The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (1950)

A series of short stories of humankind's landing on Mars and interactions with its indigenous peoples.

Book Review: The Martian Chronicles wasn't exactly what I expected. Bradbury's stories are usually classified as SF, but these aren't based on science: his Mars is warm with an atmosphere breathable by humans. The settlers plant oaks, elms, aspens. Realism wasn't his main point, and the book is more thoughtful and evocative than about hard science (though he does consider terraforming). His interest was more in what was happening on Earth (primarily the U.S.) at the time, and how that would translate to a new planet. Even before 1950, Bradbury was deeply concerned about pollution, religion, racism, nuclear war, and destruction of the environment. He saw that all these crimes would follow humans to a new planet: there is no easy fresh start. So much SF from the first half of the 20th Century had a "can do" attitude that while settling the universe might not be easy, it would be settled. Needless to say, this is not Bradbury's view and his vision in The Martian Chronicles is darker and he sees humanity's (America's) flaws writ large, put in sharp relief on the blank canvas of Mars; at times the stories seem like fables or allegories. One settler from Earth says, "Yes, their cities are good. They knew how to blend art into their living. It's always been a thing apart for Americans." Bradbury's Martians are a more evolved, less damaging race.

Bradbury must be one of the earliest SF writers to address the perils of colonization for native peoples. He wrote about women coming to the Mars, and about missionaries, as well: "Shouldn't we solve our own sins on Earth? Aren't we running from our lives here?" There is also humor, the first humans on Mars do not get the welcome they were expecting. Some of the stories do deal with the Martians themselves, and for me these were the most enjoyable and interesting stories. But many of the stories are bit depressing as they showed what issues Earth was addressing (and still is) and how those same problems would then affect settlement of new planets. The stories were especially interesting considering how much talk there is today of expeditions to Mars, even if perhaps only one way. But The Martian Chronicles do offer a ray of hope, as the Martians show what we could become and the possibility of learning a lesson from our mistakes with Earth. [4★]