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Ray Bradbury Message Board


Male0096 posts on 5/23/2007 10:21:37 PM I think that "The Martian Chronicles" is really a series of stories, strung together, telling how humans from Earth first went to Mars, colonized it eventually, and the resulting tremendous culture clash between humanity and the native population of Mars. But, the clash is not a war, so much as a wearing down of one culture by another. I guess that my biggest thing is that If you read this book, don't expect to smile much in the reading of it, but prepare to be wrapped up in these well-told stories, and be ready to do some thinking.
well0292 posts on 5/20/2007 9:24:49 PM I spent a lot of time thinking about the message(s) Bradbury was communicating about the human race through The Martian Chronicles. I mostly agree with lasz0005, in that I believe there can be no way to predict how we would manage or react if we suddenly came into contact with an alien race. In fact, when you look at humans as a nations, we never seem to handle situations the "right" way. If we cannot deal with our own speicies peacefully, how could ever hope to do so with an alien race such as the Martians? Much of what I read communicated this to me: Individually, humans are generally caring and peaceful, but as nations or large groups we are scared, and as destructive as a plague upon the places we occupy.
Shadowchic posts on 5/11/2007 3:39:19 PM Whats happenin people?? (ok im new here...)



lasz0005 posts on 5/11/2007 3:22:39 PM I have to disagree with Travis. I think that if we find other life on another planet it is very possible that we can ruin them the way we did it to the Native Americans. We may not necessarily do it on purpose but I think its possible. If we go in search for another planet and we find new life and say we're desperate for water or something like that. What would be the deterrent to come and take from them what we need? Its what we did to the Native Americans, perhaps we'd justify it as we did with the Native Americans and give the aliens small plots of their own land, just like the reservations. I don't think its a far fetched notion that we may one day repeat our errors of the past.
Eadie Allen posts on 5/8/2007 5:26:04 PM Mr. Bradbury, I have enjoyed reading your books for many years. I would like to share with you my new book, FLORIDA GOLD. Perhaps you would care to review or read a sample chapter. I also have nineteen other books that you may like to read. Just type in Eadie Allen, at google or ask jeeves.
Travis Dahlke posts on 5/8/2007 9:35:53 AM I have to disagree with some of these posts. While I can see the similarities between the Martians and what happened to the Native Americans, I don't think it will be repeated. If we ever do find life on another planet, we will treat the situation very carefully. We will be careful not to infect other life with our own viruses or bacteria (although this may be impossible). And we would try to preserve any remnants of a civilization (that we recognize as such). I suppose if it's a matter of life or death, if we need to evacuate the human race from earth, then we would be a little more aggressive. Otherwise, I don't see this happening, we have learned from the past.
Jed Landmark posts on 5/7/2007 3:59:16 PM I agree with many of the posts that this book particualarly reminded me of our "war" with the native americans. I feel that he may have been trying to get people to take notice of what exactly went on in the past regarding our culture by stating that if we don't remember history we are doomed to repeat it. Many stories made me angry or even a bit sad because of the ignorance of the earthlings towards what they apparently viewed as a inferior race. Despite the ficticious setting, I can almost see something of this nature actually taking place again in our world (or another).
TOUCH004 posts on 5/6/2007 10:54:53 AM The Martian Chronicles book may have originally been a compilation of a series of short stories. But each had a similar theme, arrogant earthlings traveling to Mars to explore and start a new life. Most of the stories described the Americans as confrontational. They would take over the Martian colonies and recreate the American life each was running from. The American that made the most impact on me was Spender. He was the only member of his crew to first make an effort to understand the Martians. Spender felt humbled by the great Martian civilization. He wanted to preserve and study Martian civilization and didn't want to turn it into a 2nd earth where corporate and government interests ruled and ruin the beauty of Mars and the Martian history. He felt that the Martians had superior intellect. He studied their books and learned that they found a way to blend science, religion and art into their lives in harmony. Spender believed this way of live was possible and preferable to life on earth. I wonder what America might be like today if a “spender” had been in the group that first encountered the Native Americans.
brand425 posts on 5/3/2007 8:24:46 PM This book was another story (or set of stories) that again shows the tendency for humans to conquer new and unknown terriroties and civilizations. There has never, and may never, be a time where a conquering civilization can symbiotically learn from another race. The tendency to become more of a parasitic relationship where one culture/civilization uses and abuses the other for personal gain is more likely, and illustrated in The Martian Chronicles.
tomf0009 posts on 5/3/2007 5:57:31 PM I really enjoyed this book, it made me laugh, be sad, and definately entertained me. It also brought into perspective the history of the United States and the Native Americans. In this book Americans did to the Martians the almsot exact thing that the Europeans did to the Native Americans. The Europeans killed off much of the native culture with disease and the building of their society. I think Bradbury made this connection intentionally, but it really made me think.
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