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The Martian Chronicles
  
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The Martian Chronicles (Hardcover)

by Ray Bradbury (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (251 customer reviews)

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Product Description

From Amazon.com

From "Rocket Summer" to "The Million-Year Picnic," Ray Bradbury's stories of the colonization of Mars form an eerie mesh of past and future. Written in the 1940s, the chronicles drip with nostalgic atmosphere--shady porches with tinkling pitchers of lemonade, grandfather clocks, chintz-covered sofas. But longing for this comfortable past proves dangerous in every way to Bradbury's characters--the golden-eyed Martians as well as the humans. Starting in the far-flung future of 1999, expedition after expedition leaves Earth to investigate Mars. The Martians guard their mysteries well, but they are decimated by the diseases that arrive with the rockets. Colonists appear, most with ideas no more lofty than starting a hot-dog stand, and with no respect for the culture they've displaced.

Bradbury's quiet exploration of a future that looks so much like the past is sprinkled with lighter material. In "The Silent Towns," the last man on Mars hears the phone ring and ends up on a comical blind date. But in most of these stories, Bradbury holds up a mirror to humanity that reflects a shameful treatment of "the other," yielding, time after time, a harvest of loneliness and isolation. Yet the collection ends with hope for renewal, as a colonist family turns away from the demise of the Earth towards a new future on Mars. Bradbury is a master fantasist and The Martian Chronicles are an unforgettable work of art. --Blaise Selby --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From AudioFile

The Martian Chronicles was probably never intended to represent the real planet. Bradbury's Mars is a shifting metaphor for "the frontier" or for mystery. This lush prose poem was obviously composed in terms of sound; even the production uses purely aural devices, such as echoing repetition. Peter Marinker demonstrates a clear understanding of the writer's intention, and he has the vocal technique to project it effectively. He makes it easy for the listener to become engulfed in the dreamy, luminous atmosphere that is as much Bradbury's message as the story line. J.N. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.
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Customer Reviews

251 Reviews
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4.1 out of 5 stars (251 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5.0 out of 5 stars Take the time to figure out this puzzle! It's worth it., Nov 22 2008
By Paul Weiss (Dundas, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: The Martian Chronicles (Mass Market Paperback)
As the paranoia and fear of the early stages of the Cold War escalated and the prospect of global destruction in an atomic war crystallized into a terrifying possibility, a pioneering trip to a more placid Mars must have seemed welcoming. As early successes with the development of technology such as "Sputnik" made a an exploration of this magnitude a likely technological achievement within the next few decades, manned exploration and the colonization of Mars no doubt evolved into a sexy and exciting dream, indeed.

Bradbury's series of loosely connected vignettes set against the backdrop of America's first landing on Mars, the false starts and failures of several expeditions and the spread of disease resulting in the elimination of a planet's entire population, actually constitute a scathing critique of what he saw as the worst failings of the social fabric of 1950s America - imperialism, bigotry and racial prejudice, xenophobia, guns, environmental pollution, waste, foreign policy, censorship, and the untrammeled growth of technology all wrapped up in the unfailing smug sense of superiority that the American way is the only way!

"The Martian Chronicles" is not a straightforward read. In the opening chapters, a light and fluffy approach borders on inane as the reader is left wondering precisely what is happening. It's only perseverance that will lead the reader to a more profound understanding and appreciation of Bradbury's intention. "Way in the Middle of the Air", for instance, is perhaps the most moving single piece of writing I have ever experienced - extraordinary in its simplicity and yet blistering in its condemnation of the treatment of blacks in the American south in the 50s. Finally, the reader will be rewarded with the warm, optimistic closing of "The Million Year Picnic". This is perhaps the only story in the entire collection in which I believe Bradbury really is talking about the future and the possible colonization of another planet. It is his simple suggestion that these efforts would be doomed to an extended and painful failure if Americans attempt to shape another planet into the mould of their US-centric terrestrial expectations. Only through adaptation and the re-formulation of society according to what the planet will allow, would such colonization be expected to prosper.

Everyone who reads to the end of this story will wonder whether it should be considered as science fiction at all but nobody will harbour the smallest doubt that the term "Classic" is richly deserved.

