Of course, things aren’t what they seem, and odd occurrences mount as both the five families and suspected rebels interfere with the investigation. The story is tense all the way through, even through we know Crucial must live (as he’s relating the information) and even though he tells us some of the finale in the very first chapter. It’s a well-set up story with a lot to enjoy in the twists and turns.
Setting
This is set in the year 2187, in an unfortunately believable future. The Earth has gone through a catastrophic climate event, and with nothing left but basic needs and unsolicited advertisements, the uber-wealthy have turned society into a debt-based machine, feeding all the luxuries to themselves on Mars while sending their refuse, toxic emissions, and unwanted people back to Earth. This is aided by the AI, Halo, that monitors all people based on the family’s whims. It’s illegal not to be connected, and when the AI can see through everyone’s eyes (and even change what they perceive), it’s very easy to track down someone who has gone missing.
Character
As with every good story, the characters are the heart. Crucial is a reluctant hero with a regrettable past, and often makes poor choices in life and in relationships. We’re soon introduced to his ex-girlfriend and her new, vindictive, girlfriend (security chief on Mars), as well as some others Crucial already has cause to dislike. I especially liked the character of Sanders, who originally arrives as a sort of bodyguard. More is soon revealed, making him quite an adorable and funny character. Sex and gender both take backseats in the story, where relationships are judged by the type of people in them rather than what gender they are. In fact, the gender of the protagonist plays such a small role, I spent the first few chapters thinking Crucial was female, and it didn’t alter my perceptions one bit when talking about his past and future relationships. At their core, each character is built on their personality, wants, and needs. Overall, this was a very enjoyable book and I greatly look forward to the sequels. If you like investigations and mystery, future societies and AI, or fighting against an oppressive and all-seeing regime, try this book out!
Score out of 10 (My personal score, not the final contest score)
A missing-person investigation between Mars and Earth in a panopticon society. Excellent characters and tense action scenes. 8.75/10.
June 30, 2020
"Is that so bad, wanting to be invisible?"
Science Fiction at its finest, Gates of Mars by Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays is chock full of entertainment, mystery, suspense, and a high dose of humor mixed with the sobering truth of the societal imbalance between the mega rich and the poorest of the poor. Even if you are not a fan of Sci-Fi, Gates of Mars will still grab your attention because the human element is identifiable and all too timely in today’s global landscape.
Crucial Larsen lives on Earth, and his little sister Essential lives on Mars but has recently gone missing. The story takes place in the year 2187 and flips back and forth between Crucial’s debrief/interrogation with AI-based Halo and the madcap events that happened on Mars a few weeks prior. The entire world building is exciting and well thought out, providing a fabulous backdrop that really is not that unbelievable. Existence on Earth is in the proverbial hand basket, and building a society on Mars is no longer that far-fetched. In Gates of Mars, Earth is blighted from years of plague and climate change, and the super rich and highly influential Five Families have taken over pretty much everything and everyone, on both Earth and Mars. When Crucial, who is on the labor security force on Earth, travels to Mars to find out what happened to his sister, he falls headlong into more trouble than he ever bargained for, which is a lot because he is always in some sort of jam.
With Gates of Mars, McFall and Hays have kicked off yet another brilliant trilogy that delivers non-stop action and great characterization. Crucial is the main character and is quite likable and quirky, and my other favorite character is Sanders Veetoo, who may just steal your heart as well. Romance is somewhat low key in Gates of Mars, but familial love between brother and sister is high, and the Bromance between Crucial and Sanders is off-the-chart charming and quite hilarious.
Whether you are a fan of Sci-Fi or not, dive into Gates of Mars to see what all the fuss is about, especially about those giraffes on the red planet and the rise of the Resistance against the Five Families, the AI surveillance/monitor called Halo, and the status quo. If your interest is piqued after reading Gates of Mars, another Sci-Fi series with some similar elements may interest you: Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown. Lots of action and resistance to the unfair/unbalanced status quo there as well.
In today’s reality, where resistance seems to be taking center stage, Gates of Mars will hit you in the gut and the heart, with an ending that brilliantly sets the stage for book two.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Science Fiction at its finest, Gates of Mars by Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays is chock full of entertainment, mystery, suspense, and a high dose of humor mixed with the sobering truth of the societal imbalance between the mega rich and the poorest of the poor. Even if you are not a fan of Sci-Fi, Gates of Mars will still grab your attention because the human element is identifiable and all too timely in today’s global landscape.
Crucial Larsen lives on Earth, and his little sister Essential lives on Mars but has recently gone missing. The story takes place in the year 2187 and flips back and forth between Crucial’s debrief/interrogation with AI-based Halo and the madcap events that happened on Mars a few weeks prior. The entire world building is exciting and well thought out, providing a fabulous backdrop that really is not that unbelievable. Existence on Earth is in the proverbial hand basket, and building a society on Mars is no longer that far-fetched. In Gates of Mars, Earth is blighted from years of plague and climate change, and the super rich and highly influential Five Families have taken over pretty much everything and everyone, on both Earth and Mars. When Crucial, who is on the labor security force on Earth, travels to Mars to find out what happened to his sister, he falls headlong into more trouble than he ever bargained for, which is a lot because he is always in some sort of jam.
