The Holes Around Mars

The Holes Around Mars is a science fiction short story by Jerome Bixby, first published in January 1954 in Galaxy Science Fiction. The narrative follows a crew of astronauts, led by Commander Hugh Allenby, as they explore Mars and encounter mysterious four-inch holes in the landscape. The story combines humor with scientific inquiry, as the crew speculates about the origins of the holes and ultimately discovers a Martian village inhabited by quirky creatures, leading to unexpected insights about the universe.