Science fiction often asks big questions: what makes us human, how do we respond to challenges, and what happens when skill, judgment, and cooperation are tested? Martian Walker and Other Stories by Australian author Alan M. Atkinson explores these ideas through four imaginative, character-driven tales. The collection moves between futuristic landscapes, distant planets, and near-future conflicts, always keeping the reader attentive to the characters’ decisions and dilemmas.
These stories offer fast pacing, clever problem-solving, and characters whose skills and decisions shape the outcomes. With roots in rural Australia, an interest in photography and astrophotography, and extensive experience in fanfiction, Atkinson brings both specificity and imagination to his work.
The result is a collection that is detailed without being overwhelming, adventurous without being superficial, and deeply human within its speculative framework.
Quick Look
Title: Martian Walker and Other Stories
Author: Alan M. Atkinson
Print length : 306 pages
Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy
Publication date : September 23, 2025
Buy: Amazon
The book contains one novella (Martian Walker) and three short stories (Bug Eyes, Hammer and Anvil, and Beware the Anger of a Quiet Man).
Martian Walker is about Mik Wallace, an experimental genetically engineered teenager on Mars, and what happens when an amoral corporate executive decides that he wants control over her genome.
Bug Eyes features Frank Hopewell, tourist and amateur photographer, who finds himself neck-deep in a civil war on an alien planet.
Hammer and Anvil is from the point of view of a crewmember on an alien patrol vessel that encounters Earth during the course of a protracted war against an inimical mutual threat.
Beware the Anger of a Quiet Man is about Sergeant Dallas, a soldier in a future war who’s been invalidated out of active duty, but when his wife vanishes in a combat zone, he’s got to go undercover into enemy territory because nobody else can or will.
Author Q&A with Alan M. Atkinson
Q: What is your book about and what inspired you to write this book?
A: I wrote all four of these stories over the course of years on Reddit, in the HFY! subreddit, from inspirations I had at the time.
The themes are simple: a teenager who’s in demand because of what she can do, a hapless fish out of water with a useful skill, a humans-do-something-cool story from an outside perspective, and a soldier doing what he does best because he has to, but I tried to give them a fresh new flavour by setting them against a science-fiction background.
Q: When did you start writing, and what made you decide to publish this book?
A: I started writing fanfiction more than ten years ago, and gradually got better at writing in general. About five years ago, I self-published my first novel. I decided to publish this particular book because I like the stories in it, and other people do too, so I wanted to share them with more people. Gathering them together and formatting for consistency (and typos) took a little time, but the hard work–the actual writing–was already done.
Q: Which character was the most fun—or most challenging—to write, and why?
A: Each of the four main characters presented their own unique challenges and enjoyment.
I always had to keep in mind that Mik Wallace is a teenage girl; a little naive, occasionally overconfident, and absolutely at home in environments that would quickly kill anyone else. Frank Hopewell was perhaps the easiest to write, being largely based on me (an action hero, he ain’t). The unnamed crewmember on the Promise Upheld is never named, but I had to write him being good at his job without taking over the story. And for Sergeant Dallas, I had to delve into my knowledge of military etiquette and techniques; he’s not Rambo, but he’s very good at what he does.
Q: What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your book?
A: The main theme covering all four stories is that nobody can do everything for themselves. You get a lot more done if you rely on others to help you and support you where you need it. Teamwork, as the saying goes, makes the dream work.
Q: Were there any real-life experiences that influenced your story or characters?
A: In Bug Eyes, the second story, Frank Hopewell is an amateur photographer who uses a spotter scope to get good distance photographs, something that I’ve done many times. The scenes where he does this are taken directly from my own experience.
Q: What question do you wish readers would ask you about the book?
A: “Will there be a sequel to any of these individual stories?” A: I would love to write one, if there’s interest.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote or moment from the book you’d like to share?
A: (This is very much out of context.)
[“]How fast am I going, over?”
The answer froze her blood. “In the region of three hundred sixty klicks per second. That’s three six zero Kilo Papa Sierra. I may have to ticket you for speeding in a built-up area, over.”
Q: What was the biggest challenge in writing or publishing it?
A: Writing the final chapters for Martian Walker and Bug Eyes once I decided to include them in this book, and not rushing them to completion.
Q: What’s next for you as a writer?
A: I’ve got other Reddit stories that I’m gathering into collections to publish in the same way.
Who Will Enjoy This Book
- Fans of science fiction and speculative fiction
- Readers who enjoy character-driven stories with thoughtful choices
- Those who like high-stakes adventure and problem-solving
- Readers who appreciate realism and authentic detail in imaginative settings
About the Author
Alan M. Atkinson grew up on a cattle station in regional North Queensland, Australia. After a few stabs at higher education, he worked delivering fast food, as a cab driver, and as a security guard. He is now retired. His hobbies include reading and writing fanfiction, taking distance photos using spotter scopes, astrophotography using those same scopes, tabletop roleplaying games, and arguing with flat earthers online.
Get the book here: Martian Walker and Other Stories
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