Red Dirt Part I kicks off in the dusty aftermath of humanity’s fall, where synthetic life forms—called the Vestige—have built their own societies on a Mars abandoned by Earth. It’s a story about memory, legacy, and survival. At the heart of it is Miri, a scrappy, half-synthetic woman with more attitude than caution, and the Star Bearer, a quiet, deeply complex Extant—one of the last organic humans with a mysterious past. Together, they’re caught in the crossfire of an old war being reignited by Commander Sutherland, a terrifying war-machine of a man hellbent on reclaiming Mars for what’s left of humanity. It’s sci-fi with soul. And it’s damn good.

First off, the writing is tight but poetic, with lines that just land. One that stuck with me was when Miri, heartbroken after losing her droid companion Lazer, asks, “What happens when we die?” The Star Bearer answers, “We are remembered by those who miss and honor us.” That hit me. It’s not just pretty language—this book digs into what it means to be alive, to be remembered, to matter. There’s something really haunting about a post-human Mars where machines are the ones asking the big questions. It flips the usual sci-fi trope on its head. And Miri is wild. She crashes a grav bike through a ventilation shaft to save the Star Bearer. Like, that’s the kind of unhinged loyalty and heart you only get when a character is real on the page.

The worldbuilding is top tier. Saint Forsaken is this grimy, neon-drenched underground city filled with holograms, synth food, and old Earth relics. It’s like Blade Runner moved to the outback. There’s this moment when the Star Bearer enters a club full of all women—an ex-military hideaway—and everything is both sensual and surreal. You can feel the tension and the hidden history. Also, the action scenes are solid. They don’t drag, and they don’t try too hard. Just the right amount of grit.

Red Dirt Part I: The Star Bearer is less about machines and more about meaning. It’s for readers who like their sci-fi with heart and grit. If you loved The Mandalorian, Mass Effect, or The Expanse, but wanted a bit more raw emotion and fewer lectures on quantum physics, this is your jam. It’s got action, found family, ethical dilemmas, and the kind of quiet, devastating moments that stick with you.

Pages: 40 | ASIN : B0DVVLXML5