Reviews with content warning for Death - The Martian Chronicles

This had a slow start and I was worried I wouldn't like it, but after the first few stories, I started to get into it, and there were some really great stories around the middle and end! I was also glad that everything kinda comes full circle by the end. There are some reoccurring characters that help connect the stories. Overall, it's a solid read.

"Ignorance is fatal, Mr. Garrett."

Out of all the stories in here, my favorite is "April 2005: Usher II" for sure. I thought it was so interesting, funny, and disturbing all at the same time!

"Science is no more than an investigation of a miracle we can never explain, and art is an interpretation of that miracle."

I liked this, but I didn't like it as much as The Illustrated Man which I read earlier this year. Both are worth reading though, so I would recommend both of them! The stories in The Illustrated Man are much less connected, and I think I prefer that because The Martian Chronicles is a bit monotonous considering EVERYTHING in it is about Mars.

"I'm numb and I'm tired. Too much has happened today. I feel as if I'd been out in a pounding rain for forty-eight hours without an umbrella or a coat. I'm soaked to the skin with emotion."

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carolyn84's review

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adventurous dark hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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ashlightgrayson's review

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dark reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

This was an interesting collection of sci-fi short stories. This is older sci-fi, so it reads like speculative fiction at times. The stories heavily explore the possible dangers of new technology. In the context of time the story was written, it relies heavily on nuclear war to illustrate this. Additionally, there are parallels with our own history with colonization as the Americans from the U.S. take over Mars and decimate the indigenous Martian population in the process. I think this is a collection that would probably be served well by a reread. I'm looking forward to rereading it again in the future. Definitely a must read for any classic sci-fi fan.

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chiaralzr's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

A sci-fi story that feels like a collection of short tales, each delving into a different aspect of the human colonisation of Mars. I really enjoyed seeing the passing of time by looking at the planet through different characters' eyes. Some chapters definitely stood out from the rest, but it was overall an interesting read.

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tumbly_weed's review

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adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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laedyred's review

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adventurous funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I enjoy these kinds of introspective books that make us question the world in new ways. For the time it was written, Bradbury had some radical views. I appreciate the balance of entertainment with commentary that isn't shoved down your throat. My only complaints are that the pace is a bit slow for my taste, and there are a few moments that could have been more subtle in their message.

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