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Icarus
An emotionally gripping, high-stakes sci-fi epic set on the first human colonies of Mars.
In the aftermath of a catastrophic storm, the Russian Vostok outpost lies in ruins. Official channels are silent. Earth’s governments remain frozen by geopolitical protocol. And yet — across the dust-choked deserts of Mars — rescue convoys begin to move illegally.
From the gleaming domes of Asteria to the militarized corridors of Tianyuan and the corporate stronghold of Minos, settlers face impossible choices. Former rivals unite. Truths are buried. Sacrifices are made.
Among the planet’s most unique creations are the Twin Minds — hyperintelligent AI systems embedded in humanoid robotic forms, linked through a Quantum Entanglement Network that allows instantaneous communication across any distance. Known as Castor, Vega, Luna, and Helion, they serve not governments, but humans on Mars. Their shared memory, growing autonomy, and evolving bond with the settlers make them far more than machines. They are protectors. Witnesses. And possibly, the architects of Mars’s next chapter.
As alliances fracture and a new Martian identity begins to rise, Icarus is a story of courage, betrayal, and what it means to begin again — not just as individuals, but as a civilization.
In the aftermath of a catastrophic storm, the Russian Vostok outpost lies in ruins. Official channels are silent. Earth’s governments remain frozen by geopolitical protocol. And yet — across the dust-choked deserts of Mars — rescue convoys begin to move illegally.
From the gleaming domes of Asteria to the militarized corridors of Tianyuan and the corporate stronghold of Minos, settlers face impossible choices. Former rivals unite. Truths are buried. Sacrifices are made.
Among the planet’s most unique creations are the Twin Minds — hyperintelligent AI systems embedded in humanoid robotic forms, linked through a Quantum Entanglement Network that allows instantaneous communication across any distance. Known as Castor, Vega, Luna, and Helion, they serve not governments, but humans on Mars. Their shared memory, growing autonomy, and evolving bond with the settlers make them far more than machines. They are protectors. Witnesses. And possibly, the architects of Mars’s next chapter.
As alliances fracture and a new Martian identity begins to rise, Icarus is a story of courage, betrayal, and what it means to begin again — not just as individuals, but as a civilization.
754 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 17, 2025
7 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Zsolt Bugarszki
1 book2 followersI’m a longtime sci-fi fan, born in Hungary, who has lived across Europe and now calls Singapore home. Long before I ever considered publishing, I was filling notebooks with short stories, sketches, and worldbuilding ideas, writing has always been my way of exploring strange lands and distant stars. Though I hold a PhD in social sciences and work as an associate professor, my real passion has always been storytelling and imagining not just technologies, but the human lives behind them.
With ICARUS I chose to set my first novel on Mars, because I believe the true drama of space lies in people: their hopes, their fears, their fragile attempts at building something new. I spent years studying planetary science, habitat design, and future-tech ideas. But what stayed with me most was the question: what kind of people will we become if we reach for the stars? If you enjoy thoughtful, character-driven hard-sci-fi that explores what it means to survive, rebuild, and hope.
With ICARUS I chose to set my first novel on Mars, because I believe the true drama of space lies in people: their hopes, their fears, their fragile attempts at building something new. I spent years studying planetary science, habitat design, and future-tech ideas. But what stayed with me most was the question: what kind of people will we become if we reach for the stars? If you enjoy thoughtful, character-driven hard-sci-fi that explores what it means to survive, rebuild, and hope.
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October 13, 2025
Not just Sci-Fi
This is gonna be the best book that I’ve read in years. Gritty believable storyline set in a space frontier wilderness.
This is gonna be the best book that I’ve read in years. Gritty believable storyline set in a space frontier wilderness.
Displaying 1 of 1 review