Mars: Just The Fiction.

For centuries, astronomers have observed Mars , patiently compiling many facts and theories. Like a distant mirror of Earth dwellers' hopes and fears for the future, Mars, the fourth planet from the sun , has inspired profound works of fiction as well. Classics of the science fiction genre with visions of Earth's alluring planetary neighbor include H.G. Wells' terrifying “War of the Worlds” , Edgar Rice Buroughs' John Carter adventure series ( Thuvia, Maid of Mars , The Gods of Mars , A Princess of Mars , The Warlord of Mars ), Robert Heinlein's youthful “Podkayne of Mars” , and Ray Bradbury's reflective and philosophical “The Martian Chronicles” . Through the years scientific theories about Mars have been disproven , but the sense of wonder and adventure embodied in these works of fiction remain with us. As two spacecraft from Earth now draw close to the red planet- in dreams, desires , and a quest for knowledge - we are once again bound for Mars .