Mysterious discoveries.
Friendship, jealousy, hatred, betrayal.
Death.
Where’s Anna?
What’s hiding in Valles Marineris?
Second book in the science fiction series "Red Desert".
After 995 days on Mars, the enthusiasm of the Isis crew has turned into frustration and intolerance. Their research hasn't provided the hoped for outcomes, the resources at their disposal are insufficient, and NASA had previously cancelled the launch of a second mission, which would have brought more colonisers and equipment to the planet.
Relationships among the five members of the expedition have become difficult. Station Alpha is home to a complex web of conflicts, secrets, alliances, and rivalries.
Now a new launch window is about to open, but the news from Houston isn't reassuring at all. While the finding of a possible ice sac might give a positive turn to the events, Anna, embittered by the unusual behaviour of Robert and the cold war against Hassan, is considering the opportunity to return to Earth.
When death strikes amongst the five inhabitants of Mars, Anna finds her only possible choice is a solitary escape.
But Mars has got an incredible discovery in store for her, a key to a mystery hidden in the depths of Valles Marineris.
The previous book is “Red Desert - Point of No Return”.
The next book is “Red Desert - Invisible Enemy” (a novel).
Follow Anna Persson (@AnnaPerssonDR) on Twitter!
--- This is the second book in a series of four and it ends with a cliffhanger. ---
Rita Carla Francesca Monticelli is an Italian independent author.
She lives in Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy), where she works as writer, technical, scientific and literary translator, and web copywriter. She is also a biologist and worked as researcher, tutor and professor's assistant in the field of ecology at "Dipartimento di Biologia Animale ed Ecologia" of the University of Cagliari until 2004, when she founded Anakina Web. As part of her firm remit, she currently manages her creative writing and translation activities, as well as web design and music management.
As a cinema addict, she started by writing screenplays and fan fictions inspired by the movies.
She is author of poems in English, published in the United States in anthologies and audiobooks, and has written some song lyrics.
She writes fiction since 2009. In 2011 she completed her first original science fiction novel, "L'isola di Gaia", which will be published in November 2014, and in March 2012 she published "La morte è soltanto il principio", fantasy novel about ancient Egypt, inspired by the movie "The Mummy".
Between 2012-2013 she wrote a science fiction series including four books titled "Deserto rosso", which is having a good success in Italy.
The whole "Deserto rosso" series was also published as omnibus on December 2013 (ebook and paperback).
"Deserto rosso" is being published in English, with the title "Red Desert", between 2014 and 2015.
The first book of the series is "Red Desert - Point of No Return"; the second one is "Red Desert - People of Mars".
In May 2014 she published "Il mentore" (thriller).
Since October 2012 she is part of the cast of FantaScientificast, an Italian podcast about science fiction.
Since April 2013 she is an Italian Representative of Mars Initiative.
As a science fiction and Star Wars fan, she is known in the Italian online community by her nickname, Anakina.