The Red Woman on Mars

A Novel

Published by Diversion Books
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

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About the Book

"[A] stormy sci-fi Pride and Prejudice riff...Barner creates a tangled web of passion and politics on the way to a triumphant ending....This fast-paced space romance is good fun." —Publishers Weekly

Vivian Bowen leaves Earth for Mars, seeking safety and a fresh start after seven long years in a climate refugee camp. She’s determined to fulfill her contract as a Red Mother by selecting a Martian partner and bearing genetically modified children to fund her family’s survival back on Earth. In sixty days, everything will be secure.

But beneath the glamorous lifestyle of the Martian oligarchs, with luxurious gowns, lavish balls, and charming suitors, lies a dark reality. The Red Mothers initiative is controlled by the Intelligence, an AI worshipped as a god, indifferent to the pain the women will experience as they carry out their contractual duties.

When her younger sister is seduced by a dangerous Martian soldier and breaks her contract, Vivian joins forces with Xavier Dorsey—a charismatic and infuriating Martian politician hellbent on shutting down the Red Mothers initiative. Caught between the security she's always craved and a passion-filled-but-uncertain future, Vivian must decide how much she's willing to sacrifice for freedom—and for love.

The Red Woman on Mars is Claire Barner's stunningly imaginative sophomore novel, perfect for fans of Brigerton and speculative romances like The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley.

About the Author

Claire Barner is the author of sci-fi/romance novel Moonrising. She studied public policy and education at the University of Chicago and has spent her career in operations. She and her husband are raising three children and love exploring Chicago’s garden walks, lakefront, museums, and forest preserves. She leads the parent engagement group at her children’s school and is committed to enhancing equity at Chicago Public Schools.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Diversion Books (July 28, 2026)
  • Length: 320 pages
  • ISBN13: 9798895151518

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Raves and Reviews

“[A] stormy sci-fi Pride and Prejudice riff...Barner creates a tangled web of passion and politics on the way to a triumphant ending….There’s also plenty of clever detailing to the worldbuilding....This fast-paced space romance is good fun.”
—Publishers Weekly

"Barner balances romance with sharp social commentary, offering a fresh take on a classic story while exploring what it means to belong in a place where everything has a cost."
—Booklist

“Pride and Prejudice on Mars? Yes, please! The Red Woman on Mars delivers on every level of that fantastic premise, with clever worldbuilding, wickedly funny social satire, and a delightful romance at its heart. I'll read anything Claire Barner writes!”
—Alexandra Vasti, USA Today bestselling author

“In this propulsive Pride and Prejudice retelling, an AI-run aristocracy and seven-foot suitors test the limits of a woman who arrives on Mars seeking safety but ignites a revolution. Smart, unapologetically sexy, and deeply feminist, The Red Woman on Mars is romance with rocket fuel.”
—T.E. Bean, author of Infinite Night Eyes

"Barner’s novel is a smart take on Pride and Prejudice....In this version, it’s the heroine, not her wealthy love interest, who takes charge to find her wayward sister and bring her back into the fold. The novel features a racially diverse cast...[and] also runs the gamut on gender and sexuality....An ambitious SF retelling of an Austen classic."
—Kirkus

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