Mars Colony

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Lore & Background

Mars is an ancient desert planet in decline, its surface crisscrossed by a failing system of canals and dotted with warring decadent city-states. The planet was first reached by Thomas Edison and Scottish soldier of fortune Jack Armstrong in 1870, who discovered it was inhabited. By 1889, the great powers of Earth—the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Russia—have established colonies on Mars. Belgium has only colonized Mars, while Japan and the United States maintain economic and scientific enclaves there. The Earthers used Martian sky galleons at first but later constructed their own armored steam-powered flyers. Liftwood, a rare cultivated plant with anti-gravity properties, allowed for the construction of giant floating ships and was a key treasure that spurred European interest. Communication between Earth and Mars is handled by orbital heliograph stations, as wireless has not yet been invented. Most published material for Space: 1889 is centred on Mars.

In Their Own Story

The canals of Mars glint under the pale sun, carrying the last dwindling waters to the city-states that cling to existence. A British colonial officer consults a heliograph message from Earth, while a German sky galleon patrols the horizon. In the bazaars of a Martian city-state, traders haggle over liftwood cuttings and ether propeller parts. The decadent Martian nobility, heirs to a failing civilization, watch the Earthly powers with a mixture of disdain and desperation. The air is thin and dry, and the dust of ancient empires coats every surface. Here, a Scottish soldier of fortune might find work as a mercenary, a French diplomat might negotiate with a canal priest, and an American entrepreneur might seek a new liftwood grove to exploit. The fate of worlds hangs on the control of the canals and the secrets of the red planet.

Reader's Guide

Mars is an ancient desert planet in decline, its surface divided by a failing system of canals that connect warring decadent city-states. The planet is home to native sentient species, including the canal priests and the beastmen of Mars. Key locations include the city-states themselves, the steppes of Mars (detailed in the supplement 'Steppelords of Mars'), and the aerial domains of the cloud captains and sky pirates (detailed in 'Cloud Captains of Mars'). The Earthers use armored steam-powered flyers and sky galleons, while the Martians rely on their own ancient technologies and the rare liftwood. The atmosphere is thin and dry, and the environment is harsh. Travel between Earth and Mars is accomplished via ether propeller ships, and communication is handled by orbital heliograph stations. The GDW supplement 'Conklin's Atlas of the Worlds and Handy Manual of Useful Information' provides maps of Mars and transport routes. The Uhrwerk Verlag/Clockwork Publishing 'Mars Sourcebook' (2018) provides extensive detail on Mars history, geography, politics including colonial powers, and mysteries.

Did You Know?

• Mars was first reached by Thomas Edison and Scottish soldier of fortune Jack Armstrong in 1870, who discovered it was inhabited.
• Liftwood is a rare cultivated plant with anti-gravity properties that allowed for the construction of giant floating ships.
• Communication between Earth and Mars is handled by orbital heliograph stations, as wireless was not invented yet in 1889.
• The GDW supplement 'Conklin's Atlas of the Worlds and Handy Manual of Useful Information' (1989) maps Mars and includes transport maps.
• The Uhrwerk Verlag/Clockwork Publishing 'Mars Sourcebook' (2018) harmonizes most supplemental information regarding Mars published by GDW and Heliograph.