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We Have Always Lived on Mars
Nina, one of the few descendants of human colony on Mars that was abandoned by Earth, is surprised to discover that she can breathe the toxic atmosphere of the Martian surface. The crew, thinking that their attempts at terraforming and breeding for Martian adaptability have finally payed off, rejoice at the prospect of a brighter future. But Nina's about to unlock the mystery of the disaster that stranded them on Mars… and nothing will ever be the same.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2013
8 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Cecil Castellucci
221 books723 followersCecil Castellucci is an author of young adult novels and comic books. Titles include Boy Proof, The Year of the Beasts (illustrated by Nate Powell), First Day on Earth, Rose Sees Red, Beige, The Queen of Cool The Plain Janes and Janes in Love (illustrated by Jim Rugg), Tin Star Stone in the Sky, Odd Duck (illustrated by Sara Varon) and Star Wars: Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure.
Her short stories have been published in various places including Black Clock, The Rattling Wall, Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Apex Magazine and can be found in such anthologies such as After, Teeth, Truth & Dare, The Eternal Kiss, Sideshow and Interfictions 2 and the anthology, which she co-edited, Geektastic.
She is the recipient of the California Book Award Gold Medal for her picture book Grandma's Gloves, illustrated by Julia Denos, the Shuster Award for Best Canadian Comic Book Writer for The Plain Janes and the Sunburst Award for Tin Star. The Year of the Beasts was a finalist for the PEN USA literary award and Odd Duck was Eisner nominated.
She splits her time between the heart and the head and lives north and south of everything. Her hands are small. And she likes you very much.
Her short stories have been published in various places including Black Clock, The Rattling Wall, Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Apex Magazine and can be found in such anthologies such as After, Teeth, Truth & Dare, The Eternal Kiss, Sideshow and Interfictions 2 and the anthology, which she co-edited, Geektastic.
She is the recipient of the California Book Award Gold Medal for her picture book Grandma's Gloves, illustrated by Julia Denos, the Shuster Award for Best Canadian Comic Book Writer for The Plain Janes and the Sunburst Award for Tin Star. The Year of the Beasts was a finalist for the PEN USA literary award and Odd Duck was Eisner nominated.
She splits her time between the heart and the head and lives north and south of everything. Her hands are small. And she likes you very much.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
May 13, 2021
“It is hard to be alone,” I say. “I often do not know why we try so hard to survive.”
the many-generations-later descendants of earthling colonizers on mars continue to live as their ancestors before them, stranded but adapting to life on the most foreign of soils after communications with earth terminated abruptly long ago, leaving them to contend with an inhospitable climate, limited resources, timeworn equipment, and the psychological strain of isolation and close quarters. they are unable to travel more than two hours from base because of the limited capacity of their air tanks, and they must control their population to match the original number of colonists: 24. it's a small, scrabbling existence.
until the day a young woman named nina discovers she can breathe without her mask, allowing her to travel further than two hours in any direction, and she is sent out to explore, bring back supplies and information, but what she really does is stumble upon something that's gonna blow everyone's minds.
i'm curious about how this tiny story is going to grow up into a movie, especially since so much of its weight is in its ending, but i'm interested in seeing how it gets fleshed out. even though i am no expert on martian living, some of the story's details gave me pause as i was reading, in that "hey, wait a minute, science..." way that i think will benefit from having a team of consultants on board to develop the finer points and add more cool stuff. scientists know all kinds of cool stuff.
this is a story that is easily ruined by a careless reviewer, so i'm going to err on the side of courtesy and be all circumspect here and you can go discover it for yourself because again - it's not long. but i will say that there are many touchpoints here: books, film, television that covers the same ground, but that doesn't make this one any less fun. i was a little confused about why there were goats on mars
but i did a little research into the matter, using all of the reputable scientific news sites, and apparently space goats are quite common.
so maybe the film won't need consultants after all.
read it for yourself here:
https://www.tor.com/2013/05/07/we-hav...
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April 4, 2016
It wasn't bad, just painfully predictable from the first lines.
February 22, 2018
This was a quick read, fairly predictable, and not all that original.
The writing is just so-so. The editing isn't great. People kept "laying" when they should've been "lying", and when someone was already lying on the ground, she said her knees buckled (huh?). Characters are sparse and not developed. The story raises a lot more questions than it answers. I prefer more answers. This story didn't offer nearly enough.
This was fine for a quick read, but it's not really something I'd want to read again or recommend.
The writing is just so-so. The editing isn't great. People kept "laying" when they should've been "lying", and when someone was already lying on the ground, she said her knees buckled (huh?). Characters are sparse and not developed. The story raises a lot more questions than it answers. I prefer more answers. This story didn't offer nearly enough.