With Gates of Mars, McFall and Hays have kicked off yet another brilliant trilogy that delivers non-stop action and great characterization. Crucial is the main character and is quite likable and quirky, and my other favorite character is Sanders Veetoo, who may just steal your heart as well. Romance is somewhat low key in Gates of Mars, but familial love between brother and sister is high, and the Bromance between Crucial and Sanders is off-the-chart charming and quite hilarious.
Whether you are a fan of Sci-Fi or not, dive into Gates of Mars to see what all the fuss is about, especially about those giraffes on the red planet and the rise of the Resistance against the Five Families, the AI surveillance/monitor called Halo, and the status quo. If your interest is piqued after reading Gates of Mars, another Sci-Fi series with some similar elements may interest you: Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown. Lots of action and resistance to the unfair/unbalanced status quo there as well.
In today’s reality, where resistance seems to be taking center stage, Gates of Mars will hit you in the gut and the heart, with an ending that brilliantly sets the stage for book two.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
February 12, 2025
(Thankyou to Net Galley and Pumpjack Press who provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
3.75 ⭐-> Rounded to 4 ⭐
“People can get used to living in a cave, but if you accept there’s nothing beyond the shadows, you’ve given up.”
“Greed devours everything in its path until there is nothing left.”
Gates of Mars is the first instalment of the Halo trilogy in a gripping blend of genres - Dystopian sci-fi x noir detective mystery. The year is 2187 and Earth is a toxic wasteland filled with plastic, following climate events, corporate takeovers and war. Humanity is now being controlled by the all eeing AI Halo, programmed by the five ruling corporate families ensuring the destruction of any privacy and complete obedience. Enter Crucial Larsen, a world-weary, jaded police officer is reluctantly summoned to Mars to investigate the disappearance of his sister, Essential. But in a society where privacy is extinct and Halo monitors everything, her complete disappearance shouldn't be possible. As Crucial digs deeper, he uncovers secrets the ruling families will do anything to keep buried, along with skeletons in his own family history —and the true extent of Halo’s power.
🦒Fantastic World Building: Gates of Mars crafts a vividly unique vision of the future, blending dystopian decay with cutting-edge, futuristic innovation. The world is filled with fascinating details like myco cement -mushroom based building materials and architecture, deadly glitter guns, leech patches, anthrobots, cloned giraffes and gyro sheet meat (However see point below). The ruling Five Families operate like futuristic oligarchs, hoarding wealth and influence while keeping the rest of humanity trapped in a multi-generational debt system—a haunting reflection of modern economic struggles.
🦒 Thought Provoking: Gates of Mars is layered with deep philosophical themes exploring power, control, and the ethics of AI—underscoring the age-old truth that "history is written by the victors." The narrative questions who gets to shape reality in a world where an all-seeing AI dictates every move and where corporate elites manipulate the narrative to maintain their dominance. It delves into the illusion of free will, the consequences of unchecked technological power, and the chilling ramifications of a society where the past—and the truth—are rewritten to serve those in control. I really enjoyed the nod to Plato's allegory to the cave, questioning reality and perception in a world where truth is curated by an all-powerful AI.
🦒 Heartwarming relationships - My favourite duo - the camaraderie between Sanders, and Crucial was a really fun highlight. I loved the banter, and how their friendship developed (I always have a soft spot for the robot character). .
🖲️ Sci-fi terminology - At times, the novel leans heavily into technical and futuristic jargon, which can make certain passages feel dense or overly complex. While all the innovative terminology adds authenticity to the world-building. I did struggle to get into the story and immerse myself fully with the world. Readers unfamiliar with sci fi may initially struggle.
🖲️Readers who enjoy ethical discussions about AI: Detroit Beyond Human, Murderbot and dystopian futures: Hunger Games, Uglies may really enjoy Gates of Mars.
(Review published 1.02.25 to StoryGraph, Goodreads & NetGalley)
3.75 ⭐-> Rounded to 4 ⭐
“People can get used to living in a cave, but if you accept there’s nothing beyond the shadows, you’ve given up.”
“Greed devours everything in its path until there is nothing left.”
Gates of Mars is the first instalment of the Halo trilogy in a gripping blend of genres - Dystopian sci-fi x noir detective mystery. The year is 2187 and Earth is a toxic wasteland filled with plastic, following climate events, corporate takeovers and war. Humanity is now being controlled by the all eeing AI Halo, programmed by the five ruling corporate families ensuring the destruction of any privacy and complete obedience. Enter Crucial Larsen, a world-weary, jaded police officer is reluctantly summoned to Mars to investigate the disappearance of his sister, Essential. But in a society where privacy is extinct and Halo monitors everything, her complete disappearance shouldn't be possible. As Crucial digs deeper, he uncovers secrets the ruling families will do anything to keep buried, along with skeletons in his own family history —and the true extent of Halo’s power.
