Four years after a Russian manned mission to Mars, the first attempted, ends in failure following a meteoroid impact, a joint US/Russian mission is undetaken. Each nation sends a craft that travel in convoy, each providing a backup for the other.

For the US mission the target is Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the Solar System, whilst the Russians aim at Valles Marineris, a chasm that literally dwarfs the Grand Canyon.

This is extremely gritty, plausible science fiction. The story concerns the interaction of the crew members and the tensions that arise during close confinement for such a lengthy period, and the stresses of knowing that an accident, however minor, could spell disaster for the mission and crews.

This is not a sensationalist tale. Mr. Anderson has written a tale based in reality. Don't read this book expecting to discover aliens on Mars, that's not the point here. Getting to Mars, exploring Earth's next door neighbour and getting home alive is the point to this tale. The author obviously has a detailed knowledge of the Solar System and, in particular, Mars, and that knowledge is used to good effect here in presenting an engrossing tale of man's accomplishment.

It also raises and answers some interesting questions. What would happen if a man falls ill in space? What natural perils does such a trip entail?

That this books is, in effect, merely the fictional mission log and yet is highly readable is a commendable achievement. This is as scientifically accurate a Science Fiction novel as I've read. As long as you don't crave your SF to be high-action low science (not that there's anything wrong with action-oriented novels) then this is a book I would recommend you give a read. And keep an eye out for C.K. Anderson - on the strength of this debut novel, I'd buy future books.

Synopsis
In A Step Beyond, first-time novelist C. K. Anderson has penned a thrilling debut notable for its grittily realistic portrayal of the many dangers and obstacles encountered in the first manned trip to Mars. This is fast-paced science fiction in the classic, can-do tradition of Clarke and Benford.

Hugo and Nebula award-winning author of Mars Crossing, Geoffrey Landis, says: "If you're looking for realistic, high-tech science fiction, you've found it--A Step Beyond is hard-core, science-oriented SF with all of the technology of a realistic Mars mission. Anderson really knows his stuff, and it shows."