This was fine for a quick read, but it's not really something I'd want to read again or recommend.
April 21, 2018
Was a bit predictable but it was very cool. I think the most fun part is imagining the rest after you read it :)
April 14, 2018
This is a difficult short story to review without giving away the twist ending, but in essence it deals with a colony on Mars that believes itself to be abandoned, all alone in the universe, with possibly humans on Earth extinct. All contact with Earth has been lost and thanks to terraforming efforts, no one can even see through the unending cloud cover to glimpse Earth (not that they have telescopes to see much, as the equipment and the buildings that housed them have long since been cannibalized for spare parts and raw material).
Our main character is Nina, a young woman who longs to be free, away from the tiny, stifling colony, to be alone, away from a cramped life of “constant living on top of one another.” Also she is not fond of what is a rather grim life, as owing to space and resource limitations, there can only ever be twenty-four people alive at one time, and that if “there are too many of us, one of the older members of our community walks outside unsuited to make room,” alone, “at night, not long after a new babe is born and when almost everyone is asleep.”
The book as I mentioned has a surprise ending that to me…was surprising I suppose but one I have seen done before more than once. To even compare it to those previous incarnations is to spoil the entire short story.
It read fast. Nina came off as a “lucky destined for greatness protagonist” but it wasn’t really a problem for me. The book had a good young adult vibe to it and wasn’t mired in love triangles or instalove or the like. My biggest complaint wasn’t the not-that-original twist at the end, but that it ended just when it might have been interesting, that while I accepted the twist wasn’t that new, I was interested in what happened next and what that implied for the rest of the story I had read. I suppose leaving a short story reader wanting more is good, but I would have gladly read more of the story had there been any.
Our main character is Nina, a young woman who longs to be free, away from the tiny, stifling colony, to be alone, away from a cramped life of “constant living on top of one another.” Also she is not fond of what is a rather grim life, as owing to space and resource limitations, there can only ever be twenty-four people alive at one time, and that if “there are too many of us, one of the older members of our community walks outside unsuited to make room,” alone, “at night, not long after a new babe is born and when almost everyone is asleep.”
The book as I mentioned has a surprise ending that to me…was surprising I suppose but one I have seen done before more than once. To even compare it to those previous incarnations is to spoil the entire short story.
It read fast. Nina came off as a “lucky destined for greatness protagonist” but it wasn’t really a problem for me. The book had a good young adult vibe to it and wasn’t mired in love triangles or instalove or the like. My biggest complaint wasn’t the not-that-original twist at the end, but that it ended just when it might have been interesting, that while I accepted the twist wasn’t that new, I was interested in what happened next and what that implied for the rest of the story I had read. I suppose leaving a short story reader wanting more is good, but I would have gladly read more of the story had there been any.
June 24, 2016
'We Have Always Lived on Mars' was quite a fascinating little short. I enjoyed how well it introduced this idea of terraforming and breeding humans for adaptability. It is an interesting topic which I would love to see more of in the YA sci-fi genre! I thought it would also work very well as a prologue to a real novel which further explores terraforming and selective breeding of humans.
The characters were also pretty awesome, though I would have enjoyed exploring them a little further. I also enjoyed the twist at the end. It was a pretty good cliff-hanger and probably the driving force behind making-the-short-a-full-novel idea.
Congratulations to Cecil Castellucci on publishing a great short story!
The characters were also pretty awesome, though I would have enjoyed exploring them a little further. I also enjoyed the twist at the end. It was a pretty good cliff-hanger and probably the driving force behind making-the-short-a-full-novel idea.
Congratulations to Cecil Castellucci on publishing a great short story!
March 13, 2019
I don't think I have too much to add that the other reviews haven't said; it was a fun and interesting short story, and I liked certain elements of it (the backstory of the colony, the way they had managed to survive and function, the social system, etc.). But, really, it was all leading up to a twist ending that led to way more questions than answers and wasn't as satisfying as I think it could have been.
April 15, 2018
Predictable.
February 19, 2017
The story captured my attention, and having seen The Martian, I was ready for similar. The twist was nice, even if I did see it coming, and it still left me wanting to know more.
I could see this being a pilot or a great introduction to a novel.
I could see this being a pilot or a great introduction to a novel.
September 15, 2025
Nina is one of a small number of Martian colonists, who feel abandoned by Earth. The colony's population is tightly controlled, with elders sacrificing themselves when a new baby is born. When Nina discovers that she can breath outside the colony's airlock, she is given a mission to see what she can learn about their situation.
