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In The Sands of Mars the red planet is in the midst of colonisation with regular trips from the Earth. There are numerous domes for the burgeoning colonists with more being added.
Martin Gibson is a science fiction writer and he decides to spend his money on a trip to the red planet which is now becoming colonised. Gibson seems lacking in knowledge of space travel and how things work up there and so Jimmy, a young apprentice, is assigned as Gibson's teacher as it were. The two become friends and soon Gibson is accepted as part of the group (at first he is looked down upon, as just another writer of space adventures). Gibosn is invited along on a trip across the planet in a jet plane and after an accident discovers something going on in one of the domes and decides to investigate. It seems there are plans afoot that could affect the future of both Earth and Mars.
Sands is a great little story but you can really tell its an early Clarke! Apart from Mars's strange (to us) geology, sorry aerology, it was notable for me in using the old form of the word connection, with an x! (I think the last time I saw the word 'connexion' was in a Dickens novel.)
Still, all good stuff with drama (a sandstorm), adventure (young Jimmy being amazed by Mars's aerology) and humour, not to mention a bit of relationship controversy!
Good stuff!