🦒Fantastic World Building: Gates of Mars crafts a vividly unique vision of the future, blending dystopian decay with cutting-edge, futuristic innovation. The world is filled with fascinating details like myco cement -mushroom based building materials and architecture, deadly glitter guns, leech patches, anthrobots, cloned giraffes and gyro sheet meat (However see point below). The ruling Five Families operate like futuristic oligarchs, hoarding wealth and influence while keeping the rest of humanity trapped in a multi-generational debt system—a haunting reflection of modern economic struggles.
🦒 Thought Provoking: Gates of Mars is layered with deep philosophical themes exploring power, control, and the ethics of AI—underscoring the age-old truth that "history is written by the victors." The narrative questions who gets to shape reality in a world where an all-seeing AI dictates every move and where corporate elites manipulate the narrative to maintain their dominance. It delves into the illusion of free will, the consequences of unchecked technological power, and the chilling ramifications of a society where the past—and the truth—are rewritten to serve those in control. I really enjoyed the nod to Plato's allegory to the cave, questioning reality and perception in a world where truth is curated by an all-powerful AI.
🦒 Heartwarming relationships - My favourite duo - the camaraderie between Sanders, and Crucial was a really fun highlight. I loved the banter, and how their friendship developed (I always have a soft spot for the robot character). .
🖲️ Sci-fi terminology - At times, the novel leans heavily into technical and futuristic jargon, which can make certain passages feel dense or overly complex. While all the innovative terminology adds authenticity to the world-building. I did struggle to get into the story and immerse myself fully with the world. Readers unfamiliar with sci fi may initially struggle.
🖲️Readers who enjoy ethical discussions about AI: Detroit Beyond Human, Murderbot and dystopian futures: Hunger Games, Uglies may really enjoy Gates of Mars.
(Review published 1.02.25 to StoryGraph, Goodreads & NetGalley)
July 6, 2020
If you like smart, funny, dark, neo-noir, thought-provoking science fiction, you'll enjoy the Gates of Mars. This first of a new trilogy by Portland, OR authors Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays is an imaginative look at the not too far future. It's the year 2187 and Earth, after a success of viral plagues, resource wars, and eventual domination by corporations (the "Five Families") is a polluted hellscape where the population ekes out their generally miserable daily lives. Mars is a paradise for the Five Families, being terraformed, with the live animals, fresh food, clean air and nature destroyed on earth re-created in domes. A few lucky Earth residents win the lottery to work on Mars supporting the Five Families.
Our hero (or anti-hero) Crucial Larsen, is a familiar figure in mysteries: a cynical, world-weary loner who drinks too much to escape bitter memories of his lost love and past trauma. He's a cop who fought in the Consolidation Wars (during which the corporations battled for control). He travels to Mars seeking his missing sister and discovers, as in any good noir story, much more than he bargained for as he investigates her disappearance: a secret group of rebels working as "The Resistance" to the Five Families, who dare to dream of a better reality.
The plot moves forward at a good pace with plenty of action sequences, surprises, and descriptions of life on Earth and Mars. Hays and McFall introduce many convincing details of life in 2187; various high tech weapons, androids (including one hapless fellow who serves as humorous relief and who the hero must kill over and over), life inside and outside the Martian domes, transportation powered by drones and self-driving vehicles. My favorite touches were the endless scroll of ads in the data feed everyone has installed in their eye, ads which target you based on what you show interest in; with the current state of digital advertising on social media, it's all too easy to imagine this. Also, how most of the populace is working off multi-generational debt to those in power. I also liked inventive slang like calling someone a "glute" as an insult and the use of the expletive "procking."
I'm glad Hays and McFall are writing sci fi after their previous ventures into fantasy/horror (the excellent Blood and Whiskey vampire/cowboy series) and alternative history (their Bonnie and Clyde series). I'm glad this is the first in a trilogy, I look forward to the next installments! It's hard to imagine how our hero and the resistance can make a difference against the all-powerful Five Families and HALO, the AI that basically controls everything.
Our hero (or anti-hero) Crucial Larsen, is a familiar figure in mysteries: a cynical, world-weary loner who drinks too much to escape bitter memories of his lost love and past trauma. He's a cop who fought in the Consolidation Wars (during which the corporations battled for control). He travels to Mars seeking his missing sister and discovers, as in any good noir story, much more than he bargained for as he investigates her disappearance: a secret group of rebels working as "The Resistance" to the Five Families, who dare to dream of a better reality.
The plot moves forward at a good pace with plenty of action sequences, surprises, and descriptions of life on Earth and Mars. Hays and McFall introduce many convincing details of life in 2187; various high tech weapons, androids (including one hapless fellow who serves as humorous relief and who the hero must kill over and over), life inside and outside the Martian domes, transportation powered by drones and self-driving vehicles. My favorite touches were the endless scroll of ads in the data feed everyone has installed in their eye, ads which target you based on what you show interest in; with the current state of digital advertising on social media, it's all too easy to imagine this. Also, how most of the populace is working off multi-generational debt to those in power. I also liked inventive slang like calling someone a "glute" as an insult and the use of the expletive "procking."
