Red Planet Delirium: Zombie Beginnings

Red Planet Delirium by Nat Main is a psychological horror novel set on Mars, where reality and delusion blur in the crimson dust. This is not just a tale of survival in an alien environment, but an exploration of the human mind under siege—from both the harsh Martian landscape and relentless mental illness.The story follows Joe, a once-capable protector, and his young sister Lily as they struggle to survive in a collapsing Martian colony. Paranoia, resource scarcity, and a plague—possibly more psychological than biological—weigh heavily on them. Joe, tormented by hallucinations, sees threats everywhere: in the red dust, the hum of failing life support, and the whispers that seem to come from the planet itself. His delusions turn their tiny habitat into a fortress besieged by invisible enemies.Lily, the silent observer, provides a heartbreaking counterpoint to Joe’s chaos. Through her eyes, we see not only the dangers of Mars, but the devastation of Joe’s unraveling mind. Her art—crayon drawings filled with monsters and hope—serves as both a coping mechanism and a record of horror. As Joe’s grip on reality slips, the line between protector and threat blurs, leaving Lily isolated and forced to confront the monsters within her own family.Red Planet Delirium is unflinching in its depiction of mental illness. The novel immerses readers in a hallucinatory narrative, shifting between Joe’s fractured perceptions and Lily’s quiet endurance. Mars is not just a backdrop, but an active participant in the psychological siege. The horror is cosmic and intimate—think The Shining meets Solaris, through the lens of schizophrenia and familial tragedy.What sets this novel apart is its refusal to offer easy answers. The narrative balances the possibility of a literal alien influence with the devastating reality of psychosis. The violence is graphic, the tension suffocating, and the sense of isolation absolute. Yet, there are moments of beauty: Lily’s drawings, memories of Earth, and the desire for hope amid despair.As the colony collapses, the story interrogates themes of certainty, delusion, and the tragic cost of conviction. In the end, much of what Joe perceived was a misinterpretation—his enemies were not Martian monsters, but his own crewmates and loved ones, transformed by illness into threats. The final coda reveals that the contagion of certainty is more infectious than any virus, and trauma’s scars endure beyond the red sands of Mars.Red Planet Delirium is a work of psychological horror—unsettling, immersive, and deeply affecting. It explores the fragility of sanity, the loneliness of the mind in crisis, and the monstrous forms that love and fear can assume. This is a descent into the abyss—a reminder that the greatest horrors are those we carry within.CONTENT WARNINGS: Extreme and graphic violence, depictions of severe mental illness (schizophrenia, psychosis), delusions, hallucinations, child trauma, family death, unreliable narration, disturbing psychological themes. Reader discretion is advised.