The most recent story in Lost Mars: The Golden Age of the Red Planet is J. G. Ballard’s “The Time Tombs” from 1961. These stories were all written when people believed the Martian canals actually held water and that Mars had an atmosphere like Earth’s. Better science and space probes discovered Mars is actually a chilly desert with little air. These retro stories focus on story-telling and classic themes. Lost Mars is the first book in the “British Library Science Fiction Classics” series. If you’re a fan of Golden Age Science Fiction, you’ll love these vintage tales. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION 7
“The Crystal Egg” – H. G. Wells 27
“Letters From Mars” – W. S. Lach-Szyrma 51
“The Great Sacrifice” – George C. Wallis 73
“The Forgotten Man of Space” – P. Schuyler Miller 101
“A Martian Odyssey” – Stanley G Weinbaum 127
“Ylla” – Ray Bradbury 163
“Measureless to Man” – Marion Zimmer Bradley 181
“Without Bugles” – E. C. Tubb 229
“Crucifixus Etiam” – Walter M. Miller, Jr. 253
“The Time Tombs” – J. G. Ballard 281
Read 5 of these-the Walter Miller, Weinbaum, Bradbury, Wells and Ballard. All good stories.
Steve, I’m looking forward to the next “Golden Age” anthology from Mike Ashley: Moonrise: The Golden Age of Lunar Adventures. It’s going to be published in September 2018.
I’ve read the Weinbaum and Wells and Bradbury for sure, and maybe the Ballard. I like the idea of the series.
Jeff, I love these classic SF stories. Mike Ashley always delivers a quality anthology.
It reminds me of the British Library collections of older mystery stories that Martin Edwards is putting out.
Jeff, Mike Ashley’s “Golden Age” series has the same vibe as Martin Edwards’s fine classic mysteries series.
Wish I had something to contribute here but I don’t. So I will just say good for your diverse reading.
Patti, I read many of these classic SF stories as a kid. LOST MARS was a trip down Memory Lane for me!
I’d grade this collection as “so-so”. The Weinbaum is a classic, certainly.
I got my copy in a couple weeks ago but haven’t gotten to read it yet. It’s a beautiful little book though, and I like the selection.
Jim, you’ll enjoy LOST MARS. I’m looking forward to Mike Ashley’s next anthology in this series: Moonrise: The Golden Age of Lunar Adventures.
Funny coincidence: 🙂
Googling for that Mars story by E C Tubb (one of my favourite authors – yes I know he was a hack, but still: Dumarest!) I found a book on the history of the SF magazines from 1950 to 1970 – also written by Mike Ashley:
https://books.google.hu/books?id=F-zHBPAWmHkC&pg=PA418&dq=transformations+Ashley&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2zsm8puraAhXMliwKHdnXC-sQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=transformations%20Ashley&f=false
Wolf, too bad there isn’t an ebook.
George
This is my kind of science fiction. I try, but I find that I’m out of step with 95% of the SF that’s being printed in any of the last few best of the year anthologies. What’s not in the anthologies I can’t imagine. I knpw, I know. It’s me who’s out of sync here.
Steve, I’m out of sync with current SF, too. Most of the stories just don’t resonate with me the way Seabury Quinn’s stories do!
Same with me -seems I’m getting old … 🙂