The invasion from Mars came in the early years of the 21st century. And all over America people were praying for it to succeed. For 2 decades, the United States had been slipping into a primitive past, turning its back on technology -- and abandoning its Martian colony. Its "emergency" government was kept in power by repression, food was scarce, life grim..and killer packs of wild animals prowled at night, making curfews a vital need.