I know a lot of people are not into science fiction as a genre, so before I go into why I love Emma Newman’s Planetfall sequence, I am going to give those people two reasons to give this series a chance.

One: It is a series populated with numerous queer characters, both main characters and side characters. Two: Books don’t always fit neatly into one genre, and these are no exception. Planetfall (2015) is a mystery, After Atlas (2016) is a police procedural, Before Mars (2018) is a psychological thriller, and Atlas Alone (2019) is also a psychological thriller. Also, Planetfall is a standalone book with its own ending, so you can try it and decide if you want to continue.

I should forewarn you, though, these books deal with trauma and mental illness and are written so well that you can often feel a character’s anxiety. Especially if, like me, you decide to go the audiobook route.

Planetfall tells the story from the point of view of Renata Ghali (Ren), a 3D printer engineer in a colony on a remote planet, where humans have travelled to “find god”. They live by a large bio-mechanical alien structure called “God’s City”. They travelled there on a ship called Atlas, led by the Pathfinder, Lee Suh-Mi (Suh), and are waiting for her to return from the city. The book tells the story of how they came to be on the planet.

Emma Newman does not label Ren. The character has had relationships with men in the past, but has had a recent relationship with a female colonist. She is dealing with some past trauma, which manifests in her hoarding items that colonists have discarded into the recycling. The book also includes colonists in non-monogamous/non-traditional relationships.

After Atlas takes place 40 years after the Atlas group departed Earth and is told from the point of view of Carlos Moreno, a police officer. This future Earth is controlled by corporations, and he is an indentured slave who works for the Ministry of Justice in northern Europe.

Carlos is the subject of media attention as his mother abandoned him as a baby to join the Pathfinder on Atlas. Much is made of her being a mother abandoning her child. He and his father ended up being taken in by Alejandro Casales, leader of the Circle, a religious cult in Texas. Carlos is investigating Alejandro’s murder and is naturally dealing with a lot of trauma. LGBTQ+ characters in this book include a non-binary investigative reporter, a wealthy gay businessman, Stefan Gabor, and his husband, Travis.

Before Mars takes place on Mars around the same period as After Atlas. It is told from the point of view of Dr Anna Kubrin, a geologist and artist, who has been sent to the planet to paint Martian landscapes. She was sent there by Stefan Gabor. As soon as she arrives, a mystery presents itself.

Emma Newman wanted to show a character who does not take naturally to being a mother, and the book shows her guilt and uncertainty surrounding that. She is also dealing with meeting a bunch of new people and deciding who she can trust. LGBTQ+ characters include a non-binary scientist on Mars, as well as Stefan Gabor and his husband, Travis.

Atlas Alone is a direct sequel to After Atlas. It takes place six months later. I will be coy with the plot details to avoid spoilers.

It is told from the point of view of Dee, a friend of Carlos Moreno, so interestingly, we get to see Carlos and others from her point of view. Like Carlos, she was also an indentured slave, but she worked making games. Again, Emma Newman does not label Dee, but I saw her as asexual and aromantic. I won’t go into other LGBTQ+ characters, as it may spoil things.

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I should also mention the short story collection, Before, After, Alone: A Planetfall Universe short story collection (2023). This includes short stories about minor characters, main characters and characters unconnected to the series. It fleshes out aspects of the universe of the books.

There have been some interesting discussions regarding reading order. My personal preference is release order. Reading Planetfall last would be a different experience, as you would know about the people the Atlas crew left behind, for example, Carlos’ mother.

I think you should read After Atlas ahead of Before Mars, as it adds to the tension. You definitely have to read Atlas Alone after After Atlas as it is a direct sequel. And as I said, you can read just Planetfall, but I’d hope you’d want to keep going.

Also, Emma Newman narrates Planetfall, Before Mars and Atlas Alone as well as the short story collection. The latter also features an interesting Q&A with her.

The books are wonderfully written. It is a dystopian future, but Emma Newman wanted the one shining light to be the treatment of LGBTQ+ people.

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