The Man Who Hated Mars

"The Man Who Hated Mars" by Randall Garrett is a science fiction tale that throws you into the life of Ron Clayton, a convict banished to Mars, a world he despises. Trapped after choosing Martian exile over Earth's prisons, Clayton spends 15 years fueled by frustration and a burning desire to return home. He concocts a risky plan to escape the planet's cold grip by stealing the identity of a fellow worker, Herbert Parkinson, hoping to sneak back to Earth. His desperate gamble sets off a chain of tense events, including the sabotage of a spaceship, all in the name of freedom. But Clayton's actions backfire, landing him back on Earth, where he must confront the heavy weight of his decisions in this story of survival, identity, and the haunting sting of regret.