I'm glad Hays and McFall are writing sci fi after their previous ventures into fantasy/horror (the excellent Blood and Whiskey vampire/cowboy series) and alternative history (their Bonnie and Clyde series). I'm glad this is the first in a trilogy, I look forward to the next installments! It's hard to imagine how our hero and the resistance can make a difference against the all-powerful Five Families and HALO, the AI that basically controls everything.
July 3, 2020
I've been a science fiction fan for as long as I can remember, and I have a special fascination with Mars, so this novel, the first in a new trilogy, was a perfect fit for me.
In Gates of Mars authors Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays give us dystopian future for Earth, with the additional information that anyone who's anyone has packed up and relocated to our reddish neighbor. This basic premise is the center of everything that happens, but it's also the start of some serious world building, for the future which Crucial Larsen inhabits is both grim - a significant portion of the population is unemployed and lives in portable pods - and fascinating - you can buy immersive scenarios to sleep in, but they can be interrupted by work, or family, calling you.
Because this is the first book in a planned trilogy, it would have been easy to make the plot secondary, to let the world building dominate the story, but McFall and Hays didn't do that. Rather, the intricacies and details of Crucial's world came from the plot, so we, as readers, are never flooded with backstory or exposition, rather, we discover it as Crucial lives it.
But fantastic details (like cloned giraffes on Mars!) aside, this is also a detective story. War veteran-cum-labor cop Crucial must track down his missing sister, while staying off the grid as much as possible, because HALO is watching everything (think of HALO as a cross between Orwell's Big Brother and Star Trek: Discovery's Control).
It takes a lot of talent to combine a detective plot with a sci-fi setting, and make us care about the characters even when their flaws are all too visible, but McFall and Hays have that talent. They also infuse their work with just enough wry humor to keep things from being overwhelming.
If you want a gritty space saga that's also a compelling neo-noir mystery, look no further than Gates of Mars. You won't be disappointed, but you will be left wondering: how long must we wait for book two?
Goes well with any food that doesn't come in tube. (I recommend a BLT on multigrain bread and a tall glass of sweet tea.)
In Gates of Mars authors Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays give us dystopian future for Earth, with the additional information that anyone who's anyone has packed up and relocated to our reddish neighbor. This basic premise is the center of everything that happens, but it's also the start of some serious world building, for the future which Crucial Larsen inhabits is both grim - a significant portion of the population is unemployed and lives in portable pods - and fascinating - you can buy immersive scenarios to sleep in, but they can be interrupted by work, or family, calling you.
Because this is the first book in a planned trilogy, it would have been easy to make the plot secondary, to let the world building dominate the story, but McFall and Hays didn't do that. Rather, the intricacies and details of Crucial's world came from the plot, so we, as readers, are never flooded with backstory or exposition, rather, we discover it as Crucial lives it.
But fantastic details (like cloned giraffes on Mars!) aside, this is also a detective story. War veteran-cum-labor cop Crucial must track down his missing sister, while staying off the grid as much as possible, because HALO is watching everything (think of HALO as a cross between Orwell's Big Brother and Star Trek: Discovery's Control).
It takes a lot of talent to combine a detective plot with a sci-fi setting, and make us care about the characters even when their flaws are all too visible, but McFall and Hays have that talent. They also infuse their work with just enough wry humor to keep things from being overwhelming.
If you want a gritty space saga that's also a compelling neo-noir mystery, look no further than Gates of Mars. You won't be disappointed, but you will be left wondering: how long must we wait for book two?
Goes well with any food that doesn't come in tube. (I recommend a BLT on multigrain bread and a tall glass of sweet tea.)
March 1, 2025
Gates of Mars by Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays is a gripping, thought-provoking blend of sci-fi and detective noir that delivers a thrilling ride from start to finish. Set in 2187, the novel presents a bleak yet eerily plausible future where Earth is a ravaged wasteland, and the elite Five Families control the terraformed luxury of Mars. At the heart of this dystopian world is Crucial Larsen, a hardened labor cop whose personal mission to find his missing sister, Essential, leads him into a web of secrets that threaten the very foundations of power.
What makes this book stand out is its masterful world-building. From the hyper-surveilled Earth, where AI-powered Halo oversees every move, to the controlled opulence of Mars, every detail is meticulously crafted. The idea of constant monitoring through ocular implants and the complete domination of human life by corporate overlords feels unsettlingly relevant. The authors skillfully weave real-world socio-political themes into the narrative, creating a story that is both entertaining and deeply thought-provoking.
The pacing is impeccable, with twists and turns that keep the reader hooked. Crucial is a flawed but compelling protagonist, embodying the classic noir detective archetype in a futuristic setting. His journey from reluctant investigator to active resistance fighter is engaging, and his dry wit adds moments of levity to the intense plot. The action sequences are sharp and well-executed, particularly in the latter half of the book, where high-stakes confrontations keep the tension at a peak.
