Dix Jenner, a self-proclaimed slacker, is the first chef to live–and maybe die–on Mars. After an explosion kills his colony companions and leaves him with nothing but his spacesuit, his time on the faraway planet is about to expire…until he’s rescued by friendly Martians and opens a cafe–who knew Martians loved espresso?
Unfortunately, his success attracts the attention of the corrupt and narcissistic Martian Grand Leader. Forced to run to avoid being imprisoned, Dix gets lucky: a NASA rescue mission lands on Mars. But seeing it brings back the dark secret he’s been keeping from himself about the colony’s explosion, and now Dix must choose between returning to Earth or spending the rest of his life in a cell on the dusty red planet where he belongs.
Dix Jenner, a self-proclaimed slacker, is the first chef to live–and maybe die–on Mars. After an explosion kills his colony companions and leaves him with nothing but his spacesuit, his time on the faraway planet is about to expire…until he’s rescued by friendly Martians and opens a cafe–who knew Martians loved espresso?
Make no mistake. Willie Handler is a real-deal storyteller, and he has crafted a true novel here. I’ve read nothing else like it. Funny and often charming, LOVED MARS, HATED THE FOOD is a well thought out tale of a working-class chef (Dix Jenner), who is hired by NASA to be the cook on a Mars mission that goes horribly wrong. Left to die, he is rescued by weird little Martians, who find him to be a fascinating study specimen, but Dix has other plans to inject himself into the dubious Martian economy and its often socially apathetic citizens with all sorts of low-gravity business ventures that would never work on Earth. Thwarted at every opportunity by the Martian equivalent of a mob boss, poor Dix has to circumvent setback after setback. Humorous and original, this book begs to be read! – Ed DaWriter Reads Books
Unfortunately, his success attracts the attention of the corrupt and narcissistic Martian Grand Leader. Forced to run to avoid being imprisoned, Dix gets lucky: a NASA rescue mission lands on Mars. But seeing it brings back the dark secret he’s been keeping from himself about the colony’s explosion, and now Dix must choose between returning to Earth or spending the rest of his life in a cell on the dusty red planet where he belongs. – Harriett Helfand
williehandler.com 