Castellucci's short story is thought provoking and has a nice little twist which owes a lot to 'The Twilight Zone'.
Castellucci's short story is thought provoking and has a nice little twist which owes a lot to 'The Twilight Zone'.
April 12, 2018
Interesting idea for a story. I just read it on Tor.com when I heard it is going to be adapted to a movie. Very short and just O.K. writing. I am not sure how it can be stretched into a movie but it sounds intriguing.
August 20, 2018
I didn't realize this was getting an adaptation (I'm clearing out my wishlist on Amazon and picked this up randomly today), but I can see how this could make a very interesting story to tell on film. It managed to surprise me.
March 23, 2019
What a fascinating little read. With simple but elegant prose, I was really taken by surprise at how much I enjoyed this. This is how a short story should be done. Can’t wait for the film adaptation.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 5, 2018
This was, actually, much much better than I expected. Definitely loved the simplicity of the writing style and how it conveyed the story. Also--that ending.
June 28, 2019
I liked We Have Always Lived on Mars, but I didn't love it. I'm certainly not the first to say that I wish a short story had been longer, but in this case, I really do wish it had been.
There's a very large twist at the end of the story (which I know many people predicted, but I did not), and I wish that there had been just a bit more explanation. I don't know how exactly it would have been done, but just kind of ending it on the twist didn't work for me. I believe this story has been optioned more a movie adaptation, which I think could be interesting and I would certainly expect it to expand upon the twist and provide more explanation.
There's a very large twist at the end of the story (which I know many people predicted, but I did not), and I wish that there had been just a bit more explanation. I don't know how exactly it would have been done, but just kind of ending it on the twist didn't work for me. I believe this story has been optioned more a movie adaptation, which I think could be interesting and I would certainly expect it to expand upon the twist and provide more explanation.
December 13, 2021
You know what, I actually kinda liked this. A little short, a little abrubt, but I don't think this story would have benefitted from a longer format. Which is not often the case with short stories, for me. Enjoyable.
I also feel like the most impactful things about this story are the things that are not said. Both the implications of things as well as the history of it all, assumed or otherwise. I've recently been so tired of authors insisting on spelling everything out to exhaustive detail, so it was nice to read something that expects the reader to do some of the work too, beyond what's written on the pages.
I also feel like the most impactful things about this story are the things that are not said. Both the implications of things as well as the history of it all, assumed or otherwise. I've recently been so tired of authors insisting on spelling everything out to exhaustive detail, so it was nice to read something that expects the reader to do some of the work too, beyond what's written on the pages.
April 13, 2018
Not often do I delve into the world of short stories, simply because I'm always left wanting more. Big books, when well written, are the best; so short forms of fiction always leave me bereft and unsatisfied. If I take the time to read a short story it's because the premise has drawn me in, in which case I'll want a whole lot more than 30 pages worth of a journey. Nonetheless, this was great. I'm a sucker for sci-fi, every time. If you can let go of what we know to be scientific truths and just immerse yourself into the setting, it's pretty neat. I always love it when things come full circle and the symmetry of making the first line and the last line the same yet different is awesome. It's undeniable that there's a beauty to short stories; like shooting stars, lovely yet brief.
April 14, 2018
This was a decent short story. A lot of people would have guessed the ending, though I didn't. Started reading this because I read that a movie adaptation was in the works with John Krasinski directing. The story will really need to be fleshed out, as this feels more like the set up rather than a full story. Also, I feel like the ending has been done before, even though I can't remember the films.
December 19, 2016
Well, not necessarily bad but I thought it way too unremarkable and commonplace.
And that, for sci-fi genre, is kind of a disaster.
And that, for sci-fi genre, is kind of a disaster.
December 25, 2017
This was not a bad story but it was predictable, IMO. Almost like I had heard it before.
June 16, 2018
A quick but enjoyable read about the inhabitants of a Martian colony that believes that its been abandoned, and with humanity on Earth possibly extinct, little hope for the future.
The story got my attention, as its reportedly to be adapted into a film by John Krasinski, star and director of the film 'A Quiet Place'. And although it's not entirely original, there are other stories and films that follow a similar path, it's still engaging enough. And although the brief story focuses on Nina, one of inhabitants of the colony, I did like her character development.
Unfortunately, as the story is quite short, to say anymore about it would be giving up spoilers, and I don't do that. But I will say that it's a good read and that I would like to know more about what happens afterwards at the end.
The story is a free read from the Tor Fiction website (tor.com/stories/2013/05/we-have-alway...), so you can check it out for yourself.
