The authors look at how our knowledge of our nearest planetary neighbour - Mars - has grown, and assess the role it might play in our futures. They look at the old myths associated with Mars, the fears of Martian invasions, and take the story up to date to show what we now know about the planet in the aftermath of the 1996 meteorite that may provide evidence for life and from the discoveries of the recent probes. They also assess whether Mars could form a crucial stopping point for further exploration.