The Martian Chronicles: Better the Second Time Around

I read Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles back in high
school, but after recently listening to radio dramatizations of several stories
from Chronicles, I decided to read it again. I have to say, I appreciated it
much more the second time around.

In Chronicles, Bradbury leads the reader through an episodic
history of Earth’s colonization of Mars, from the early expeditions that never
returned to the destruction of mankind by nuclear war. In each of the stories,
Bradbury uses wit, melodic narration, and biting sarcasm to expose the
weaknesses and failures of mankind. This is not science fiction, but science
fantasy at its best.

Interestingly, the stories in The Martian Chronicles were
never intended to be part of a book. On a trip to visit New York publishers,
Bradbury’s stories were turned down by a dozen different publishers. Over
dinner, one editor named Walter Bradbury (no relation to the author) suggested
Bradbury be tied together into a novel and even suggested the name. Bradbury –
Ray, not Walter – loved the idea and his first novel was born. I, for one, am
glad it was.