I can't remember many details, but this was a nice look at how people conceptualized Mars before we knew that it was a barren desert. ( )

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Title: Lost Mars
Series: British Library Science Fiction Classics
Editor: Mike Ashley
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: SF
Pages: 222
Words: 84.5K

Synopsis:

The Crystal Egg - H. G. Wells

Letters from Mars - W. S. Lach-Szyrman

The Great Sacrifice - George C. Wallis

The Forgotten Man of Space - P. Schuyler Miller

A Martian Odyssey - Stanley G. Weinbaum

Ylla - Ray Bradbury

Measureless to Man - Marion Zimmer Bradley

Without Bugles - E. C. Tubb

Crucifixus Etiam - Walter M. Miller, Jr.

The Time-Tombs - J. G. Ballard

My Thoughts:

There's a reason most of these stories are in public domain and not held on by copyright shenanigans. They're unassuming and rather forgettable. Even with that statement, these stories were head and shoulders above the Moon stories. Ugh, now those were boring!

The one thing I have to keep in mind with reading this series is that these are foundational stories, something that other authors read and then built upon. You can't compare a foundation to a gilded staircase. But you can't have that staircase built solidly without the foundation.

One thing that stood out to me was the overall positive view of the authors. Even that weirdo Bradbury's story, while twisted and creepy, was still very light. Heck, even Ballard, that evil sentient who rivals the devil himself, his story wasn't depressing at all. Even saying that, I'll still be glad when I wrap up this series.

★★★☆☆ ( )