Frontera by Lewis Shiner
Frontera is a fictional colony on Mars that has become a focal point in a struggle for survival and control following the collapse of Earth’s governments, which have been replaced by corporate power. The narrative begins with an expedition organized by Morgan, head of the Pulsystems corporation, to investigate Frontera, which has been isolated from Earth for a decade. As the expedition team arrives in Martian orbit, they discover that the colonists, led by Curtis, are distrustful and fear exploitation due to their historical abandonment by Earth.
A central figure among the mutant children born on Mars is Verb, who possesses extraordinary mental abilities and has created innovative technologies, including a transporter and an antimatter harnessing device. Tensions escalate when an opposing Russian ship arrives, seeking to claim the colony's discoveries, and Curtis threatens to use their antimatter technology defensively. The narrative explores themes of power, loyalty, and survival as characters navigate the complexities of their relationships and ambitions.
Ultimately, Frontera serves as a microcosm of broader conflicts over ownership, identity, and the ethical implications of technological advancement in a post-collapse society. The story unfolds against a backdrop of intrigue, showcasing the struggles between the inhabitants and external forces as they each pursue their conflicting objectives.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Frontera
First published: 1984
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Science fiction—future war
Time of work: The near future
Locale: Primarily Mars
The Plot
Earths governments have collapsed, and corporations have taken the place of national governments. Morgan, the head of the Pulsystems corporation, has organized an expedition to the Frontera colony on Mars. As the novel opens, Kane, Takahashi, Reese, and Lena are about to enter Marss orbit.
Earth support of the Frontera colony had ended ten years previously, and communications from the colony to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) had stopped. Kane believes that the rescue mission is too late to do any good; while in training for the mission, however, Reese had heard a tape of a recent transmission from the colony.
The mission lands on Deimos, one of Marss moons, to obtain a landing craft. Reese finds a computer disk containing telemetry information about planetary movements and locations. The expedition boards a landing craft and, after landing on Mars, is met by a delegation from Frontera. The colonists, led by Curtis, do not welcome the expedition, which they fear is there only to exploit the colony.
Fifteen mutant children born on Mars live in a cave that served as the initial colony base. One of those children, who calls herself Verb, is the daughter of Curtis and his wife, Molly. Verbs mutation gave her extraordinary mental powers, and she has designed both a transporter capable of inexpensive long-distance shipping and a means of harnessing antimatter as an energy source. Molly has kept the childrens discoveries from Curtis, whom she no longer trusts.
A medical examination reveals that Kane has a programmable biological implant that could control his behavior. Both the colonists and the other members of the expedition wonder how the implant has been programmed.
Reese gives the telemetry disk from Deimos to Verb, allowing her to locate targets for her transporter. In exchange, he asks to be transported to Barnards star.
A Russian ship arrives at the colony. Mayakenska, the leader of its crew, tells Curtis that the ship is on a scientific expedition and wishes to participate in a joint venture on the colonys discoveries, which rightly belong to all of humanity. Mayakenska threatens to destroy Frontera with her ships laser weapon if Fronteras discoveries are not shared.
Reese goes back to the cave and is transported. Curtis threatens to transport uncontrolled antimatter to the Kremlin, where it will explode. Mayakenskas superiors on Earth believe that the colonys weapon actually is at Frontera, so they instruct her to destroy Frontera before Curtis deadline. She tells Blok, a Russian colonist, to set off the alarm to abandon the colony after she leaves; she then tries to reach her ship to stop the attack. She is too late. She kills the other crew members, radios Moscow to say that the antimatter device was a hoax, then runs her ship onto Marss surface, creating a crater that can be used to begin a new colony.
Takahashi tells Kane that he is loyal to Pulsystems rather than to Morgan and that a faction on Earth plans to replace Morgan. Kane’s implant was programmed to have him assist Takahashi and prevent Morgan from gaining control of the colonys two discoveries.
The signal to abandon the Frontera base disrupts Curtis before he is able to transport the antimatter. He takes the control panel for the transporter, but Kane shoots him before he can reach a ship to leave the planet. Kane returns the panel to Molly.