Although the historic close proximity of Mars this week is for a limited time only, skywatchers with Martians on the brain can continue feeding their red planet hunger with a variety of popular culture mediums available on Earth. Over the last century or so, Mars has been viewed many ways in books, film and music. Writers and filmmakers have made it the home of antagonistic aliens and the next New World for human pioneers. At least one movie has credited the planet for seeding Earth with life as we know it.
| On Aug. 27, Mars will swing within 34.65 million miles (55.47 million kilometers) of Earth, the closest pass in nearly 60,000 years, as it reaches opposition with the Sun. The view promises to be spectacular.
H.G. Wells 1898 book was rooted in the scientific hype of his day.
IMAGE: NASA
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So here's a rundown of Mars fun. The following list stems from a NASA compilation, another from Ames Research Center planetary scientist David Catling and SPACE.com. It is by no means comprehensive, but may interest those with Mars at heart:
Books
War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
First serialized in 1897 and later published as a book in 1898, Wells' story chronicles the Martian invasion of Earth as they flee their dying homeworld. A classic of science fiction, War of the Worlds was adapted as a radio play by Orson Welles in 1938 and into a feature film in 1953, shown in stunning Technicolor.
Martian Tales by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Notable for his Tarzan stories, Burroughs published a series of 11 novels portraying the adventures of Civil War veteran John Carter, a Confederate soldier, who is transported to Mars. The series begins with A Princess of Mars, first published in 1917, and chronicles Carter's adaptation to Martian culture, his family life and political rise to the upper echelons of the planet's government.
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
A mainstay in science fiction, Bradbury has penned numerous novels and short stories about the future. The Martian Chronicles, first published in 1950, is a collection of stories surrounding a human settlement on Mars at odds with the Martians who already live there. The collection is noted for its wide-ranging themes, such as racism and nuclear war, and established Bradbury's reputation as a writer. Incidentally, Bradbury celebrated his 83rd birthday on Aug. 22.
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
The original inhabitants of Mars in Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles.
IMAGE: Bantam Doubleday Dell publishers |
Winner of the Hugo award in 1962, this book details the life of Valentine Michael Smith. Raised by Martians and returned to Earth with psychic powers and a Martian perspective. According to Catling, the ranks high among science fiction fans and was the first from a devoted genre writer to reach the New York Times best-seller list.
Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
Robinson's trilogy of books, published between 1993 and 1997, chronicles the effort to terraform the red planet and render it suitable for human colonization. The detailed and sweeping story includes disputes over changing the face of Mars, the influence of corporate control and the eventual environmental effects of industrial pollution on Earth.
From SPACE.com:
Lords of Atlantis by Wallace West
Hardly a classic in any sense of the word, West's story is still one of my personal favorites. The pulp novel was first published in 1963 and details the last days of a Martian colony on Earth during early human history. Included in the story's campy plot: the tale of humans who fled to Mars to avoid an ice age and have returned to reign over the Earthlings that stayed behind, the death of Mars, Greek mythology and the legend of Atlantis.
Film
Red Planet (2000)
Carrie-Ann Moss portrays Commander Kate Bowman in the 2000 film Red Planet.
IMAGE: IMDB.com |
A team of astronauts is sent to Mars to learn why a terraforming project, potentially the last hope of a dying Earth, has malfunctioned. But a crash landing strands the landing crew on the Martian surface, pitting astronauts in a fight for survival. Directed by Anthony Hoffman. Starring: Val Kilmer, Carrie-Ann Moss, Benjamin Bratt, Tom Sizemore, Simon Baker and Terence Stamp.
Mission to Mars (2000)
After the first manned expedition to Mars meets disaster under mysterious circumstances, a second crew is dispatched on a rescue mission. When the arrive, however, the crew finds more than their missing comrades. Directed by Brian De Palma. Starring: Gary Sinise, Tim Robbins, Don Cheadle, Connie Nielsen and Jerry O'Connell.
Mars Attacks! (1996)
Little men from Mars use flying saucers and ray guns to wreck havoc on Earth. Humans must find a way to fight back or lose the planet. Directed by Tim Burton. Starring: Jack Nicholson (in two roles), Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan and more.
Total Recall (1990)
Although it sounds related, this film is not part of Arnold Schwarzeneggar's gubernatorial bid in California. The action star portrays Douglas Quaid, a seemingly mild mannered construction worker who ends up traveling to Mars for real after a virtual vacation to the red planet has an unexpected effect. Directed by Paul Verhoeven. Starring: Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Rachel Tictotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, Michael Ironside and Marshall Bell.
More Mars Movies
Movie poster for War of the Worlds released in 1953. It was the first film-adapted version of H.G. Wells' novel.
IMAGE: IMDB.com |
Lobster Man from Mars (1989)
Invaders from Mars (1986)
Planet of Blood (1966)
Mars Needs Women (1966)
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)
Robsinson Crusoe on Mars (1964)
The Angry Red Planet (1959)
Devil Girls from Mars (1954)
The War of the Worlds (1953)
Invaders from Mars (1953)
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953)
Red Planet Mars (1952)
Flight to Mars (1951)
Rocketship X-M (1950)
Flash Gordon: Mars Attacks the World (1938)
Aelita: Queen of Mars (1924)
Music
Parents with Mars-minded children should take heed from Sir Elton John. According to the crooner's Rocketman, 'Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids' largely because it's 'cold as hell and there's no one there to raise them if you did.'
David Bowie chimes in too with his Life on Mars, which asks the question scientists have been trying to answer since the planet was first discovered - 'Is there life on Mars?'
You can also listen to the winds of Mars combined with the classical music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The compact disc includes works by the classical composer entwined with recordings originating from NASA's Mars Pathfinder mission, which landed on the red planet on July 4, 1997.
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