10 Best Books Like Red Mars
If you loved Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson, here are the most similar books our readers recommend.
Quick Answer
The best books like Red Mars are:
- 1The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin0
- 2Stranded (Starship of the Ancients) by A.K. DuBoff4.3#1
- 3The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey4.5Series starter
- 4Redshirts by John Scalzi3.9
- 5Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey0#1
- 6The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu0#1
- 7Foundation by Isaac Asimov0#1
- 8Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir4.5
- 9When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi4.1
- 10Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel0
In 2026, one hundred colonists embark on humanity's most ambitious project: the terraforming of Mars, using massive mirrors, melted polar caps, and deep planetary drilling to transform the red planet into a habitable world. As the colonists work to reshape an entire planet, they find themselves divided between those who dream of a new Earth and those who believe Mars should remain untouched, setting the stage for conflicts that will determine the future of two worlds.
We may earn a small commission from purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.
Detailed Recommendations

Stranded (Starship of the Ancients)
Starship of the Ancients #1 (works standalone)by A.K. DuBoff
Why you'll love it:
This science fiction shares a tense and methodical tone that will resonate with Red Mars fans.

The Mercy of Gods
Start of The Captive's War seriesby James S. A. Corey
Why you'll love it:
This science fiction shares a tense and cerebral tone that will resonate with Red Mars fans.

Leviathan Wakes
Expanse #1 (works standalone)by James S.A. Corey
Why you'll love it:
This science fiction shares a gritty but hopeful tone that will resonate with Red Mars fans.

The Three-Body Problem
Remembrance Of Earth'S Past #1 (works standalone)by Cixin Liu
Why you'll love it:
This science fiction shares a cerebral and unsettling tone that will resonate with Red Mars fans.

Foundation
Foundation #1 (works standalone)by Isaac Asimov
Why you'll love it:
This science fiction shares a cerebral and optimistic tone that will resonate with Red Mars fans.
Quick Comparison: Books Like Red Mars
| Book | Author | Rating | Year | Pages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Dispossessed | Ursula K. Le Guin | 0 | 2015 | 320 | Closest match |
| Stranded (Starship of the Ancients) | A.K. DuBoff | 4.3 | 2025 | 419 | Similar vibes |
| The Mercy of Gods📚 Series starter | James S. A. Corey | 4.5 | 2024 | — | Start a new series |
| Redshirts | John Scalzi | 3.9 | 2012 | 320 | Similar vibes |
| Leviathan Wakes | James S.A. Corey | 0 | 2011 | 573 | Similar vibes |
| The Three-Body Problem | Cixin Liu | 0 | — | — | Similar vibes |
| Foundation | Isaac Asimov | 0 | 2004 | — | Similar vibes |
| Project Hail Mary | Andy Weir | 4.5 | 2021 | 476 | Similar vibes |
| When the Moon Hits Your Eye | John Scalzi | 4.1 | 2025 | 336 | Similar vibes |
| Sea of Tranquility | Emily St. John Mandel | 0 | — | — | Similar vibes |
Authors Who Write Like Kim Stanley Robinson
If you enjoy Kim Stanley Robinson's writing style, explore these similar authors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What books are most similar to Red Mars?
The most similar books to Red Mars are The Dispossessed, Stranded (Starship of the Ancients), The Mercy of Gods.
What should I read after Red Mars?
After finishing Red Mars, readers most commonly pick up The Dispossessed next.
Who writes books like Kim Stanley Robinson?
Authors similar to Kim Stanley Robinson include Matt Haig, Andy Weir, John Ringo, Matt Dinniman, A.K. DuBoff.
What genre is Red Mars?
Red Mars is a Science Fiction novel by Kim Stanley Robinson, published in 2003. It features elements of Mars, Space Opera.
How long is Red Mars?
Red Mars is 640 pages long.
About Red Mars
In his most ambitious project to date, award-winning author Kim Stanley Robinson utilizes years of research and cutting-edge science in the first of three novels that will chronicle the colonization of Mars.For eons, sandstorms have swept the barren desolate landscape of the red planet. For centuries, Mars has beckoned to mankind to come and conquer its hostile climate. Now, in the year 2026, a group of one hundred colonists is about to fulfill that destiny.John Boone, Maya Toitavna, Frank Chalmers, and Arkady Bogdanov lead a mission whose ultimate goal is the terraforming of Mars. For some, Mars will become a passion driving them to daring acts of courage and madness; for others it offers and opportunity to strip the planet of its riches. And for the genetic "alchemists, " Mars presents a chance to create a biomedical miracle, a breakthrough that could change all we know about life...and death.The colonists place giant satellite mirrors in Martian orbit to reflect light to the planets surface. Black dust sprinkled on the polar caps will capture warmth and melt the ice. And massive tunnels, kilometers in depth, will be drilled into the Martian mantle to create stupendous vents of hot gases. Against this backdrop of epic upheaval, rivalries, loves, and friendships will form and fall to pieces--for there are those who will fight to the death to prevent Mars from ever being changed.Brilliantly imagined, breathtaking in scope and ingenuity, Red Mars is an epic scientific saga, chronicling the next step in human evolution and creating a world in its entirety. Red Mars shows us a future, with both glory and tarnish, that awes with complexity and inspires with vision.From the Paperback edition.




