The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
"The Martian Chronicles," written by Ray Bradbury, is a seminal work of science fiction that explores the colonization of Mars by humans from Earth, set against the backdrop of societal and cultural shifts occurring in the 1990s and early 2000s. The narrative unfolds through a series of interconnected stories, beginning with the arrival of the first rocket to Mars, which causes a winter in Ohio to transform into summer-like warmth. The characters include both Earth explorers and Martians, who engage in complex interactions marked by themes of jealousy, madness, and the impact of disease on civilization.
As human colonists arrive, they confront the remnants of a dying Martian culture, leading to profound questions about identity, reality, and the consequences of colonialism. The stories depict a range of experiences, from tragic misunderstandings to attempts at coexistence, highlighting the emotional and moral dilemmas faced by both humans and Martians. Ultimately, the collection culminates in a reflection on human resilience and the search for belonging amid destruction, as the fate of Earth hangs in the balance. "The Martian Chronicles" is both a cautionary tale and a poignant exploration of human nature, making it a significant work in the realm of speculative fiction.
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
First published: 1950; revised, 1997
Type of work: Short fiction
Type of plot: Science fiction
Time of plot: 1999–2026
Locale: United States and Mars
Principal Characters
Ylla K. , a MartianYll K. , her husbandCaptain Jonathan Williams , leader of an Earth expedition to MarsCaptain Wilder , another Earth expedition leaderJeff Spender , a member of his crewHathaway , another member of Wilder’s crewSam Parkhill , a human hot-dog vendor on Mars
The Story
“Rocket Summer” takes place in January, 1999. It is winter in Ohio, where the first rocket to Mars turns the cold into a summer-like warmth. “Ylla” takes place in February, 1999, on Mars. Through a telepathic connection, Ylla K. dreams of the captain of the first rocket, Nathaniel York, arriving on Mars. Out of jealousy, her husband Yll K. kills him. “The Summer Night” takes place in August, 1999. Their growing telepathic connection with Earth manifests when Martians sing songs in English.
In “The Earth Men,” which is set in August, 1999, Captain Jonathan Williams and his crew are perceived on Mars as insane Martians. Their appearance and rocket ship are believed to be telepathic manifestations of their madness. Diagnosed as incurable, they are shot by their Martian doctor. After they are dead, the “illusions” remain. The doctor, thinking he must have become infected with the madness, kills himself.
“Taxpayer” takes place in March, 2000. Fearing an atomic war, Pritchard, an ordinary citizen, wants to be a part of the third expedition to Mars, but he is turned away. “The Third Expedition” is set in April, 2000. The titular expedition reaches Mars. The Martians use the illusion of a small Midwestern town, populated with deceased relatives of the expedition’s crew members, to lure them into a deadly trap.
In “—and the Moon Be Still as Bright,” which takes place in June, 2001, the fourth Earth expedition to Mars finds that the remaining members of the already-dying Martian civilization have been killed by chicken pox, which was brought to the planet by one of the earlier expeditions. Jeff Spender tries to defend the ancient Martian civilization, killing several members of the expedition before he is finally killed by Captain Wilder.
“The Settlers” takes place in August, 2001, when the first colonists (as opposed to explorers) arrive on Mars. In “The Green Morning,” set in December, 2001, Benjamin Driscoll acts as a latter-day Johnny Appleseed, seeding and magically transforming Mars. “The Locusts” takes place in February, 2002, as more colonists arrive on Mars, further terraforming the planet.
“Night Meeting,” set in August, 2002, describes a chance meeting of human worker Tomas Gomez and Martian Muhe Ca. They are from different times, and each questions the other’s reality before finally accepting it.
In “The Shore,” which takes place in October, 2002, further colonists arrive, all of them American, as the rest of Earth is either at war or thinking about going to war. “Interim” is set in February, 2003, as an American town is built on Mars. In “The Musicians,” which occurs in April, 2003, groups of boys play with the remains of dead Martians in their old town before the remains are burned.
“Way in the Middle of the Air” is set in June, 2003. A mass exodus of African Americans from the American South to Mars occurs. Samuel Teece is the representative of a group of white supremacists trying to stop this exodus. In “The Naming of Names,” which spans 2004–2005, places on Mars get human names. Many are named after the first humans who landed there. With the naming also come the rules and regulations of Earth.
“Usher II” takes place in April, 2005. In order to take revenge upon a bureaucratic government that has burned all fantastic literature and art, William Stendahl builds an exact copy of the titular mansion of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” (1839). Stendahl populates the mansion with a robotic army of fantastic characters. There, he kills the prominent people responsible for the destruction of fantasy, finally destroying the house just as is described in Poe’s original text.
“The Old Ones” is set in August, 2005. Scores of elderly people arrive on Mars. “The Martian” takes place in September, 2005. One of the last Martians comes to the Lafarge couple in the guise of their son, as he reacts to the needs of humans around him, becoming what they are searching for. On a trip to town, the Martian gets lost as he is drawn to the needs of other people. Finally, he dies surrounded by the townspeople, who all see someone different in him.
“The Luggage Store” is set in November, 2005. Martian colonists receive news of war on Earth. It seems unreal to them because of the great distance between the planets, but nevertheless they start preparing to return to Earth.
“The Off Season” takes place in November, 2005. Sam Parkhill, owner of a hot-dog stand on Mars, is one day approached by a Martian whom he mistakenly kills. He flees from more approaching Martians, who only want to give him the rights to half of Mars. However, the gift turns out to be meaningless, as Earth is devastated in an atomic war the same night. “The Watchers” is also set in November, 2005. Humans watching the destruction of Earth receive signals urging them to come home. On the following morning, they begin a mass remigration to Earth.
“The Silent Towns” takes place in December, 2005. One of last humans remaining on Mars, Walter Gripp, desperately tries to find another human being. When he finally finds a female companion, she turns out to be utterly unattractive. Fleeing from her, he decides to live alone after all.
“The Long Years” is set in April, 2026. Two members of the fourth Earth expedition to Mars meet again on Mars after years apart. Hathaway has remained on Mars, while Captain Wilder flew to the outer planets and has returned. Mars is now almost lifeless. To survive the loneliness after his family died, Hathaway has built robot replacements for them. Hathaway dies, and Captain Wilder leaves Mars to the robot family, who will live there for a long time.
“There Will Come Soft Rains” takes place in August, 2026. After an atomic strike in California, a lone standing house controlled by robots continues its daily routine, unable to understand that there is no one left to take care of. Finally, the house is destroyed in a fire.
“The Million-Year Picnic” is set in October, 2026. William Thomas and his family travel to Mars before Earth is finally destroyed. Together with other possible survivors, they are about to start a new life on Mars, effectively becoming Martians themselves.
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