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[fantasyfan]

LOST MARS
The Golden Age of the Red Planet
Edited by Mike Ashley

This volume is one of the British Library series of Science Fiction Classics. The editor Mike Ashley writes that it “. . . brings together a selection of the more diverse science fiction that has been set on Mars in those years from the 1880s to the 1960s.” There is an excellent 26 page introduction which provides a historical context for the ten stories which follow. Each story has its own preliminary material discussing the author and tale.

The first three stories are early attempts to create Martian civilisations. They do foreshadow later developments in the genre.”The Crystal Egg” (1897) by H. G. Wells is the best written with an implied sense of danger. “Letters From Mars” (1887) by W. S. Lach-Szyrma was popular in its day and one wonders if it had any influence on Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis in its didactic Victorian approach. Ashley has chosen “In the Antarctic Regions of Mars” from the lengthy work. Finally, “The Great Sacrifice” (1903) by George C. Wallis introduces the theme of an advanced beneficent civilisation protecting Earth. One can find this idea more powerfully developed in Chad Oliver’s powerful but grim novella “Blood’s a Rover”, itself in Groff Conklin’s “Golden Age” era anthology, Operation Future (1955).

The seven stories that follow are excellent. “The Forgotten Man of Space” by P. Schuyler Miller is very fine and quite moving with several layers of meaning flowing from the title. Stanley G. Weinbaum’s “A Martian Odyssey” is an acknowledged classic. “Ylla” (original title “I’ll Not Look For Wine”) is a good example of Bradbury’s ability to undercut his stories with a sense of horror. “Measureless To Man” by Marion Zimmer Bradley deals with humanity’s attempt to enter an ancient Martian City with quite unexpected results. E. C. Tubb in “Without Bugles” presents an unromantic gritty tale of what early Martian exploration might be like. “Crucifixus Etiam” is a powerful quasi-religious story which conveys in Mike Ashley’s words a “ . . . soul-searching feeling of sacrifice . . . .” a quality in much of the other work of Walter M. Miller, Jr. Finally, in “The Time-Tombs” J. G. Ballard’s main character—a member of a tomb raiding gang— discovers an ancient Martian crypt. But within is a beautiful figure lying in state. Does he tell his companions?

We know now that Mars is not going to be the planet of Canals and ancient Ruins of lost civilizations. But I will conclude with the words of Mike Ashley.

“The realization that Mars might not host life has not diminished our desire to reach the planet . . . . Mars will continue to exert its fascination as much as it has for the last century, and the stories selected here are a reflection of that desire to explore those hopes and dreams.”

[Renate]

I don't care if Mars doesn't have canals, as long as it has Marvin.

[Solitaire1]

Originally Posted by Renate

I don't care if Mars doesn't have canals, as long as it has Marvin.

I wonder if they will take a Grim-and-Gritty take on Marvin the Martian?

[Quizlit]

Just finished The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa.
Also Burma Sahib by Paul Theroux which was a bit a of a disappointment.
Current reading Beautyland by Marie Helene Bertino.

[Renate]

Originally Posted by Quizlit

Also Burma Sahib by Paul Theroux which was a bit a of a disappointment.

I got tired of Paul Theroux a long time ago.
Why not read, "Burmese Days", George Orwell?