Some might ask why The Martian Chronicles, written in the 1950's at the start of the Cold War, is still relevant today. After all, the first rockets to Mars were launched seven years before the creation of this website. So how can this collection of short stories that does not even aspire to the title of "novel" be important?

The answer is that it does matter when the stories take place. The focus of The Martian Chronicles is not the technology used to reach and colonize another planet, but rather the reactions of the human colonists to such events. The Martian Chronicles also offers a unique, and at times disheartening, look at social issues that have long been prevalent in Western society. Bradbury is able to discuss all of these social issues because of the disjointed nature of the book. By creating many short stories instead of one long novel, Bradbury is able to put the issues he presents at the fore of the work, instead of having to focus on continuity and an overarching plot.

The first social issue is that of colonization. Bradbury deals with colonization differently than most, in that the original intent of the expeditions sent to Mars is unknown. They could be going to Mars to explore or to conquer and colonize. Regardless, they are met with suspicion and violence by the native Martians. The real criticism of colonization comes after the Martians are dead and humans have begun to immigrate to the planet. With them, they bring Firemen, who systematically burn the Martian cities and culture, erasing all indication of its presence. The humans also bring new names for the lands that had names long before they came. But in the midst of this criticism of the disregard for other cultures is a romantic portrayal of the frontier: the loneliness and potential of a new and unexplored land.

The Martian Chronicles also attack the notion of racism in the story "Way In The Middle Of The Air." In the story Samuel Teece parodies the racist mindset. He hates African Americans, yet does not want them to leave because then they would be happy. Bradbury shows the ridiculousness of racism, in that it causes Teece to need that which he hates, and in the end leaves him an old fool with no purpose.

One of the most prominent subjects of The Martian Chronicles, and this author's favorite story, is "Usher II." Because of censorship on Earth, that cannot be escaped even on Mars, fairy tales, horror books, and, most importantly to the main character Stendahl, the works of Edgar Allen Poe are destroyed. This is an open criticism of a society in which, according to Bradbury,

"Every minority, be it Baptist/Unitarian, Irish/Italian/Octogenarian/Zen Buddhist, Zionist/Seventh-day Adventist, Women's Lib/Republican, Mattachine/Four Square Gospel feels it has the will, the right, the duty to douse the kerosene, light the fuse. Every dimwit editor who sees himself as the source of all dreary blanc-mange plain porridge unleavened literature, licks his guillotine and eyes the neck of any author who dares to speak above a whisper or write above a nursery rhyme." (Ray Bradbury Online, Censorship).

"Usher II" serves as a cautionary tale against such a world, and doubtless also serves as a fantasy for Bradbury, for what author would not want to deal with his critics and censors in such an ironic manner.

Finally, The Martian Chronicles is noteworthy in the history of science fiction literature in that, not only did stories like "Usher II" act as a precursor to works such as Fahrenheit 451, but Bradbury's stories were among the first to portray humans as the invader from outer space. Furthermore, these stories help to move away from the space opera type of science fiction, and are part of the movement to social criticism.