This is not a story about science fact. This is fantastic science fiction. The old guard kind, the raypunk kind. It's one I think that should be dusted off and played with from time to time; the pulp era of science fiction, when Mars had canals, Venus held dinosaurs, and man could travel to other places in rockets or spheres coated in anti-gravity paint or even mysterious beam of energy. Where savages could hold axe and sword, fighting alongside a ray gun-toting gunfighter or Space Ranger. Space Ranger Rick Tavish has been given a goal, to complete his first solo mission of the Known Worlds. His first stop is Mars. And already things have gone awry when he meets Al'Kara, a beautiful red-skinned member of the Golgoro. Things quickly spiral out of control from there as he struggles against the Thrane of the Green Martians an ancient enemy; then with Al'Kara's own people as he helps to free her from her dark fate.