The Hermit of Mars

"The Hermit of Mars" by Stephen Bartholomew is an early science fiction story which follows Martin Devere, an older archaeologist left alone on Mars when the Project Mars mission ends. The story centers on feelings of being alone, the search for understanding, and how humans interact with machines, all set within a thoughtfully created Martian world. Devere lives a peaceful life, doing archaeological research and learning about old Martian objects. His calm is broken when two men arrive with secret plans to build a dangerous bomb. As the intruders threaten Devere's home and work on their destructive scheme, the story's tension increases. Finally, Devere uses an old digging tool in a clever way to defend himself and strike back against them, which leads to a surprising end. Throughout the novel, Devere thinks deeply about the Martians, who were successful in art and science but died out because they didn't have the right technology, comparing their situation to where he thinks humanity is headed.