The Domes of Mars
Second Maurice Gray novel set on a damaged Mars colony.
The Domes of Mars, a children’s science fiction novel by Patrick Moore, was published in 1956 by Burke. It is the second book in a six-volume series featuring the character Maurice Gray.
The story takes place five years after the events of the earlier novel, *Mission to Mars*. By this time, several permanent settlements have been established on Mars, home to about thirty colonists, including many of the scientists originally from Woomera.
Maurice Gray, now a qualified radar technician still based at the Woomera rocket base in Australia, decides to become a permanent resident of the Martian colony, aware that he will likely never return to Earth. His uncle, Leslie Yorke, cannot join him due to a heart condition but supports his choice. Gray travels to Mars aboard the spaceship *E5*, commanded by Professor Häller, alongside other scientists. During the journey, a meteorite punctures the hull, nearly suffocating the crew, but they manage to repair the air leaks in time. They receive a fragmentary Morse code message from Mars warning of danger and advising them to turn back. Because of fuel and navigation constraints, they cannot easily return and instead land on Mars near the plastic domes of Lowell Base.
All the colonists, including Mellor and Talbot, are safe, but an explosion has wrecked the air-conditioning system and destroyed several domes. Their remaining air supply is limited unless emergency repairs can be made. A newly arrived astronomer named Miroff panics and, with two colleagues, takes off for Earth in one of only two usable rocket ships.
Further damage to the air-conditioning follows, and all personnel work frantically to repair it and reinflate the usable domes. Gray and Talbot travel by dust-car to the other base, Pickering Dome, which has been out of radio contact. There they find that Professor Whitton and his team have bred native Martian plants into giant varieties that can produce enough oxygen to keep the domes inflated and habitable indefinitely. However, the plants die after use, and the colonists cannot generate sufficient oxygen to reach Lowell.
In a desperate move, Gray and Talbot launch a cannibalized rocket, the *E2*, with just enough fuel to get within radio range of Lowell. Lowell is evacuated, and all colonists travel to Pickering, which becomes crowded but safe.
- Published
- 1957
- Series
- Maurice Gray series, book 2 of 3
Lore & Background
The story is set five years after the preceding novel, Mission to Mars. Several permanent colonies have been founded on Mars, with some thirty colonists, including many scientists from Woomera, living and working there. Maurice Gray, still based at Woomera Rocket base in Australia, is now a qualified radar technician and elects to become a permanent member of the Mars colony, knowing he is unlikely to return to Earth. His uncle, Leslie Yorke, cannot join him due to a heart condition but approves his decision.
Gray joins other scientists on the spaceship ‘E5’, led by Professor Häller, and travels to Mars. They nearly suffocate when the ship's hull is holed by a meteorite but repair the air leaks in time. They receive a fragmentary Morse code message from Mars warning of danger and advising return to Earth. Unable to easily do so due to fuel and navigational difficulties, they continue and land near the plastic domes of Lowell Base. All colonists are safe, but an explosion has damaged the air-conditioning plant, and several domes are in ruins, limiting their air supply unless emergency repairs can be made.
Miroff, a newly arrived astronomer, panics and takes off with two colleagues in one of only two usable rocket ships bound for Earth. More damage occurs to the air-conditioning, and all staff work feverishly to repair it and re-inflate usable domes. Gray and Talbot travel by dust-car to Pickering Dome, which has been out of radio contact. They discover Professor Whitton and his colleagues have bred native Martian plants into giant varieties that produce enough oxygen to keep domes inflated indefinitely, but the plants die once used. In a desperate act, Gray and Talbot launch a cannibalised rocket E2 with just enough fuel to reach radio range of Lowell. Lowell is evacuated, and all colonists travel to Pickering, which is crowded but safe.
Reader's Guide
The Domes of Mars is significant as the second entry in Patrick Moore's six-book Maurice Gray series, continuing the juvenile science fiction tradition of the 1950s. The novel expands the Martian setting introduced in Mission to Mars, focusing on colony survival and resourcefulness in the face of disaster. It reflects mid-century optimism about space colonization while incorporating realistic hazards such as meteorite damage, air supply failure, and the psychological strain of isolation. The story's resolution—using genetically engineered plants to generate oxygen—anticipates later ecological themes in science fiction. The book's legacy is tied to Moore's dual career as a popular astronomer and author, though the series is now largely remembered by collectors and historians of early British children's SF.
Did You Know?
- The novel is set five years after the preceding book, Mission to Mars.
- Maurice Gray is a qualified radar technician based at Woomera Rocket base in Australia.
- Professor Whitton breeds native Martian plants into giant varieties that produce oxygen.
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