The Martian Chronicles (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Ray Bradbury
- First Published: 1950
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Science fiction
- Time of Work: 1999-2026
- Setting: Mars and the United States
- Genres: Long fiction, Science fiction, Fantasy
- Subjects: United States or Americans, Colonies or colonization, Twentieth century, Extrasensory perception or powers, Extraterrestrial life, Future, Other worlds, Space flight or travel, Twenty-first century, Human race, Earth, Atomic bomb, Chicken pox, Immunity, Mars
- Locales: United States, Mars
Characters Discussed
John Spender, an astronaut, a member of the fourth expedition to Mars. In “June 2001: And the Moon Be Still as Bright,” he is overwhelmed by the deaths of the Martians, accidentally caused when the third expedition infected them with chicken pox. He realizes that Earth people will exploit and destroy Mars, making it into another intolerable Earth. He tries to prevent colonization by stopping his own crewmates and kills several of them in the process. He explains his thoughts to Captain Wilder, but then rather than running away, he allows himself to be...
[The entire page is 838 words long]
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