The writing is crisp, immersive, and laced with dark humor. The dialogue feels natural, and the supporting cast—especially members of the resistance—adds depth to the story. The philosophical undertones about surveillance, free will, and resistance against oppression elevate Gates of Mars beyond a standard sci-fi thriller.
For fans of Blade Runner, Altered Carbon, and Brave New World, this is a must-read. It’s an electrifying start to The Halo Trilogy, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
Thank you,
Happy Reading!
What makes this book stand out is its masterful world-building. From the hyper-surveilled Earth, where AI-powered Halo oversees every move, to the controlled opulence of Mars, every detail is meticulously crafted. The idea of constant monitoring through ocular implants and the complete domination of human life by corporate overlords feels unsettlingly relevant. The authors skillfully weave real-world socio-political themes into the narrative, creating a story that is both entertaining and deeply thought-provoking.
The pacing is impeccable, with twists and turns that keep the reader hooked. Crucial is a flawed but compelling protagonist, embodying the classic noir detective archetype in a futuristic setting. His journey from reluctant investigator to active resistance fighter is engaging, and his dry wit adds moments of levity to the intense plot. The action sequences are sharp and well-executed, particularly in the latter half of the book, where high-stakes confrontations keep the tension at a peak.
The writing is crisp, immersive, and laced with dark humor. The dialogue feels natural, and the supporting cast—especially members of the resistance—adds depth to the story. The philosophical undertones about surveillance, free will, and resistance against oppression elevate Gates of Mars beyond a standard sci-fi thriller.
For fans of Blade Runner, Altered Carbon, and Brave New World, this is a must-read. It’s an electrifying start to The Halo Trilogy, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
Thank you,
Happy Reading!
March 1, 2025
This dystopian novel is set on both Mars and Earth. Where Earth has been degraded by climate change and the elite five families have migrated to a colony on Mars which they are in the process of terraforming and repopulating with cloned animals that used to live on Earth. The population is controlled through the imposition of debt by the elite which is subsequently passed from one generation to the next. Big Brother takes the form of Halo, an AI monitoring system implanted in the eye. This not only provides a vehicle for disseminating information but is also a source of monitoring.
Crucial and his sister Essential are the main protagonists representing either side of the system. He works for the security services, she is part of the resistance infiltrating life on Mars, aiming to liberate Earth’s inhabitants from debt and bring about a better life for the poor. The inciting incident is Essential’s disappearance and Crucial being called to investigate. Structurally we begin with Crucial’s interrogation and debriefing and then go back fifteen days to explain why he was on Mars and what has happened. There are breaks in the story where we go back to the interrogation, then return for an explanation about what has happened, each time being a day later until the final day and released back to Earth.
There is an interesting use of AI, nanites and cybernetics to reinforce the futuristic backdrop. Motive is created through the burden of debt and the injustice of the system on Earth, with the jostling for power on Mars between the five families. I think there is good attention to detail in terms of world-building, but I am not fully convinced by the characters’ motivation and development. The ending is good, giving finality to the story yet leaving the door open for a sequel.
Crucial and his sister Essential are the main protagonists representing either side of the system. He works for the security services, she is part of the resistance infiltrating life on Mars, aiming to liberate Earth’s inhabitants from debt and bring about a better life for the poor. The inciting incident is Essential’s disappearance and Crucial being called to investigate. Structurally we begin with Crucial’s interrogation and debriefing and then go back fifteen days to explain why he was on Mars and what has happened. There are breaks in the story where we go back to the interrogation, then return for an explanation about what has happened, each time being a day later until the final day and released back to Earth.
There is an interesting use of AI, nanites and cybernetics to reinforce the futuristic backdrop. Motive is created through the burden of debt and the injustice of the system on Earth, with the jostling for power on Mars between the five families. I think there is good attention to detail in terms of world-building, but I am not fully convinced by the characters’ motivation and development. The ending is good, giving finality to the story yet leaving the door open for a sequel.
August 26, 2025
This story is set in a defeated and polluted Earth, at the mercy of five rich families who have relocated to Mars where they have access to the latest medical care, live in luxury, and can get away with anything, including murder and manipulation. Meanwhile people on a polluted Earth are deeply in debt, can barely scratch out a living, and their lives are ruled by an AI called Halo. Crucial Larsen gets swept up in a conspiracy involving his missing sister Essential, who may or may not be a resistance leader, as he travels to Mars to search for her and gets involved in even more strange happenings. He soon learns that it doesn’t pay to follow the rules and keep his head down, that maybe he should pay attention to what the resistance is saying about all the inequality and harm that is being done to the people of Earth, and also that he’ll do anything to save his sister. I found Crucial to be a man swept along by events that he doesn’t always have much control over, but rises to the occasion when he needs to, and his love for his younger sister drives him to go above and beyond what his inclinations are. The other characters are reacting to manipulation by the five families, and mostly have no clue what is really going on. The story was a bit trippy at times, and moved a mile a minute at others, but it ended up in a pretty good place. I’m interested to see what happens in the next book in the series.
March 12, 2025
A very readable very enjoyable, gritty, and entertainingly dystopian mystery scifi novel.
