The Martian Chronicles
by Ray Bradbury
Soar above the fossil seas and crystal pillars of a deadworld in the pages of Ray Bradbury’s *The Martian Chronicles. *A milestoneof American literature, Bradbury’s classic collection of interconnectedvignettes about life on the red planet diverges from the *War of the Worlds *theme,in which humanity must defend its shores against its neighbors, for in Bradbury’sprismatic vision, humanity is the conqueror, colonizing Mars to escape an Earthdevastated by atomic war and environmental catastrophe. Bradbury’s *TheMartian Chronicles *is a must-read for any fan of science fiction orfantasy, a crucial precursor to films like *Avatar *and *Alien* andbooks like Kim Stanley Robinson’s *Red Mars *and Dan Simmons’ *Hyperion*,and a haunting prophesy of humanity’s destiny to bring our old dreams andfollies along with us wherever we may venture forth.