Best Sci-Fi Books Mars (2026): 5 Books Compared

The red planet has inspired a century of fiction, and the best sci-fi books mars readers love range from century-old pulp adventures to modern hard science fiction. We compared five Mars books by series position, edition and who each suits. Every figure below comes from the Amazon listings, not from our own reading.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Blue Mars by Robinson	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
2	John Carter: Barsoom by Burroughs	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Colony One Mars by Kilby	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Green Mars by Robinson	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Surface Tension by Kilby	9.4/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Blue Mars by Robinson

Kim Stanley Robinson·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The finale of the Mars trilogy, with a stated reading age of 12 years and up.

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Pros

• Concluding volume of the Mars trilogy
• The listing states it won the Hugo Award for Best Novel
• Reading age of 12 years and up is stated

Cons

• Book 3 of 3, not a series start
• No print length is stated
• 2003 reprint edition

2

John Carter: Barsoom by Burroughs

Edgar Rice Burroughs·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Seven Barsoom novels with 45 illustrations in one edition.

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Pros

• Seven complete Barsoom novels in one edition
• 45 illustrations included
• 2014 illustrated edition

Cons

• Classic pulp style may feel dated to modern readers
• No print length is stated
• No reading age is stated

3

Colony One Mars by Kilby

Gerald M. Kilby·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 1 of the Colony Mars series, a fast-paced thriller.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 7, a natural series start
• 2016 third edition
• Plausible near-future science per the description

Cons

• No print length is stated
• First of seven, so the story continues across volumes
• No reading age is stated

4

Green Mars by Robinson

Kim Stanley Robinson·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 2 of the Mars trilogy, which the listing states won the Hugo Award for Best Novel.

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Pros

• Book 2 of the Mars trilogy
• The listing states it won the Hugo Award for Best Novel
• 2003 edition from Spectra

Cons

• Book 2 of 3, not a series start
• No print length is stated
• No reading age is stated

5

Surface Tension by Kilby

Gerald M. Kilby·9.4/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Book 5 of the Colony Mars series, readable as a standalone novel.

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Pros

• Book 5 of the Colony Mars series
• Readable as a standalone novel per the description
• 2019 first edition

Cons

• Book 5, so series readers should start earlier
• No print length is stated
• No reading age is stated

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More picks to compare

• Mars Nation 1 by MorrisSuits hard sci-fi fans with book 1 of a Mars trilogy.Check on Amazon
• First Barsoom Trilogy by BurroughsSuits John Carter fans with the first three Barsoom novels.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 20 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. Only Blue Mars lists a reading age, 12 years and up. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best sci-fi books mars fans will like

Start with book one

Series order matters. Colony One Mars is book 1 of the Colony Mars series, the natural entry point, while Surface Tension is book 5 and the Mars trilogy books are volumes 2 and 3. The John Carter edition sidesteps the question with seven complete Barsoom novels in one volume. For more series starters, see our sci-fi space opera books.

Classic pulp or modern hard SF

Pick the flavor you like. The Barsoom books are classic pulp adventure, the Mars trilogy is the landmark terraforming saga, and the Colony Mars books are modern thrillers with plausible near-future science. For free classics, see our sci-fi public domain books.

Before you buy

• Confirm the series position; three of these five are mid-series or finales, not openers.
• Check the format; the listings give file sizes rather than print lengths for these editions.
• Note the edition year; these range from 2003 to 2019.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Mars book should I read first?

Start with Colony One Mars, book 1 of the Colony Mars series, or the John Carter edition with seven Barsoom novels. The Mars trilogy books here are volumes 2 and 3.

Are these books suitable for teens?

Blue Mars lists a reading age of 12 years and up. The other four listings state no reading age.

Which of these won awards?

The listings state that both Green Mars and Blue Mars won the Hugo Award for Best Novel.

Still deciding? Our top pickBlue Mars by Robinson

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Related lists

See every fantasy books list and all fiction lists.

More lists: fantasy book lists, sci-fi space opera books and sci-fi public domain books.