The main character is a down to earth (or perhaps down on his luck?) cop suddenly thrown into an investigation into his sister's disappearance on Mars. The further he investigates the more questions pop up. I had a really hard time putting this book down, as it kept comfortably reminding me of other stories I enjoyed such as Total Recall by Piers Anthony and the Quadrail series by Timothy Zahn. All of which I recommend as exciting adventure scifi mystery novels. As Gates of Mars is the first book in a trilogy, I look forward to reading the next one as soon as I can!
I thank the publisher and authors for kindly providing a temporary electronic review copy of this work.
p.s. Important tip to fans of the Halo video game franchise: This trilogy is referred to as "The Halo Trilogy". Although this book certainly includes SF military hardware, as near as I can tell, it is not related to the Halo video game franchise. It is still very enjoyable! I suspect that Halo video game fans would absolutely enjoy this kind of book.
The main character is a down to earth (or perhaps down on his luck?) cop suddenly thrown into an investigation into his sister's disappearance on Mars. The further he investigates the more questions pop up. I had a really hard time putting this book down, as it kept comfortably reminding me of other stories I enjoyed such as Total Recall by Piers Anthony and the Quadrail series by Timothy Zahn. All of which I recommend as exciting adventure scifi mystery novels. As Gates of Mars is the first book in a trilogy, I look forward to reading the next one as soon as I can!
I thank the publisher and authors for kindly providing a temporary electronic review copy of this work.
p.s. Important tip to fans of the Halo video game franchise: This trilogy is referred to as "The Halo Trilogy". Although this book certainly includes SF military hardware, as near as I can tell, it is not related to the Halo video game franchise. It is still very enjoyable! I suspect that Halo video game fans would absolutely enjoy this kind of book.
March 4, 2025
Thank you to #netgalley for the review copy.
Alright, so if you’ve read the Finder series by Palmer imagine if Fergus was rather unlikable and instead of making friends everywhere he went while he tries to do the right thing he was a bit depressed and has to be dragged kicking and screaming into selfless acts…now you’ve got Crucial our protagonist in this book. In all fairness this universe is a lot darker than Ferguson’s.
Like the Finder books there were moments where I smirked or grinned a bit and I legit enjoyed every appearance of Sanders.
This is a book one in a trilogy which means a lot of introducing us to this world and leaving a lot of open threads. While it could be read as a standalone I don’t think that would be terribly fulfilling as you’d likely be left with a lot of questions that are being set up to be answered in the later books.
Well, I’ve just discovered all three of these books are in Kindle Unlimited so I guess I’ve found what I’m reading next!
Edit- actually looks like only the first one is. Drat.
Alright, so if you’ve read the Finder series by Palmer imagine if Fergus was rather unlikable and instead of making friends everywhere he went while he tries to do the right thing he was a bit depressed and has to be dragged kicking and screaming into selfless acts…now you’ve got Crucial our protagonist in this book. In all fairness this universe is a lot darker than Ferguson’s.
Like the Finder books there were moments where I smirked or grinned a bit and I legit enjoyed every appearance of Sanders.
This is a book one in a trilogy which means a lot of introducing us to this world and leaving a lot of open threads. While it could be read as a standalone I don’t think that would be terribly fulfilling as you’d likely be left with a lot of questions that are being set up to be answered in the later books.
Well, I’ve just discovered all three of these books are in Kindle Unlimited so I guess I’ve found what I’m reading next!
Edit- actually looks like only the first one is. Drat.
December 19, 2021
Blending scifi with elements of classic hard-boiled detective stories, Gates of Mars, is a decent read. If you like Ben H. Winters, you'll enjoy this one.
In 2187 Earth is a cesspool. A toxic dessert where climate has gone wild, Five Families control the world. And not just Earth, Mars too. The rich have it all; everyone else is a debt slave to the system, a system run by Halo, the two-world spanning AI.
Crucial Larsen is a labor cop on Earth. The planet is a toxic dump and billions of people are miserable, but so what? It's none of his business. He's finally living a decent life. But then his kid sister, Essential, disappears on Mars, and he's summoned to aid the investigation. When Crucial demands to know why Halo, can't (or won't) locate his sister, he comes face to face with a life-threatening and apathy-ending realization: Essential is a revolutionary.
Lots of plot twists, and I really enjoyed the gruff, bit of an ass main character. Inside, he's one of the good guys.
In 2187 Earth is a cesspool. A toxic dessert where climate has gone wild, Five Families control the world. And not just Earth, Mars too. The rich have it all; everyone else is a debt slave to the system, a system run by Halo, the two-world spanning AI.
Crucial Larsen is a labor cop on Earth. The planet is a toxic dump and billions of people are miserable, but so what? It's none of his business. He's finally living a decent life. But then his kid sister, Essential, disappears on Mars, and he's summoned to aid the investigation. When Crucial demands to know why Halo, can't (or won't) locate his sister, he comes face to face with a life-threatening and apathy-ending realization: Essential is a revolutionary.
