Manuel's comments (member since Jul 03, 2008)

Manuel's comments from the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club group.

In the opening pages Wells clearly states that the Martians have been watching the Earth for quite a long while.

From an observational point of view, they would have seen that this little island has been rapidly changing much faster than the rest of the world.

They would have seen the first evidence of air pollution due to being the earliest nation to go through the industrial revolution. They would have noticed that it was the first nation to establish some sort of metalic network (railroads) to connect its population centers. They would have seen that is was the hub of some sort of transport system due to the large number of ships going to and from its shore.

And most of all they would have certainly noticed the largest and fastest urban concentration on the planet was London and its suburbs.

I think it makes perfect sense to go after what appears to be the center of human activity.

I thought it was a unique and clever way of dealing with the invaision. Yes the Martians have superior technology and humans have no real chance of mounting a realistic fight, but Wells allows for a practical solution, though not something directed by human beings.

The Martian menace is thwarted ironically by the same device that allowed Europeans to succeed in North and South America. European diseases wiped out way more Native Americans than European swords. Consequently the great Aztec and Inca empires were considerably weakened by pandemics of Measles, Smallpox and the common influenza virus.Ironically; millions Native Americans died of pandemic European diseases without ever having seen a Spaniard.

Yes the ending does seem a lot like an example of Deus ex Machina, but in this case, I thought it worked. Deliverence is given, but the average 19th century reader doesnt have to think about it very much.

In the 1953 movie, deliverance is anashamedly attributed to God. The main characters find shelter in a (Protestant) church and wait for the inevitable climax, as the Martians methodically destroy downtown Los Angeles.
In the end, we see joyous crowds filling the churches and we zoom in on the cross of a bell tower with pealing church bells.

I think it makes perfect sense to use the alien invasion as a metaphor for the British Empire. At that time, most globes would show the Earth's land mass covered in British Red, 3/5 of the surface of our planet had a Union Jack flying over it.

In a very real sense, the British were the invaders to a great many people around the world. Their motives might have been enlightened or commercial but their armies, navy and machinery dominated and squashed populations much larger than those found on their small native island off the coast of Europe.

Apparently people had never heard the radio used like this. Wells' genius was in reporting this fictional event "as it was happening". Some people tuned in after it had started and the panic spread. At this time, people had gotten used to radio flash updates due to the actions happening in Europe. The radio had been interrupting regular broadcasts whenever Hitler marched into another country, Austria, Czechoslovakia, the Rhineland etc etc. When Wells began his broadcast, many people thought it was legit.

A similar thing happened in Ecuador in the late 40's. A radio station aired a drama about an alien invaision. Apparently people were so angry, they mobbed the radio station and burned it to the ground.

I remember in the early 80's. One of the TV networks reported a fictional terrorist event happening in Charleston S Carolina. At the end of the program, a nuclear bomb destroys Charleston. The whole thing was being "reported" from a fake CNN style newsroom.
Again, many people thought it was the real thing.

What a great idea!!!

I loved both the short story version as well as the novel. The longer book version fills in a lot of detail that the short story lacks, both very enjoyable.

What I like about this story is that it makes me think and wonder how human society might have evolved if there was no night? Our architecture would be considerably different, not too mention our sleep and social patterns.
It also makes you think about the role of religion/society and government and how those institutions would react if they were all strained at the same time. It took me back to how my neighborhood in California behaved during the 1989 earthquake when all services suddenly stopped at the same time.

Our neighborhood did well, other neighborhoods did'nt come out unscathed.

I think "Nightfall" is one of the most unforgettable short stories ever written. You finish it and it feels like a kick in the stomach, because deep down we known Asimov has accurately predicted human behavior.

too bad no one has ever done a decent movie adaption.
I've seen two versions and both were dreadful. The latest version had David Caradine as one of the main characters. Unfortunately it was a low budget movie which gave all the intelligent scientific roles to western actors and gave all the reactionary pin-head roles to the Asian extras in Thailand, where they filmed the movie.

Sadly, most of the fiction of the 50's make women purely secondary and supportive figures to the men.
So I dont think Bradbury was the only one who regulated women to the back burner of domestic help maiden.

Nevertheless I still enjoyed The Martian Chronicles when I read the book in high school in the 70's. I remember three chapters made me especially sad.

The first chapter when he speaks of the Martian female and her dream. The Martians seem so interesting and yet we only get a glimpse of their society.

The most haunting story is when Bradbury tells of the automated house on Earth still functioning after its human occupants have long since died in the war. Yet their poor dog survives the war still living in his comfortable prison without his beloved masters.

Robin,
I think you are doing a great job moderating this sub-group.
Even though you liked the book a great deal less than I, you have done a great job generating topics to discuss about this book.

Good Going!!!!

Ive seen his other books on the library shelf and I never felt compelled to read any of them.

"The Road" was my first McCarthy novel, and I was greatly surprised at how fast it engaged me. I didnt want to put the book down.

Im looking forward to reading his other books.

Thanks Jensownzoo
I didnt know what to make of that passage.

Your insight makes it more clear

The book definitely lived up to the hype.
I highly recommend it.

In high school we had to read:
On the Beach
1984
Brave New World
Alas Babylon (too dated, nuclear war survivable)

I hope this book will at least replace Alas Babylon on the reading list.

Well lets hope the movie is decent. The last McCarthy inspired movie did pretty well in the box office and Oscar time.

Perhaps being on the road serves as prime motivation for him?
Keep moving, keep moving, dont stay still, dont give up, dont get too settled.
Its a world where it would be so tempting and to stop and give up hope and surrender to the situation, as did the mother.

The road, hopefully will lead to something better, it gives you a reason to get up and go ONE more day.

All I can say is that I really enjoy his storytelling technique. Perhaps premature to say this, but I predict he will be remembered as the 20th century's Poe.

The only time I didnt enjoy King's work was in the Dark Tower series. I tried reading it for a week and never got into it.

a bit off subject here-
I only hope they cast a kid with a little acting ability. I still wince when I see the kid in Star Wars episode #1 Phantom Menace.

I remember Oprah's interview with him. He almost never gives interviews, he said he was in a hotel room in El Paso Texas, with his little boy sleeping in the bed. He was looking out the window over the city and wondered what would happen if the city burned up and disappeared?

Apparently he was in his 60s when he became a father and he considers himself an over protective father.

I too wondered why he didnt stay longer in the bunker?

I suppose in the back of his mind, he couldnt forget that someone actually took the time to assemble all these life saving supplies and establish this small oasis. The original owner should have been able to survive; yet something horrible probably happened to him, despite having all the odds in his favor.

It reminded him that nothing is guaranteed in the hellish world.

I think the hype was well deserved.
I read "All the Pillars of the Earth" due to Oprah's recommendation. I loathed it.

This book was a pleasant surprise, despite Oprah's hot pick.

You are right Becky,
He never mentions the boy's age.
I took it for granted he was the same age as McCarthy's own son when he wrote the book. About 7-9 years.

Lack of punctuation didnt bother me in the least.

Its a quick read, I think I read it in only two evenings.

The strangest punctuation I remember in a book was "The General" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Absolutely no paragraphs for approx 300 pages.