What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedMars
Ron Howard · Series · 2016
If you loved Mars, start with The Martian (Ridley Scott, 2015) — a film on the same thread. Below: 2 books, 1 film and 2 podcasts, each matched to Mars across media.
What hooked you in Mars was the way the cold, unforgiving reality of space exploration demands relentless human ingenuity to survive.
Books on the same thread
The Martian
Andy Weir · Book · 2015
Shares a thread with Mars: Hard Science Fiction.
If the scientific problem-solving in Mars captured your imagination, this book offers a deeper dive into the raw human ingenuity required to survive isolation on a hostile planet.
The Martian Chronicles
Ray Bradbury · Book · 1977
Explores: Colonialism, Nostalgia, Environmentalism.
While Mars focuses on modern technical colonization, this anthology explores the haunting, philosophical implications of humanity attempting to settle a world that was never meant for us.
Films on the same thread
The Martian
Ridley Scott · Film · 2015
Shares 3 threads with Mars: Human Perseverance, Hard Science Fiction, Space Exploration.
This film mirrors the survival-focused narrative of Mars, emphasizing how one individual must master his environment through rigorous scientific application when faced with the threat of total isolation.
Podcasts on the same thread
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
Beyond the technical logistics shown in Mars, this podcast examines the inevitable sociopolitical consequences and power dynamics that arise when humans attempt to establish a new, independent society.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2026
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
If the docudrama elements of Mars sparked your interest in the broader history of human progress, this podcast provides an intense, analytical look at the cycles of civilization.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Mars a documentary or a scripted series?
Mars is a hybrid series that blends scripted narrative elements set in the future with documentary vérité interviews. It features insights from modern scientists and innovators to explain the research behind the mission to establish a sustainable colony on the planet.
What is the primary mission depicted in Mars?
The series follows the maiden crew of the Daedalus spacecraft as they attempt to establish the first sustainable colony on Mars. The crew must push themselves to the brink of human capability to ensure the mission succeeds in both the future and the present day.
Does Mars feature real-world scientific perspectives?
Yes, Mars incorporates documentary interviews with today’s best and brightest minds in science and innovation. These segments are used to illuminate the research and technological challenges involved in the fictional mission to colonize the planet as presented in the show.
How does Mars represent the timeline of the mission?
Mars is set in both the future and the present day. The scripted portions of the series focus on the future mission of the Daedalus crew, while the documentary segments provide contemporary context from modern scientists regarding the feasibility of such a colony.