Lots of plot twists, and I really enjoyed the gruff, bit of an ass main character. Inside, he's one of the good guys.
February 17, 2025
Gates of Mars was a book that I couldn't put down. I'm fairly new to sci-fi and it's a genre I've been eager to start exploring, so reading about a futuristic society where a cop goes to Mars to search for his missing sister was right up my ally and sufficiently challenging.
This book is so believable that it's scary. In the world of Gates of Mars, capitalism and eco-crisis have driven the five richest human families to Mars where they have the best brains and facilities, while others rot on an even more rotten earth. And when Crucial Larsen's sister, Essential, is pronounced dead on Mars, he knows it's not true. His search for his sister leads him to the Variance, a resistance group that was a more equitable earth. To make matters worse, there is an all-knowing AI called Halo which keeps track of everything you do.
With such high stakes, the book is a pulse-pounding read that keeps the reader at the edge of their seats throughout. If you're someone who likes sci-fi or want to start reading, this is the perfect place to start
This book is so believable that it's scary. In the world of Gates of Mars, capitalism and eco-crisis have driven the five richest human families to Mars where they have the best brains and facilities, while others rot on an even more rotten earth. And when Crucial Larsen's sister, Essential, is pronounced dead on Mars, he knows it's not true. His search for his sister leads him to the Variance, a resistance group that was a more equitable earth. To make matters worse, there is an all-knowing AI called Halo which keeps track of everything you do.
With such high stakes, the book is a pulse-pounding read that keeps the reader at the edge of their seats throughout. If you're someone who likes sci-fi or want to start reading, this is the perfect place to start
July 21, 2020
Love this book! Can't wait for the second to release! I'm a huge Sci-Fi and mystery fan and this dynamic duo of authors nailed it! Plausible plot, compelling characters, richly descriptive. Once again Hays and McFall succeed in taking me on a high adventure ride--this time into the future. As in their past books, they deftly suck me into into the story in the first few pages. Drawing greatly from current events in our world, cause and effect reveal the inevitably dire consequences of our actions today. Hays and McFall craft a likely future encompassing our socio economic and political tragedies repeated. A decimated Earth and the citizenry not lucky enough to transport out. It feels quite real. High adventure ensues, mysteries unravel and I am left pining for the next book. Well done! Highly recommend -- Thumbs up to these two authors who just keep providing great entertainment.
February 24, 2025
Fast-Paced and Exciting Sci-Fi
Gates of Mars by Kathleen McFall hooked me right from the start. The mix of sci-fi and detective noir was fresh and exciting. Crucial Larsen is the kind of flawed but determined character you can't help but root for. His mission to find his sister on Mars turns into something much bigger than he expected, and the twists kept me hooked.
The world-building in this book is next level. A dystopian Earth, an AI controlling everything, and the elite ruling from Mars—it all felt disturbingly possible. The idea of people being constantly monitored made the story even more intense. If you like mystery, action, and thought-provoking sci-fi, this book is for you. The writing is sharp, the pacing is fast, and the ending leaves you wanting more. I can’t wait to read the next book in the trilogy!
Gates of Mars by Kathleen McFall hooked me right from the start. The mix of sci-fi and detective noir was fresh and exciting. Crucial Larsen is the kind of flawed but determined character you can't help but root for. His mission to find his sister on Mars turns into something much bigger than he expected, and the twists kept me hooked.
The world-building in this book is next level. A dystopian Earth, an AI controlling everything, and the elite ruling from Mars—it all felt disturbingly possible. The idea of people being constantly monitored made the story even more intense. If you like mystery, action, and thought-provoking sci-fi, this book is for you. The writing is sharp, the pacing is fast, and the ending leaves you wanting more. I can’t wait to read the next book in the trilogy!
January 7, 2025
I am not a fan of sci-fi-ish books, but otherwise the blurb hooked me, and I dived in. While I wasn’t fond of the thing mentioned above, I really, really enjoyed this book. The slow reveal from the preset to the past was a suspenseful hook, and I was glued to the pages to find out what was going on and why Crucial was trying to waste time. Also, I was curious how he and his sister got out of the jam they were both in. One thing though that really bothered me while reading this is that I feel this is actually going to happen, and I see it happening now. This is a page-turning mystery, and I am looking forward to the next. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
March 19, 2025
Not only is Gates of Mars a fresh blend of dystopian sci-fi with noir detective stories, but the book is also a striking commentary on AI, the space race, pollution, and the elites. Written by Kathleen McFall and Clark Hays, Gates of Mars is set in 2187 and follows an irreverent cop, Crucial Larsen, as he goes in search of his missing sister.
From the first page, this novel drew me in with its unique, colorful storytelling, but I was especially fascinated by the real-world parallels. Halo, for example, is an obvious play on current AI models, which being used by the elites and big corporations (the 5 families) to harvest our data.
This novel is such an eye-opening and intense read. I recommend, and I'm looking forward to more from these authors.