The story got my attention, as its reportedly to be adapted into a film by John Krasinski, star and director of the film 'A Quiet Place'. And although it's not entirely original, there are other stories and films that follow a similar path, it's still engaging enough. And although the brief story focuses on Nina, one of inhabitants of the colony, I did like her character development.
Unfortunately, as the story is quite short, to say anymore about it would be giving up spoilers, and I don't do that. But I will say that it's a good read and that I would like to know more about what happens afterwards at the end.
The story is a free read from the Tor Fiction website (tor.com/stories/2013/05/we-have-alway...), so you can check it out for yourself.
February 18, 2023
We Have Always Lived On Mars by author Cecil Castellucci is a short story you can read for free on the Tor.com site https://www.tor.com/2013/05/07/we-hav...
Nina, one of the few descendants of human colony on Mars that was abandoned by Earth, is surprised to discover that she can breathe the toxic atmosphere of the Martian surface. The crew, thinking that their attempts at terraforming and breeding for Martian adaptability have finally payed off, rejoice at the prospect of a brighter future. But Nina's about to unlock the mystery of the disaster that stranded them on Mars… and nothing will ever be the same.
My ongoing quest to get current with the Tor short stories. This one had a nice little twist. Predictable? Maybe, but still nice.
4 Stars
Nina, one of the few descendants of human colony on Mars that was abandoned by Earth, is surprised to discover that she can breathe the toxic atmosphere of the Martian surface. The crew, thinking that their attempts at terraforming and breeding for Martian adaptability have finally payed off, rejoice at the prospect of a brighter future. But Nina's about to unlock the mystery of the disaster that stranded them on Mars… and nothing will ever be the same.
My ongoing quest to get current with the Tor short stories. This one had a nice little twist. Predictable? Maybe, but still nice.
4 Stars
April 15, 2018
A girl named Nina has spent her whole life with a small group stranded on Mars. Their ancestors were the first wave to colonize the planet, but then a tragedy befell Earth, and no one else followed. For generations they have survived, maintaining a strict population limit, and striving day in and day out to keep the human race alive. But one day, as the result of an accident, Nina and the colonists learn something new about her, and in turn she is allowed to learn something new about the colony itself. This is an expertly told short story, written with minimal but elegant prose. The suspense builds to some great heights as the plot moves towards its final revelation, and ends with a bang. It's the sort of story you'll wish you could read for the first time again.
January 20, 2021
This is a short sci-fi story, free to read on Tor.com. So here we are presented to a human colony, formed by 24 people, number enough to live inside their isolated quarters (so, when a baby is born, an elder has to go). Nina and a teen friend of hers go out to explore the whereabouts around their quarters, limited to 2 hours of oxygen in their reserve, thus not always able to go too far. In one of these explorations, Nina falls over a stone and her protection is torn open. Miraculously, she survives and that means a new chance for her people.
It is such a fast and short read, but surprisingly nice. Glad I came around it!
It is such a fast and short read, but surprisingly nice. Glad I came around it!
May 17, 2019
It was rather obvious to me from the start how this story is going to end and it doesn't do much work with characters so I didn't find myself caring about them individually. But the thoughts it provoked have potential for an interesting premise.
May 6, 2018
Une courte nouvelle sympathique datant de 2013 qui pêche par l'absence de rigueur scientifique mais qui garde son charme Malheureusement, les amateurs de SF auront un arrière goût de "déjà-vu"
Le lecteur plus jeune ou novice dans le genre, aura envie d'y croire surtout s'il s'oblige à ne pas se poser des questions qui restent sans réponse (diversité génétique, gravité, etc )
à lire gratuitement sur https://www.tor.com/2013/05/07/we-hav...
Le lecteur plus jeune ou novice dans le genre, aura envie d'y croire surtout s'il s'oblige à ne pas se poser des questions qui restent sans réponse (diversité génétique, gravité, etc )
à lire gratuitement sur https://www.tor.com/2013/05/07/we-hav...
April 25, 2018
A short, but engrossing, story about a forgotten Mars crew with some definitely surprisingly result. a wholeheartedly satisfying read worth your time. I'm interested how John Kransinski will transform this tale for the big screen.
November 11, 2019
Well everyone else thought it was predictable so I am glad I did not even look at anyone's reviews before reading. Maybe I am naïve and I don't read enough sci-fi, but I enjoyed this little story and surprise!
December 22, 2017
Decent story, kind of obvious twist ending. 2.5 stars.
https://www.tor.com/2013/05/07/we-hav...
https://www.tor.com/2013/05/07/we-hav...
February 6, 2018
O. Henry would be proud
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews