The Big Book of Mars: From Ancient Egypt to The Martian, A Deep-Space Dive into Our Obsession with the Red...
- ISBN-10
- 1683692101
- ISBN-13
- 9781683692102
- Category
- Science
- Pages
- 236
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2020-07-07
- Publisher
- Quirk Books
- Author
- Marc Hartzman
Description
Filled with entertaining history, archival images, pop culture ephemera, and interviews with NASA scientists, The Big Book of Mars is the most comprehensive look at our relationship with Mars—yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Mars has been a source of fascination and speculation ever since the Ancient Sumerians observed its blood-red hue and named it for their god of war and plague. But it wasn't until 1877, when "canals" were observed on the surface of the Red Planet, suggesting the presence of water, that scientists, novelists, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs became obsessed with the question of whether there's life on Mars. In The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells suggested that we wouldn't need to make contact with Martians—they'd come for us—while, many years later, Nikola Tesla claimed that he did make contact. Since then, Mars has fully invaded pop culture. It has its own day of the week (Tuesday, or martis in Latin), candy bar, and iconic Looney Tunes character. It has been the subject of novels and movies, from Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles to Mars Attacks! to The Martian. And it has sparked a space-race feud between Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, who both hope to send a manned mission to Mars in the near future.
Get the book
Similar books
-
Mars One: Humanity's Next Great Adventure: Inside the First Human Settlement on Mars
By Norbert Kraft, James R KassEdited by Norbert Kraft, MD, Mars One's Chief Medical Officer and head of crew selection and training, as well as crew selection and training committee members James R. Kass, PhD, and Raye Kass, PhD, this collection of essays from ...
-
Mars
By Charnan SimonDiscover what it's like on the surface of the red planet and find out how space missions have helped scientists learn more about it.
-
There's Nothing to Do on Mars
By Chris Gall" The book also offers a deeper lesson to our stationary, convenience-driven society: If you're creative and look carefully, you'll be amazed at what you find!
-
My First Big Book of Space Facts
By Ruth OwenA truly BIG book that young space fans will want to revisit again and again
-
Mars Needs Moms!
By Berkeley BreathedMilo doesn't get it: What's the big deal about moms?
-
Mars
By J.P. BloomLearn about the fourth planet from the sun with facts like what makes it so red!
-
Last Day on Mars
By Kevin EmersonA fantastic start to an epic new series.” —Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of the School for Good and Evil series “Emerson's writing explodes off the page in this irresistible space adventure, filled with startling ...
-
How We'll Live on Mars
By Stephen PetranekIn this sweeping, provocative book that mixes business, science, and human reporting, Petranek makes the case that living on Mars is an essential back-up plan for humanity and explains in fascinating detail just how it will happen.
-
Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet
By Buzz Aldrin, Marianne J. DysonThe Apollo 11 astronaut invites young people to evaluate Mars as a potential planet for human colonization, and describes what Mars residents might experience while traveling to and living on the Red Planet.
-
A Wizard of Mars: The Ninth Book in the Young Wizards Series
By Diane Duane“Nice to see that you realize that, Mr. Rodriguez,” Mr. Mack said, wandering back up to his desk and dropping the notebook on it. “So maybe you'll exculpate yourself by filling us in on the continuing significance of the thirty-eighth ...