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Recently read an anthology of, mostly older-school, short stories about Mars. Some good stuff.
-The Great Sacrifice (1903) has a potential end-of-the-solar-system event, and the discussion of "some people believe the predictions, some write it off, some turn to religion, some try to live it up while they can" felt pretty modern-tropey. (I mean this in a good way, like, he was engaging with these ideas before they become tropified.)
-A Martian Odyssey (1934) I'd never heard of but apparently it was very influential/popular in its time. It features some great worldbuilding, and aliens who feel alien. There are creatures that may seem sapient but are not, and the dangers/pitfalls of assuming Earth-like reactions translate into humanoid minds is a recurring pattern. The "frame story" narrative where the astronaut tells his astronaut friends about his adventure was not necessary. And then the ending is...not a cliffhanger, exactly, but just kind of "and then that happened, the end."
-Ylla/I'll Not Look For Wine (1950) is part of The Martian Chronicles, which I read in school but maybe was too young for or else it was just too boring for me. I think I got more of the "men are jerks towards women even when they're Martians' subtext this time, at least. Easter egg: the Earth man who the Martian woman has visions/premonitions of is "Nathaniel York," which is presumably inspiration for Edna's husband in "The Lady Astronaut" series by Mary Robinette Kowal!
-Without Bugles (1952): "Mars sucks because there's barely any oxygen and it's hard to breathe. People have to wear masks all the time or else." Relatable.
-Crucifixius Etiam (1953): "Mars sucks because there's barely any oxygen and it's hard to breathe." I know, right? It's also a bold move taking your title from the Latin version of the Nicene Creed, particularly a sentence fragment that doesn't complete. "He was crucified, and..." At least based on the anthologist's writeup, I'm guessing that separating the crucifixion from death puts emphasis on the slow, painful, asphyxiating way of dying--but with a possibility for sacrifice and meaning through it.
-The Great Sacrifice (1903) has a potential end-of-the-solar-system event, and the discussion of "some people believe the predictions, some write it off, some turn to religion, some try to live it up while they can" felt pretty modern-tropey. (I mean this in a good way, like, he was engaging with these ideas before they become tropified.)
-A Martian Odyssey (1934) I'd never heard of but apparently it was very influential/popular in its time. It features some great worldbuilding, and aliens who feel alien. There are creatures that may seem sapient but are not, and the dangers/pitfalls of assuming Earth-like reactions translate into humanoid minds is a recurring pattern. The "frame story" narrative where the astronaut tells his astronaut friends about his adventure was not necessary. And then the ending is...not a cliffhanger, exactly, but just kind of "and then that happened, the end."
-Ylla/I'll Not Look For Wine (1950) is part of The Martian Chronicles, which I read in school but maybe was too young for or else it was just too boring for me. I think I got more of the "men are jerks towards women even when they're Martians' subtext this time, at least. Easter egg: the Earth man who the Martian woman has visions/premonitions of is "Nathaniel York," which is presumably inspiration for Edna's husband in "The Lady Astronaut" series by Mary Robinette Kowal!
-Without Bugles (1952): "Mars sucks because there's barely any oxygen and it's hard to breathe. People have to wear masks all the time or else." Relatable.
-Crucifixius Etiam (1953): "Mars sucks because there's barely any oxygen and it's hard to breathe." I know, right? It's also a bold move taking your title from the Latin version of the Nicene Creed, particularly a sentence fragment that doesn't complete. "He was crucified, and..." At least based on the anthologist's writeup, I'm guessing that separating the crucifixion from death puts emphasis on the slow, painful, asphyxiating way of dying--but with a possibility for sacrifice and meaning through it.
