What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedRed Mars
Kim Stanley Robinson · Book · 1992
If you loved Red Mars, start with Red Planet (Antony Hoffman, 2000) — a film on the same thread. Below: 2 films, 4 series and 1 podcast, each matched to Red Mars across media.
What hooked you in Red Mars was the way the immense challenge of planetary colonization forces humanity to confront its own ideological limits.
Films on the same thread
Red Planet
Antony Hoffman · Film · 2000
Shares 2 threads with Red Mars: Terraforming, Hard Science Fiction.
Like Red Mars, this film explores the high stakes of Martian colonization and the dangerous tension between scientific ambition and the harsh, unforgiving realities of a new world.
Mission to Mars
Film · 2000
Shares a thread with Red Mars: Hard Science Fiction.
Fans of Red Mars will appreciate this story for its focus on the mysteries of Mars and the intense, survival-based consequences that follow humanity's first ambitious attempts at exploration.
Series on the same thread
Red Dwarf
Doug Naylor · Series · 1988
Explores: Existentialism, Slacker Humor, Male Bonding.
While tonally distinct from Red Mars, this series captures the isolation of deep space and the complex dynamics of a small, stranded crew operating far from planetary society.
Star Trek
Gene Roddenberry · Series · 1966
Shares a thread with Red Mars: Hard Science Fiction.
Those drawn to the utopian scientific idealism in Red Mars will recognize that same spirit of discovery and the moral weight of leadership in these classic galactic explorations.
3rd Rock from the Sun
Terry Turner · Series · 1996
Explores: Aliens pretending to be human, Satire of American Culture, Interspecies relationships.
This show offers a satirical mirror to the human condition, mirroring the way Red Mars uses alien environments to force a deeper examination of our own social structures.
For All Mankind
Ronald D. Moore · Series · 2019
Explores: Space Exploration, Cold War, Technological Advancement.
If you enjoyed the meticulous technical detail and political maneuvering in Red Mars, you will find this alternate history of the space race equally compelling and grounded in reality.
Podcasts on the same thread
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
This podcast provides the perfect historical context for the sociopolitical turmoil of Red Mars, deconstructing the power dynamics and revolutionary cycles that define the transition to Martian independence.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Red Mars the first book in a series?
Yes, Red Mars is the first novel of the Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson. It was published in 1992 and establishes the foundation for the subsequent events in the series.
What time period does Red Mars cover?
Red Mars covers the initial stages of the colonization of Mars. The narrative begins with the arrival of the First Hundred settlers and concludes during the First Martian Revolution.
Does Red Mars follow the First Hundred?
Yes, Red Mars focuses on the arrival and experiences of the First Hundred colonists. The story tracks their journey as they begin the process of colonizing the planet.
What is the main conflict in Red Mars?
The primary conflict in Red Mars centers on the challenges of early colonization and the political tensions that lead to the First Martian Revolution. The novel documents these developments from the arrival of the settlers.