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Mars Frontier #1

Discovery: The Mars Frontier Series Book 1

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What if we’re not alone in the Universe? Georgia Pyke is about to learn the truth, but at what cost? 2034 – Boots on Mars. America wins yet another space race. Human exploration and colonization of the Red Planet can begin.

Earth’s resources are diminishing. Against a backdrop of global unrest, hunger, disease and poverty, the Earth’s superpowers send their most courageous astronauts on separate missions to conquer a brave new world! Mission specialist Georgia Pyke arrives on Mars with bold ideals for the future. She wants to create a colony that doesn’t contain the petty rivalries and jealousies of Earth. She just needs to find a way to achieve her goal when the colonist’s main focus is on surviving the hostile environment. When a near-death experience opens Georgia’s eyes to much larger possibilities that could alter the future of the entire human race, she inadvertently sets a deadly chain of events in motion. Little does she know there is a traitor in their midst. Someone who has been holding a grudge for six years. A grudge that has been silently festering and waiting for an opportunity for revenge. And murder is about to be the first crime committed on Mars. Can Georgia prevent a tragedy from occurring to the colonists?

Discovery is the first book in the highly anticipated sci-fi human colonization series, Mars Frontier. If you like The Expanse or The Martian Chronicles, then you’ll love Paul Rix’s brand new human adventure to Mars.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced action adventure, get your copy of Discovery today!


What Readers are

★★★★★ "Having read the prequel to this series, Deception, and loved it, I just could not wait to read this book. I am not disappointed. I love this series because. it is incredibly well-written, action-packed with an intriguing storyline - I mean, it is about Mars after all! It is a really great series and I am looking forward to the next book." - Dr Patricia Eroh

★★★★★ "This book is an easy read. It’s well paced and sets the scene for the next books in the series. The characters are well formed, believable and very human."- J Bee

★★★★★ "Excellent book. I did not expect what was coming later in the book. Very well done by Mr Rix. I will read more of his books." - Jerry S


About the Mars Frontier series

This sci-fi series sets out humanity's early attempts to build a colony on Mars. The science included in my books is (largely) conceivable based on current technology and what is being researched by government organisations such as NASA and ESA as well as private companies such as Blue Origin, SpaceX and Boeing. In other words, what’s technically possible with either current technology or taking experimental research a step or two further. That said, you won’t need to be a rocket scientist to enjoy the story.

302 pages, Paperback

Published October 16, 2019

332 people are currently reading
106 people want to read

About the author

Paul Rix

18 books17 followers

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Community Reviews

5 stars
98 (45%)
4 stars
77 (35%)
3 stars
27 (12%)
2 stars
12 (5%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Julie.
2,007 reviews628 followers
November 27, 2021
Discovery is the first book in the Mars Frontier series. A crew travels from Earth to set up the first exploration colony on Mars. They knew that survival was going to require dedication, work and sheer luck...but some of the challenges they face are things they never could have seen coming. And.....there's a traitor in their midst. Can they survive?

This story went in directions I didn't expect -- I love it when that happens! Very enjoyable read and I will definitely be reading more of this series by Paul Rix. I have to know what happens next!
Profile Image for Divad.
69 reviews7 followers
November 11, 2024
Don't bother

I wouldn't bother. The descriptions of minutia become wearying. Nothing happens in the early part of the book.
..... .....
Profile Image for Ellen.
100 reviews46 followers
March 24, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book for the most part. I liked the characterization. The ending was filled with lots of action and suspenseful drama.

