A young man's ability to precognitively perceive the future becomes a dangerous liability in a colonized Mars. Manfred, a telepathic boy living on a terraformed Mars, is exploited for his abilities by the ruling council. He struggles against the oppressive societal structure and the temporal distortions that plague the planet, which seem to be accelerating his own aging process. His only hope lies in finding a way to escape the planet's grip and understand the true nature of time itself, a quest complicated by the machinations of those who wish to control him and the planet's increasingly unstable environment.

Philip K. Dick's "Martian Time-Slip" is often recognized for its intricate exploration of psychological states and societal control within a science fiction framework. The novel delves into themes of precognition, aging, and the subjective experience of time, characteristic of Dick's work. Critics frequently note the novel's complex narrative structure and its examination of characters grappling with alienation and distorted perceptions of reality. The book is generally regarded as a significant, albeit challenging, entry in Dick's oeuvre, offering a thought-provoking look at the human condition under extreme circumstances.