Jim Marlowe and Frank were best
friends who lived on Mars. The company colonized Mars so they could use
its resources. The boys were sent to a
company school. Jim took his Martian pet and friend Willis, a fur ball with him. This was a mistake that lead to him losing the creature because of the strict principal. They break Willis out and return home. They are chased by the company and nearly die. Jim also visits the Martians with Willis and makes friends with them. He sees their beautiful cities and amazing underground tunnels. He learns about the culture of the Martians. Willis records everything he hears, and this leads to the
colonists learning about a plan to wipe them out for more profits. Jim's hometown fights for its survival with the help of Willis and the rest of the Martians. In the end we learn that Willis is a girl, just a step in the reproduction of the Martians. The colonists beat the company and live to see another day. A must read story by a great sci-fi author.