The Mars Diaries is a science fiction

Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 series for young adults by the best-selling author

Author

An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...

, Sigmund Brouwer

Sigmund Brouwer

Sigmund Brouwer is a well-known author with books published by mainstream and evangelical publishers. He has written scores of books across many genres, from children's picture books to scientific thrillers, and more....

, published by Tyndale House Publishers in 2000 - 2002. Set in an experimental community on Mars

Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...

 in the year 2039, the Mars Diaries feature fourteen-year-old virtual reality

Virtual reality

Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...

 specialist Tyce Sanders.

Characters

Tyce Sanders: The first person ever born on Mars, Tyce's legs are paralyzed because of an experiment

Experiment

An experiment is a methodical procedure carried out with the goal of verifying, falsifying, or establishing the validity of a hypothesis. Experiments vary greatly in their goal and scale, but always rely on repeatable procedure and logical analysis of the results...

al surgery

Surgery

Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...

 when he was one Earth year old, the same surgery that allows him to control a robot

Robot

A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...

 directly through his nervous system

Nervous system

The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...

.

Ashley: Another teenager with robot-control abilities, Ashley is Tyce's best friend his own age. She comes to Mars

Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...

 with Dr. Jordan, but he turns against him in Mission Four.

Rawling McTigre: The director of the Mars Project and Tyce's only friend for the fourteen years before Ashley arrived, Rawling is in his mid-forties and came to Mars as a medical doctor.

Mission 1: Oxygen Level Zero

The science station is in trouble. Oxygen is leaking out of the dome, and the scientists and tekkies are stumped. The next supply ship from Earth isn't due for days. Tyce holds the key to the mystery. But will he discover it in time to save those who live under the dome?

Mission 2: Alien Pursuit

A high-level tekkie is found unconscious in the plant lab. Worse, it looks like teeth and claws have ripped his space suit! It's clear someone-or something- chased him. But who or what? And why? Tyce does not believe aliens exist, but his discoveries may force him to rethink this view.

Mission 3: Time Bomb

A quake triggers the appearance of strange black boxes on the Martian landscape. So director Rawling asks Tyce and his father to journey with him across the Martian plain. As Tyce approaches a box, he makes a startling discovery- one that could change life for everyone in the universe. That is, if Tyce lives to uncover the truth.

Mission 4: Hammerhead

The Earth scientists call it a killer comet. Headed toward Mars, it threatens to destroy the dome and all who live in it. Their only chance is Tyce Sanders, who must learn to pilot a test space vehicle in only a matter of weeks. As the crisis worsens, Tyce discovers the comet is the least of the problems on Mars. And that the secrets and betrayals will test the strength of his new faith...

Mission 5: Sole Survivor

Director Rawling and three other scientists are trapped by a cave-in. Just as Tyce Sanders starts a rescue mission, rebels take over the science station. They threaten to kill their hostages, one at a time, until their demands are met-and time's running out. If Tyce can't stop the rebels soon, the trapped scientists will run out of air. And everyone under the dome will die.

Mission 6: Moon Racer

A devious plot threatens to overtake the spaceship Moon Racer as Tyce, Ashley, and the crew near the end of their six-month journey from Mars to Earth. Who's the rebel mastermind?. Could it be one of the six other people on board?. In a race against time Tyce must find out or the Moon Racer and everyone aboard is doomed to crash into the sun!

Mission 7: Countdown

A Military Prison in the wild Florida Everglades holds Tyce, his dad, and Ashley hostage. With only six days left to rescue the kids at the secret Institute, they must find a way out. But who can they trust with Terrataker infiltrators everywhere?. And how will they get back in time to save Tyce's dad?

Mission 8: Robot War

A Secret Institute holds 23 kids prisoner, an evil part of the Terrataker's plot to take over the world. Their first target is the Governors' Summit in New York, only two days away. Tyce and Ashley must find a way to save the governors and the world from war!

Mission 9: Manchurian Sector

When a nuclear reactor threatens to blow, Tyce must reveal his special talents to the world--that he can control a robot through virtual reality. Now he's in danger. The Terrataker rebels had hoped to keep this technology a secret, and Tyce is threatening their plans. As they get desperate, time begins to run out... for Tyce, his father, and the others Tyce had hoped to save.

Mission 10: Last stand

A Manchurian fleet threatens to overtake the entire planet as soon as Tyce and Ashley arrive back on Mars. Contact with Earth has been lost--the dome is virtually defenseless. Someone must be aiding the enemy from inside the dome--but who? Tyce and Ashley must find out--before the approaching fleet arrives...and wins.