Paul Weiss
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2.0 out of 5 stars I expected better..., Aug 30 2005
By Jason Harris (Calgary, Alberta Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Martian Chronicles (Mass Market Paperback)
The first time I read this book I was in high school and in the latter half of a research program on chemical perception enhancement. At the time I thought this was a great book. Based on those memories, I bought the NBC Television Mini-series on VHS in my second year of university. Then, I attributed the suckage level of that production to the typical mid-seventies literary "interpretation". However, a recent re-read of the book has led me to reevaluate my assessment of this opus of Bradbury's. Now, Bradbury is famous for such classics as "Farenheight 451" and "Something Wicked This Way Comes". The Martian Chronicles though, lacks any of the sophisticated storytelling one might expect from a master with Bradbury's credentials. One of the annoying things was the ridiculously unrealistic schedule at which major events occurred. On top of that, in one chronicle, when faced with an unbelievable scene at their arrival on Mars, the astronauts of an expedition perform some pathetically naïve mental gymnastics in order to rationalise what they are experiencing.

Later chronicles don't improve much. Granted, Bradbury was trying to make a statement regarding the human tendency for violence not only toward each other but also toward our home planet. Unfortunately, he goes about it in such a ham-handed way that the characters come off as clownish morons and you end up spending more time wondering how these idiots ever made it to Mars without blowing themselves up. Of course, you are less than surprised when they do. Humans blow themselves up through their arrogance and disrespect for the environment and Native peoples. For that message, I can think of better presentations.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Not science fiction... But does that make it bad?, Jun 25 2004
By Akan (New York, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Martian Chronicles (Mass Market Paperback)
Certainly not. Admittedly there are a few bland points but one must get over the fact that it really _isn't_ a science fiction book. By all means that does not make it bad. Sure, it's off a category or so but that's beside the point. To judge we must judge by quality and meaning, not simply a genre miscalculation.

The Martian Chronicles portrays human behavior, ideas, and even fears. There are bland chapters and there are really exciting chapters. It's the feeling in the book that counts. Most books that involve other planets focus on technology, war, or a conflict that is external to the inner most thoughts and feelings of human beings. Bradbury changes that with his unique style in The Martian Chronicles. It doesn't ruin literature with modern literary devices that are overused or overanalyzed, yet applies them when appropriate - without disturbing the quality of the book.

Unfortunately it's rather rigid. From discussion with others about the book, you either like it or you dislike it. There isn't a middle ground for The Martian Chronicles. It's worth a read so if possible rent it at your local library. I ended up buying a copy because I find some of the stories rather interesting. Try to make sure to obtain the book that has all the chapters - since I recall in a few versions there is a lack of a certain chapter.

Final rating: 3.5 - It's a nice read but isn't a MUST have. The bland chapters are in bad places - it sometimes makes it seem like the book is dragging on instead of progressing smoothly. Overall, I can find enjoyment with little qualms.

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 		 Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Ray Bradbury is phenomenal...as always!
The Martian Chronicles is an important book, especially now. It is a whatif, a maybe and a possibility. Read more
Published on Jun 23 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great work by Bradbury!
Even under the guise of a sci-fi book, this book, as other reviewers have pointed out along with the editorials, it is a comment on humanity it the human condition. Read more
Published on Jun 16 2004 by Eric

3.0 out of 5 stars BUDDY FLORA
Martian Chronicles is a book about the colinization of people on Mars. I found this book very appealing because I found the topic very interesting. Read more
Published on Jun 9 2004

3.0 out of 5 stars A book gone boared
The martian chronicles is a book about the colonization of people on Mars. The begining of the book started out pretty good. Read more
Published on Jun 2 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars An Origonal Concept by Ray Bradbury
Bradbury came up with a totally original idea of instead of having the aliens the ones who come to our planet and explore, it is instead the humans who are the curious ones and... Read more
Published on Jun 2 2004 by Orion

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't look at this as a science fiction book
In the half century after most of it was written, as Bob Dylan would say, things have changed. Racial relations are different, we know there are not water filled canals on Mars,... Read more
Published on May 31 2004 by The MacGuffin

5.0 out of 5 stars Sci-Fi Classic
Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles is a story the holds many things true today even if the story itself is not a reality, and probably never will be. Read more
Published on May 21 2004 by Travis

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Sci-Fi
Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles is a story the holds many things true today even if the story itself is not a reality, and probably never will be. Read more
Published on May 21 2004 by Travis

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Thought-Provoking, and a Bit Spooky
Regardless of what other reviewers have written, I believe this book to be a haunting work of art. Bradbury manages, through dozens of short vignettes, to tell the story of how... Read more
Published on Mar 21 2004 by L. Berk

2.0 out of 5 stars Great book.... but AVOID THIS VERSION
I feel that "The Martian Chronicles" is one of the best and most creative works of Science Fiction of all time, but I would recommend buying another copy of it. Read more
Published on Feb 17 2004

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