After the Vikings — G. David Nordley

Mars... after the Vikings...

Mars in the far distant future as seen in a series of short stories by noted hard science fiction author G. David Nordley. Originally published in Analog and Asimov's magazines, these stories are gathered together into this collection spanning across time looking at Mars long after the first of the Vikings landed there.

A man and woman whose lives span millions of years return to their ancient home, seeking rebirth in different ways. Colonists await the first human-alien contact while struggling with a nascent theocracy. A family bringing an atmosphere in from the Kuiper belt faces the end of childhood. A father and daughter risk everything to save the life of the wife and mother who left them. The race to Mars becomes a multilevel culture clash for its leaders as well.

Their stories unfold one by one as under a dying sun, alien archaeologist uncover the mysteries of the Red Planet s rich and varied future history.