airplaneshavereplacedcars,numbershavereplacednames,pillshavereplacedfood,government-arrangedmarriageshavereplacedlove,andtesttubebabieshavereplaced...well,yougettheidea.Scientistsreviveamanstruckbylightningin1930;heisrechristened"SingleO".HeisbefriendedbyJ-21,whocan'tmarrythegirlofhisdreamsbecauseheisn't"distinguished"enough--untilheischosenfora4-monthexpeditiontoMarsbyarenegadescientist.TheMarsJ-21,hisfriend,andstowawaySingleOvisitisfullofscantilycladwomendoingBusbyBerkeley-styledancenumbersandworshipingafatmiddle-agedman.