This book was a very welcome breath of air. I read it in two sittings on the same day.

The story concerns a young man who when found guilty of a crime is given the choice to remain on Earth in prison or accept permanent exile to Mars, and a lifetime of hard work.

The story is a mix of pioneering and revolution, written in a very concise hard SF manner which I enjoy. I can see this book appealling to fans of Babylon 5, as it shares a certain amount of the grittiness of that show.