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#31846 |
Wizard
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Karma: 26915798
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Ireland
Device: Kindle Oasis 3, 4G, iPad Air 2, iPhone IE
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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.” |
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#31847 |
Wizard
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Karma: 12000001
Join Date: Feb 2012
Device: Nook NST, Glow2, 3, 4, '21, Kobo Aura2, Poke3, Poke5
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I don't care if Mars doesn't have canals, as long as it has Marvin.
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#31848 |
Samurai Lizard
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Karma: 66701142
Join Date: Nov 2009
Device: NookColor
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#31849 |
Enthusiast
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Karma: 315042
Join Date: Apr 2023
Device: kindle paperwhite 4
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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. |
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#31850 |
Wizard
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Karma: 12000001
Join Date: Feb 2012
Device: Nook NST, Glow2, 3, 4, '21, Kobo Aura2, Poke3, Poke5
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#31851 |
o saeclum infacetum
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Karma: 224100568
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: New England
Device: H2O, Aura One, PW5
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I loved this; one of my favorite books by Steinbeck. I know it's not entirely accurate, but I didn't care.
I found this disappointing; it wasn't nearly as good as Pandora's Jar. Too many and too lengthy pop culture references; she tried way too hard to make something "relevant" that didn't need the upsell. |
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#31852 |
(he/him/his)
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Karma: 79742714
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Sunshine Coast, BC
Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), Fire HD 8
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I quite enjoyed Travels with Charley. A favourite Stenbeck.
Currently listening to a bunch of MilSF, which is dragging me down. Need to change out to anything else... |
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#31853 |
Groupie
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Karma: 3141364
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: California Gold Country
Device: Paperwhite 11th generation
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Just finished To a God Unknown by John Steinbeck.
I liked this book very much. |
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#31854 |
Guru
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Karma: 6449772
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New York City
Device: Kindle Oasis 2 (7"); HDX 8.9"; Ipad2
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#31855 |
Wizard
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Karma: 25151986
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Seattle, US
Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kobo Libra 2
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I've read Travels With Charley several times. It sparked my love of road trips. He attended church services on Sundays on his travels. So I've also gone to church on road trips, although I wouldn't otherwise dream of darkening a church door. I no longer do the weeks or months long road trips, but I still love travel books. I did go on a five day trip down the Oregon coast last month so I guess that counts.
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#31856 | |
Is that a sandwich?
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Karma: 101696762
Join Date: Jun 2010
Device: Nook Glowlight Plus
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Quote:
Next is Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. |
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#31857 |
Guru
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Karma: 6449772
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New York City
Device: Kindle Oasis 2 (7"); HDX 8.9"; Ipad2
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I am almost finished with The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America by Russell Shorto. I borrowed kindle edition from my public library. I bought the hardcover in 2004 and never read it and recently could not find it. Must have tossed it in a purge a while back.
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#31858 |
Grand Sorcerer
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Karma: 464403178
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: 33.9388° N, 117.2716° W
Device: Kindles K-2, K-KB, PW 1 & 2, Voyage, Fire 2, 5 & HD 8, Surface 3, iPad
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Just finished Ann Hillerman's newest, Lost Birds: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel. Like her others in that series, I really liked it.
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#31859 |
Wizard
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Karma: 7838248
Join Date: Dec 2009
Device: Ipad Pro/Kindle Oasis 3/iPhone 13 Pro Max
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I finished the Dark Legacy of Shannara Trilogy, which I enjoyed quite a bit. I have moved to a couple of Reacher novels that I purchased at amazon deals for 1.99. I always enjoy those. I’ve got to quit pushing Rules of Civility off though.
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#31860 | |
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
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Karma: 307903668
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Norfolk, England
Device: Kindle Voyage
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Quote:
Divine Might was more a catalogue of goddesses than stories about goddesses, although there were some anecdotes along the way. Not as good for me as A Thousand Ships. Nine Princes in Amber and The Guns of Avalon by Roger Zelazny, the first two books in his Amber series. Very good, as expected. The Book of Love by Kelly Link. It was quite a fun book involving magic in various forms. I'm not sure it was a good purchase. Still Life by Sarah Winman. A rather standard 'events in the life of' sort of book. Not an author I intend reading again. Chess with a Dragon by David Gerrold was another impulse purchase, but was worth-while. Even though I think the novella could have done with a little tweaking. Sign of the Unicorn by Roger Zelazny, the third Amber book was very good. Tai-Pan by James Clavell looks at the founding of Hong Kong as a british colony, and was excellent. A Fatal Flying Affair and Rotten to the Core by T. E. Kinsey are the 7th and 8th in his Lady Hardcastle series, and were the expected cozy murder mysteries. Which brings me up to date! |
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