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The Martian Chronicles
The Martian Chronicles
Author: Ray Bradbury
A skilled blending of fancy and satire, terror and tenderness, wonder and contempt by the author of "The Illustrated Man." A glimpse of things to come -- A glance at the past. Here is Ray Bradbury's sometimes eerie, sometimes poetic fantasy about the colonization of Mars. The story of familiar people and familiar passions set against the incr...  more »
ISBN: 413328
Publication Date: 1972
Pages: 182
Rating:
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Publisher: Bantam Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
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Bibliocrates avatar reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 252 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
What a strange book! It reminded me a bit of 'The Twilight Zone.' I found this book confusing at first, until I realized that each story was a different perspective of life on Mars with the Martians. The stories having to do with the Martians were by far more interesting than the ones not having much to do with the Martians. Some of the stories dragged on a bit, but not so much so that I couldn't bear to finish the book. I would recommend this Ray Bradbury classic if you like science fiction.
reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 813 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
"The Martian Chronicles" (1950) is vintage Bradbury. It is a series of vignettes (published between 1946 and 1950) about the colonization of Mars from 1999 to 2026: both fantasy and satire. If we cannot tolerate one another on Earth how will we fare on Mars? How will the Martians react to outsiders? Descriptions are full of his typical poetic metaphors, which seem out of place with the sci-fi scenario and his often incoherent banter. Several parts borrow events from stories of other authors. For example, in "And the Moon be Still as Bright," the Martian race have all be decimated by germs brought by three expeditions from Earth (H. G. Wells "The War of the Worlds").

A highlight, to me, is his sketch Usher II," in which a settler (Mr. Stendahl) builds a replica of the Poes House of Usher. References to Earths government banning and burning books, and to an underground society that illegally hoards them, makes this sketch a precursor of his most renown work, "Fahrenheit 451." The house and its dreary landscape are the means by which Stendahl intends to destroy his enemies (the Moral Climate) who have dispatched a representative to dismantle and burn Usher II. In the course of the narrative Bradbury works in reference to the fairy tale "Rapunzel" as a means of accessing the house. Then he has Stendahl destroy his enemies following the plot of several of Poes major stories: "Murders in the Rue Morgue," "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Premature Burial," "The Cask of Amontillado," and "The Masque of Red Death." Finally, Usher II is destroyed as the original was in "The Fall of the House of Usher."

The final story, "The Million-Year Picnic," brings us back to the beginning: à la "Finnigan's Wake." With some minor substitutions, this book was published in the UK under the title "The Silver Locusts": an obvious metaphor for the space ships that invade and ravage Mars.)
reviewed The Martian Chronicles on
Helpful Score: 3
This was the best sci-fi book I have ever read, and normally I hate sci-fi of any kind (although I love fantasy)! The book was so timeless and original, and really got my brain thinking about dimensions and time-travel. I am so surprised! Although I don't plan on going crazy with this author or genre, it definitely opened up my mind a little more, especially where the genre is concerned.
reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
If I didnt have two copies, I wouldnt be willing to swap it. It's truly one of my favorites and an awesome collection of short stories by one of the masters.
maura853 avatar reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 542 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A fabulous work that serves as a transition, or pivot point from the "Golden Age" of SF to the modern age -- thoughtful and clever in so many, many ways.
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hopespeaking avatar reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 8 more book reviews
Absolutely LOVE Ray Bradbury, and this classic collection is a classic for a reason.
reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 25 more book reviews
As with other Bradbury novels I have written, this one has left me in a bit a quandry. Seems to me he is known as a good author, and I have enjoyed his short stories, but his novels leave me stuck between the liking and not liking. It's supposed to be good. I thought it was OK, and since it was short, not too bad a hit to one's reading time. Perhaps I need to read it again, but my "to-read" bookshelf is not waiting on that!
reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 82 more book reviews
A classic, from one of the best. Not much like the old TV series (if any of you saw that.)
reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 28 more book reviews
A sci-fi classic. I don't normally like sci-fi, but I thought it was interesting.
reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 14 more book reviews
One of the great classics by one of the great classic sci-fi writers..
Skip avatar reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 43 more book reviews
Classic science fiction
lisareinke avatar reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 123 more book reviews
Although sometimes dated, these stories are still delightful. They work well as "Amazing Stories." Read it, and reflect on how much our world and solar system views have changed since it was first published in 1950. The book is a classic for good reason!
nccorthu avatar reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 569 more book reviews
One of the finest classic Bradbury tales.
reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 14 more book reviews
If you like well-written stories, you'll enjoy reading this, even if you aren't a sci-fi fan.
reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 4 more book reviews
This book is a classic. It is one of the best Sci-Fi I have ever read.
reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 121 more book reviews
A most charming Sci-Fi book about the colonization of Mars. This is a lovely copyright of the original. This one was printed in 1950 and is wonderful condition.
reviewed The Martian Chronicles on + 13 more book reviews
Classic science fiction by a classic science fiction author.


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