The Martian Cabal

"The Martian Cabal" by Roman Frederick Starzl is a science fiction story set on Mars, focusing on Sime Hemingway, an Interplanetary Flying Police officer, as he gets caught up in a dangerous political game. The story kicks off with Sime unable to shake a feeling of danger while staying in a fancy Martian hotel. Soon after, a young woman appears, warning him about a plot against him and a larger scheme to start a war between Earth and Mars. This woman, Princess Sira, reveals a conspiracy involving corrupt officials like the power- hungry Scar Balta. The book creates an atmosphere of suspicion and high stakes, with themes of political corruption and rebellion taking center stage as Sime tries to unravel the truth and prevent a devastating conflict.