Clarkesworld Magazine

First Human Ghost on Mars by R.L. Meza

R.L. Meza’s narrative claims to be the first human ghost on Mars, describing a post‑mortem consciousness that traverses the void between Earth and the Red Planet. The ghost recounts the launch, the silent Martian surface, a crew lander crash, and a surreal encounter with a sentient Martian entity. Throughout, the story explores isolation, loss of humanity, and the ethical dilemmas of abandoned bodies in extraterrestrial environments. Though fictional, it raises questions about mental health and protocol for future deep‑space missions.