Mr. Locke's novel was #3 in the New York Times in 1917. Here he uses his talents to develop a wartime drama...the English country town with its local magnate of the lesser nobility, its retired army officer, and its division into classes almost as sharply drawn as the lines of Hindu caste. As a wartime story,"The Red Planet", is different from any that has appeared, more aloof than the others and yet as alive with the war spirit as any of them. Its little country town is filled with the clamor of war preparations and the pathos of war havoc...* *....summary of New York Times book review 1917 A story of wartime, but not of war. Love and mystery and love again—these are the threads the war god tangled and W. J. Locke has imravelled in this, his best stoiy since " The Beloved Vagabond." Though it has war for its background, "The Red Planet" is a story of home; it has its setting in a quiet English village, where dwell the mothers and fathers, the wives and sweethearts of those who are out "somewhere". Love is there, and great devotion, and quiet courage and mystery. And the old soldier who can no longer serve his country thrills you with the story of it all.