This is the first time I have read anything from this author. I would have given it a 3.5 but rounded up because of the characterization and the suspense. I did not like the typos. Perhaps I am too generous. I will see how well the author does on the next one in the series.
Profile Image for Ken Howard.
Author 4 books8 followers
August 24, 2021
A very compelling story. I’ve been reading straight through this series. I might have given it 5 stars had it been better proofread (many typos).
Profile Image for Kris.
497 reviews2 followers
February 23, 2022
Well at least there wasn't many typos. I did not feel connected to this story. The *aliens* had human emotions...remorse/regret. Maybe it was just too simplistic. Would a modern person in space walk around the ISS in a lab coat and act like it was earth?? I don't think so. Maybe because I read this first and not the intended first book ....
I am sorry I don't recommend this book.
Profile Image for Mary Carolyn .
117 reviews1 follower
April 8, 2025
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I wanted so badly to love this book. It starts out with amazing writing, good science and wonderful characters. I was a good way into the story when suddenly the entire series became a no-go for me, because of the introduction of the tired trope of the traitor villain. The wonderful characters, the trip to Mars, establishing the first base, surviving, encountering benevolent aliens, branching out into the solar system, then the galaxy...isn't that enough to fill up a riveting saga, that can go on for books and books? But here comes the murderous, traitorous, sabotaging villain, who somehow snuck in undetected, who somehow has a laptop he got onboard he uses to regularly and without detection, contact the evil Russians who are using him. I looked ahead through the descriptions of the following series books, and sure enough, it deteriorates into war and evil aliens. I am loathe to write a negative review, because I salute anyone who can write this beautifully, with accurate science, and create a well-loved series. But lately I, among others, including reviewers of science fiction, are bemoaning how difficult it is to find stories that don't give in to overused plots. I realize that coming up with original plots is a super human feat. But can't some authors please write a good hard scifi book, or series, where things turn out well, where the stories are about ethical good people, their hard work and heroism, the challenges of space, stories about the sort of struggles Elon Musk and SpaceX are facing? Where the universe is populated with a great preponderance of goodness? If you like villain stories, evil alien stories, then this will be an excellent book, and excellent series for you. But I am so world weary of real life villains, real life war, betrayal, suffering, epidemics, and world wide despair, that I can't voluntarily spend hours reading about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Beverly Fuqua.
877 reviews8 followers
September 1, 2022
I just can't. Been reading on this for 4 days, haven't made it even halfway. There is no character development, I can't tell one person from another. No compelling story either. I kept waiting for it to get better, but by 129 pages something interesting should be happening, especially since he's not using any of those pages to develop characters. Since there are 3 books in the series I figure it's best if I quit now.
104 reviews
February 7, 2022
Totally enjoyed this hook

Wss reluctant to start another series but the preview got Mr hooked. Found the plot and science believable and it kept my interest for the three days it took to read.
127 reviews1 follower
October 29, 2022
“Discovery: The Mars Frontier Series Book One” by Paul Rix
This novel was a joy to read! Paul Rix got the science correct too. The alien encounter (not with Martians!) was well-thought-out and exciting to experience.
I have already ordered the second book in this series.
Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Dale (Aus).
931 reviews7 followers
October 27, 2024
enjoyed this

I found this an enjoyable read with the science realistic and the settings and characters interesting. The story did end up heading in a different direction than I expected.
Profile Image for Dan.
374 reviews1 follower
January 25, 2026
exciting page turner

Discovery by Paul Rix.

Exciting compelling story of first successful manned exploration of Mars. However, the need to keep turning the pages to find out what's happening kept being stalled by the lack of editing.
117 reviews
November 24, 2022
Discovery

A good start to the series. A lot of things to work out and hopefully the tragedy they experienced will not hinder them
10 reviews
December 15, 2024
Reading was a blast!

Easy to read and not slow-paced. Tension started to rise in the later half leading up to an exciting conclusion. Looking forward to reading book two.
8 reviews
January 2, 2025
I want more

Where can I get the 6 book series? Amazon only offers Kindle Unlimited for $12 a month? Where can I buy?
239 reviews1 follower
March 3, 2025
Next to the stars

A very excellent start of the story of how our cosmos was founded! The books to follow will surely excite us as we continue the adventure!
Profile Image for Melanie Underwood.
243 reviews5 followers
November 10, 2019
Will this mission to colonise Mars succeed, or is it doomed to failure? Can the twelve astronauts overcome the obstacles facing them?

Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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