X Marks the Asteroid

On Mars, a fourth-generation Unterzuyder, living under the alias Carruthers Straley, pursues a hidden map that may lead to an asteroid where his ancestors lie in suspended animation and to a long-accumulated reward; his search attracts criminal interests, notably an underworld boss who attempts to blackmail or recruit him. The story follows the layered deceptions and alliances among settlers, lawmen, and hustlers as the protagonist balances secrecy, health anxieties, and seductive distractions while racing to locate the hibernaculum, with scenes that mix planetary settlement life, treasure-hunt intrigue, and moral ambiguity.