The Fifth Man (novel)

Lore & Background

The plot begins eight months into a Mars mission when the life-sciences specialist discovers a microbial fossil. The crew then suffers mishaps and attacks, complicated by the mission commander's psychiatric breakdown and attempts to harm his crewmates. On Earth, the Mars Mission Director and an FBI agent investigate sabotage, learning that the Flight Director initially seeded Mars with a bacterium to fake evidence of life and ensure funding. Later, the life-sciences specialist falls ill from a real microbial infection, and a NASA engineer, fearing the germ could kill millions, is revealed as the saboteur behind the later attacks. The mission ends with the commander sacrificing his life to save the crew, and two specialists marry aboard the Earth Return Vehicle.

Reader's Guide

The Fifth Man is significant as a rare example of Christian science fiction that attempts crossover appeal, moving away from preachy novels of the 1990s. Its realism, based on the Mars Society's mission profile, sets it apart. However, the novel has been criticized for a perceived bait-and-switch: the title suggests an extraterrestrial agent, but the mayhem is caused by humans. A close reading reveals that a 'Fifth Man' does appear briefly—a figure alluding to the Biblical book of Daniel—making the extraterrestrial element spiritual rather than alien. The novel's legacy lies in its attempt to reconcile Christian theological constraints with the speculative genre, though some readers find the resolution unsatisfying.

Did You Know?

• The Fifth Man is a sequel to Oxygen, in which the same crew nearly suffocates due to an explosion.
• The title alludes to a figure from the Biblical book of Daniel, seen briefly by the surviving astronauts.
• The novel was a finalist for the Christy Award in 2002, losing to Time Lottery.