The Red Planet

Various Authors

• 07 mei 2026
• 9798195985332

Samenvatting:

For over a century, Mars has fired the creativity of sci-fi writers, captivated by its red glow, its proximity to our homeworld and the tantalising possibility of alien life.

This collection contains 11 vintage stories, inspired by this intriguing planet. Originally published in the popular pulp sci-fi magazines of the mid-20th century, these fantastic, imaginative tales evoke a bygone era of science fiction.

The Red Planet is the first in a series of vintage sci-fi anthologies published by Planet Zarg.

With stories by:

Stanley G. Weinbaum
Frank Belknap Long
Harry Cord and Otis Adelbert Kline
Frederic Arnold Kummer, Jr.
Joseph Shallit
Tom Leahy
S. A. Lombino
Ed Earl Repp
Raymond Van Houten
Joseph Farrell
>More Information About This Series of Anthologies

In compiling this series of anthologies we hope to preserve some fine examples of early science-fiction and present them for a 21st century audience. The short stories featured here were written and first published between the early 1930s and late 1960s in American science fiction magazines such as "Planet Stories", "Fantastic Universe", "If", "Galaxy" and more.

The stories were chosen primarily for their entertainment value. Any science-fiction fan will occasionally spot familiar tropes and concepts which not only pre-empt modern sci-fi by many decades but also predict real world advances in technology. The narratives are engaging and innovative; told through the eyes of square-jawed all-American heroes, idealistic youngsters, pioneering adventurers, scientists and a plethora of exotic aliens.

The stories seem fresh and original, defying modern science-fiction storytelling norms, though 21st century readers may, at times, feel that some show more imagination regarding technical advances and galactic politics than they do about Earthly societal progress, such as gender equality and animal welfare. We hope readers can overlook the occasional reminder that some of these stories reflect the time in which they were written.

Despite this, many of the stories serve as neat parables, allegorising human challenges still prevalent today. These more progressive tales tackle issues such as racism, slavery, colonialism, industrialisation, globalisation and environmental concerns. Some of the issues covered, in stories written many decades ago, are poignant reminders of the work that still needs to done in some fields of human experience.

This series of books is published in the UK, but for various reasons we took the editorial decision to keep the original American spellings.

Whether you are reliving your youth or coming to these stories for the first time, we are sure you will enjoy this anthology, and the others available from Planet Zarg - thank you for your support.