The backstory is that Sakunja Salazar, a women from the poor side of Mexico City, became a holo influencer and put her and her family into the world of the rich and famous.  In the process, she fell down the usual hole of alcohol, addiction and became a has-been.  This story starts after all that.

Sakunja has just accepted a job as a photographer on an expedition to Mars to see natural rainfall in person.  As the resident documentarian, she is to interview her fellow travelers for their stories that brought them to the expedition; an assignment that is meant to put the spotlight on people other than herself.

Forty-six people in four buggies set off across Mars chasing a storm front in an ill-fated effort to actually see rain on Mars.  The terraforming has made this possibility all too real.  During the journey, Sakunja manages to find many of her companions willing to share their story.  And during the journey, the group manages to discover just vulnerable there are when one of their own dies.

The stories make up most of the pages with commentary between each one from Sakunja.  At the point where one dies, the group splinters with more than half deciding to call it day.  Sakunja and fifteen other dedicated souls decide they are still willing to chase their dream. The last half of the book also has the story of the final leg of their journey and the end of it.  It reads much like Sakunja’s article would but with the personal commentary one might find in a diary.  The story is expertly written and I like Sakunja as the narrating voice. 

It’s an interesting idea; having personal stories that tie the person to either Mars, the expedition, or an aspect of the journey.  But, I don’t find much substance here. The praise quotes from respected writers leaves me wondering what I missed.  Perhaps this just didn’t speak to me but it will to you.   ~~  Catherine Book

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