From the first page, this novel drew me in with its unique, colorful storytelling, but I was especially fascinated by the real-world parallels. Halo, for example, is an obvious play on current AI models, which being used by the elites and big corporations (the 5 families) to harvest our data.
This novel is such an eye-opening and intense read. I recommend, and I'm looking forward to more from these authors.
November 13, 2020
These are local Portland authors and I read a first copy. The characters are fun with names extolling their characteristics. The social structure has been well thought out with The Five Families Controlling everything on Mars and in many ways all of the things on Earth. Debt is where everyone except members of the Five Families exist. The technology is also fun to read about. Fir a quick read that hopes for a better outcome than zuckerberg, gates, and musk controlling everything, this is the trilogy for you.
December 19, 2021
Exciting, fun story
With a name like Crucial, how can anything turn out right? Ingesting future concept where the Earth is fatally toxic and Mars has become an Eden where wealthy folks live and The Five Families control everything. Crucial's sister disappears on Mars and he goes searching for her since he is a police officer. While there, he learns that she holds a high level position in the Resistance. There are a multitude of questions to be answered including whether his ex-wife, Mel, will come back to him. It's an exciting, enjoyable adventure.
With a name like Crucial, how can anything turn out right? Ingesting future concept where the Earth is fatally toxic and Mars has become an Eden where wealthy folks live and The Five Families control everything. Crucial's sister disappears on Mars and he goes searching for her since he is a police officer. While there, he learns that she holds a high level position in the Resistance. There are a multitude of questions to be answered including whether his ex-wife, Mel, will come back to him. It's an exciting, enjoyable adventure.
February 21, 2022
An interesting world weaving sci-fi with a reluctant detective. The world building in Gates of Mars is well-done, comprehensive and scarily possible. The plot revolves around Crucial and his sister, Essential, a trashed Earth and a rich person only Mars, all interacting with the global AI, Halo. Crucial didn't quite hit the spot, overly protesting his lack of involvement. The story touches on some great social threads, politics, power imbalances and family loyalty. A little too much exposition kept throwing me out of the story, though, and the ending faded too quickly for me.
January 20, 2026
A peace officer escapes the ghastly conditions on Earth to a special assignment on Mars. Mars and the Earth are run by a consortium of 30-odd and later just 5 families. Fabulously wealthy, with little-to-no concern about the economy and conditions on Earth, except to use Earth as a source of indentured labor. A central AI system runs everything and everybody. "Gates" is almost a standard detective novel, but the contrasting settings of Mars and the Earth kept the novel going. A good read and the start of a series. I enjoyed it, and raced right through it. Five stars.
December 28, 2021
Sci Fi? Not so much!
The Gates of Mars is a look into our own poor world's future possibilities. The authors have written an outstanding book of (in my opinion) the tragic outcome of a barren Earth, no longer able to sustain it's people, and, of course, the ultra rich, who manage to manipulate everything to their advantage. Pretty much what I expect on our own earth. Yeah, I'm a pessimist. All in all a great read with great characters. Action enough to suit anyone, and outcomes not entirely expected. And I am definitely looking forward to the 2nd book in the series!
The Gates of Mars is a look into our own poor world's future possibilities. The authors have written an outstanding book of (in my opinion) the tragic outcome of a barren Earth, no longer able to sustain it's people, and, of course, the ultra rich, who manage to manipulate everything to their advantage. Pretty much what I expect on our own earth. Yeah, I'm a pessimist. All in all a great read with great characters. Action enough to suit anyone, and outcomes not entirely expected. And I am definitely looking forward to the 2nd book in the series!
dnf
January 5, 2022DNF at 43%. The prose is pretty solid, although there’s some early infodumping and a fairly standard post-apocalyptic dystopia. But, the mystery investigation that serves as the primary plot keeps leaving bodies in its wake before I’ve had a chance to care at all about the lives being ended. So I can see that things are happening, but I don’t feel much connection to the events. I think that’s a sign that it’s time to put this one down, at least for now.
May 31, 2025
Gates of Mars by Kathleen McFall & Clark Hays is the first in a trilogy about Crucial Larsen and his sister Essential, who has disappeared while on an internship to Mars. The descriptions of Halo, the AI responsible for reporting everyone's movements to the Five Families who rule Earth, and the state that Earth is in, are well done. The mystery of Essential's disappearance and how that ties in to the Five Families keeps one reading.
January 26, 2025
I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest evaluation of its merits.
This story had a good blend of sci-fi and sarcasm to qualify as a modern-day cousin of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (with something of a Fletch sensibility). A bit more profanity than I prefer, but not so much that it distracts from the storyline. I would be curious to see how the series progresses.
This story had a good blend of sci-fi and sarcasm to qualify as a modern-day cousin of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (with something of a Fletch sensibility). A bit more profanity than I prefer, but not so much that it distracts from the storyline. I would be curious to see how the series progresses.
August 23, 2022
Great book, sci fi / detective novel blend hit just right. Page turner, finished in a week. Book had great rhythm. Amazing robot character. Totally dead on futuristic prescient prognostications. Protagonist dealing with masculinity issues! Gonna finish this tril fo sho.
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