As with the majority of anthologies, this is a mixed bag of stories linked by an overriding theme, in this case Mars. The theme is dealt with in a fairly traditional manner by the majority of stories, although some do veer off into different interpretations - one of them so far off that, in my opinion, it misses the mark entirely and does not sit well with the other stories in the book. However, that one weak link aside, the stories are well written and the book is an easy and enjoyable read.

There were a few stories that, for me, particularly stood out... For Sale: One Red Planet by Jeff Hewitt has an original and amusing approach which I really enjoyed. No Ravens On Mars by Martin Clark is a good, tight story with a nice twist. And finally, And A Pebble In Her Shoe by Kara Race-Moore is, I think, a particularly well written piece only slightly marred by the significant line at the end, which ties the story to its title, being almost thrown away without any emphasis. I almost missed it, which would have been a pity as it's a nice ending.

Obviously all reading is subjective, but I think there is enough variety and enough good writing in this anthology for most readers to find something to enjoy. A good value-for-money anthology from Third Flatiron and a nice introduction to some writers new to me who I'll be looking out for in the future. ( )