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Summary: Juxtaposition reveals contrast
Review: "The Martian Chronicles," by Ray Bradbury, goes through a chronological progression of man colonizing Mars. Starting from the first expedition in 1999 and coming to an end when the colonists return to Earth in 2005. The colonists travel to Mars to escape the worsening situation on earth. However, the colonists discover that humans cannot stand to live away from their home, the place they have known all of their lives. They choose to return to earth, even if it means dying. Bradbury uses juxtaposition to compare the humans with the Martians. By doing this, the book provides a view on humanity and human nature. He even makes the Martians very human like. This makes the comparison easier. Bradbury gives the Martians the ability to manifest themselves as appearing as human beings. When the Martians appear as humans the real humans don't realize that they are Martians. This is a tool that ends up symbolizing human nature in the way that the Martians are protecting themselves and their land, just like humans. Another example is when a lone man travels a road at night and cross paths with a Martian. Their two worlds or times merge at that instant and both realize the similarities and differences they hold.
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Summary: Thought Provoking
Review: I have just finished reading this book for my 10 th grade out side reading assignment. When I first saw the book, I had no idea it was going to be what it was. I was expecting some typical sci-fi book with aliens crashing to earth, or maybe vice versa. But the way Bradbury presented the whole essence of the book was so thought provoking. He really made you think about if what he wrote could really happen. It's written as if some one just compiled all the history there was to know about how man came to conquer and make a civilization upon mars. You really need to read it to understand what I'm talking about because words can do no justice to this book. I thought it was an excellent book and would reccomend it to anyone who loves books with imagination and a hint of something a little different, something you wouldn't quite expect from a book......
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Summary: A literary work of truly monumental proportions
Review: A Christian priest who attempts to preach to being that have reached freedom of sin; Earth astronauts who are taken for madmen by the telepathic natives and put out of their misery for "manifesting the most complete illusion in history" - their spaceship; A sort of Johny Appleseed who desires to return to Mars its ancient forests; Human children that play the bones of eons-dead Martians like xylophones; This book contains endless material for thoughts. Bradbury has given the world the first true aliens.
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Summary: Mind-boggling
Review: The Martian Chronicles is perhaps the most episodic book I have ever read. Like a reviewer below has noted, Bradbury presents us with no central character, no centralized plot, no guidelines, generally nothing that will give the reader a hold on the situation. There are only two recurring things, Man and Mars. This is where the book's strength lies - it presents how different people deal with the endless mystery of Mars: some see it as an enemy; others try to protect its sanctity, even at the expense of their mates' lives; yet others see it as a great opportunity. Throughout the entire book the reader has two goals - observing the characters' reaction to this ancient world, and figuring out for themselves what exactly is Mars's mystery. The latter is never directly explained. Perhaps the only disagreeable thing in the book are the radically diferent presentations of Martians: one is the people of a radically different world, mystic, romantic, unseen; they are present in most of the book. But the Chronicles' beginning illustrates a different kind of Martians - human-like, petty, squabbling, paranoid. In any case, The Martian Chronicles is a monumental work of incredible thought and untouched values. I would eagerly advise it to anyone searching for deeper meaning of things. This book may have all of the answers.
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Summary: 3 Generations of Sharing and PLEA TO ALAN LEE
Review: The specifics of this moving and enlightening book have been covered by others, so I'll take the luxury of making a purely personal comment. I loved this work of art so much that, when the time came, I pulled the book off the shelf and shared it with my sons. We have all read and reread it so often that it has fallen apart and I am now purchasing a new hardback volume for my library with my grandson in mind. PLEA TO ALAN LEE: If you can see this, please, PLEASE collaborate with Mr. Bradbury to publish a collector's edition marrying his vision to your brilliant artwork. The concept is so right and so obvious that I simply don't understand why it hasn't already been done. It's not too late...
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Summary: Stupendous
Review: This book displays Ray Bradbury's incredible imagination and talent to make Mars, and life on Mars (something that could become very real) come to life. This book is a must - read for all sci-fi lovers and for people who like a good twist in their stories. Bradbury always comes up with some shock to end you with; leaving you wanting more and more. But since he has written 6 thousand other things we are very fortunate to have more. Don't let this be the one you don't read.
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Summary: This garden universe vibrates complete...
Review: I love The Martian Chronicles~~it's definitely one of my all~time favorite books. It pulls you into it; you get curious and can't put it down. I reccomend it to anyone who has an imagination. To people who think it's too unrealistic~ fiction isn't SUPPOSED to be reaslistic....that's the whole point. And in order to read it, you have to totally escape reality and let the author invade your mind with ideas and thoughts you would never think of by yourself. That's the fun of it! :o)
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Summary: Strange but So Real
Review: The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury is definetely an "out-of-the-ordinary" book. Bradbury breaks all the rules. The book has no plot, no main character, which is a definate twist to any reader. Included are the stories of man and Mars, how we settled it, then mysteriously abandoned it. Each chronicle gives you an insight into one person's journey and Mars. Although hard to follow at times, the book ends with good words of thought. For those of you interested in the "different" type of Sci-Fi.
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Summary: An excellent book
Review: This is probably one of the best and most worthwhile books I've ever read. As a fun, exciting space story the book reads very well, but the true beauty of this work lies deeper-- in its examination of the philosophy of the human race. Although this book was written about fifty years ago, the message of it rings as true today as it did when it was first published.
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Summary: Man's Final Conquest
Review: The Martian Chronicles is an intriguing collection of stories about the years when Earth men came, settled, and destroyed Mars. Giving a twist to this story is a humanoid race already settled on the red planet that has large golden eyes and dark skin, as well as cities with transportation and a peaceful modern society. But to the average person, the Martian looks like a long lost family member of friend, appearing as the person about whom you are presently thinking. Not only does Mars seem distant, but the Earth as we know it in the year 2000 is not similar to Bradbury's interpretation of how our planet will end up in the 20th century. He displays an atmosphere on Earth where everything must be 'pure' and 'normal,' doing away with imaginative thinking and books with authors such as Edgar Allen Poe. This is why the first settlers th Mars went; they wanted to get away from 'perfection.' But once the land was clear of Martians and the dirty work was done, Earth's tax collectors and purifiers came, and with them minorities. The Martian Chronicles truly displays man's greed and bias, showing that history does repeat itself. I recommend this book to all philosophers and science fiction fans. If you have ever asked yourself 'Why?' or 'What is the point of life?' this book would be good for you, giving an answer from yet an other individual's viewpoint who loves philosophy. I also recommend this book to thinkers because after each short story, I sat for a minute considering what just happened and why it did. One of the best science fiction/philosophical masterpieces of all, The Martian Chronicles is a genuinely fascinating and interesting book.
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