ADHD in D Minor, a short story collection by Zoé Mahfouz published by North Meridian Press in 2026, is heading to the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah, USA, where it will be available for crews to explore. The MDRS is operated by The Mars Society and provides a simulated Martian environment where crews conduct research and experience the challenges of living and working in an isolated habitat. The collection's arrival brings a literary work into an environment dedicated to exploring the human experience beyond Earth.
The placement of a literary work in a research station may seem unusual, but it underscores the growing intersection of arts and sciences. As crews at MDRS simulate life on Mars, access to literature can offer psychological respite and a connection to human culture, which is increasingly recognized as vital for long-duration space missions. For North Meridian Press, an independent publisher based in Northeast Alabama, this is a significant milestone that amplifies its mission to champion distinctive literary voices.
A nominee for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection, ADHD in D Minor is also held in university library collections internationally, including Brown University, the University of Helsinki, and University College Cork. These endorsements signal the collection's literary merit and its appeal across borders. The book is available for purchase on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZH5T4N3.
For Zoé Mahfouz, the placement marks an unexpected milestone and a fitting plot twist for someone whose elementary school teachers often said she had her head in the clouds. Turns out, dreaming big took her from the clouds all the way to Mars. This personal anecdote adds a layer of inspiration, suggesting that unconventional thinking can lead to extraordinary opportunities.
The news also highlights the role of independent presses in fostering cultural dialogue. North Meridian Press, established in 2019, is a writer- and artist-led initiative that publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and translation, with a commitment to works that might otherwise find limited opportunities within traditional publishing. By bringing ADHD in D Minor to MDRS, the press not only gains visibility but also contributes to the cultural enrichment of an environment focused on future human space exploration.
For readers and industry observers, this announcement signals that independent literary works can find unconventional audiences and that the boundaries between artistic expression and scientific endeavor are increasingly porous. As space exploration advances, the presence of literature in analog habitats like MDRS may become more common, emphasizing the human need for storytelling even in the most extreme circumstances.
