For centuries, the planet Mars has captivated astronomers and inspired writers of all genres. Whether imagined as the symbol of the bloody god of war, the cradle of an alien species, or a possible new home for human civilization, our closest planetary neighbor has played a central role in how we think about ourselves in the universe. From Galileo to Kim Stanley Robinson, Robert Crossley traces the history of our fascination with the red planet as it has evolved in literature both fictional and scientific. Crossley focuses specifically on the interplay between scientific discovery and literary invention, exploring how writers throughout the ages have tried to assimilate or resist new planetary knowledge. Covering texts from the 1600s to the present, from the obscure to the classic, Crossley shows how writing about Mars has reflected the desires and social controversies of each era. This astute and elegant study is perfect for science fiction fans and readers of popular science.
EBook Edition Note: The photo of Arthur C. Clarke photo on p. 209 has been redacted.
""...I gained a lot from reading this detailed and carefully crafted book. It leads to the conclusion that Mars based science fiction has been obliged to accommodate the flow of scientific discoveries from the flotilla of orbiters and rovers that have now been sent to the Red Planet.""
John Silvester
""this is the definitive literary history of a planet that has long been prospected by the human imagination, whatever the possibilities of actual settlement there.""
Patrick Parinder
""Robert Crossley's Imagining Mars: A Literary History is a wonderfully written and impressively comprehensive study of the reciprocal relationships between factual Mars and fanciful Mars, relationships driven in turn by scientific discovery and literary imagination.""
