Listen to a reading of Gulliver of Mars, a classic novel by Edwin L. Arnold

Thanks to a recent post by the blog QuasarDragon,
I’ll have to make some time to listen to fan James Christopher read Gulliver of Mars (1905), a long-lost classic of Martian SF adventure written by Edwin L. Arnold that predates Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novel
A Princess of Mars (1912), which starred character John Carter of Mars. The audio files of Christopher’s reading of Gulliver of Mars, which is more than 6 hours, can be downloaded for free from LibriVox.

Here’s a synopsis of Gulliver of Mars, taken from LibriVox’s website:

This escapist novel first published in 1905 as Lieutenant Gullivar Jones: His Vacation follows the exploits of American Navy Lieutenant Gulliver Jones, a bold, if slightly hapless, hero who is magically transported to Mars; where he almost outwits his enemies, almost gets the girl, and almost saves the day. Somewhat of a literary and chronological bridge between H.G. Wells and Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jones’ adventures provide an evocative mix of satire and sword-and-planet adventure.

Interested in old libraries? Checkout “The Library in Edwin Lester Linden Arnold's Gulliver of Mars (1905)", a piece which I posted on this blog back in October 2008.

Pictured above: Cover of the 1964? Ace paperback, with artwork by Frank Frazetta.

Martians learned about free-market economics before Atlas shrugged

A long, long time ago, before Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was vilified for preaching "Drill, Baby, Drill," international commodities trader Marc Rich was indicted for purchasing crude from Iran, and a critic for The New York Times Book Review stated that Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged (1957) was "written out of hate," oil companies taught Martians about the benefits of free-market economics in Destination Earth (1956), a 13-minute educational cartoon sponsored by the American Petroleum Industry.

Thanks to the blog boingboing for the link. With the price of crude oil back to almost $60 a barrel, perhaps Mr. Rushkoff should jump on the USO bandwagon.

Horror writer Stephen King: New York City goes all Martian Chronicles over Scare Force One flyover

GQ magazine recently interviewed horror writer Stephen King, who predicted a flu-driven apocalypse in his novel The Stand (1978), about the H1N1 swine flu virus. Here’s an excerpt from the interview, in which King mentions the recent Air Force One flyover of New York City and The Martian Chronicles (1950).

GQ: Is there anything else in your books that you think will come true in the next few years?

Stephen King: Well, here’s one thing. We can’t talk about this too long, it’s too much of a bummer. But it’s been almost 65 years since anybody’s blown up a nuclear weapon in a city in the world. Everybody knows that’s going to happen. You’re going to wake up one morning to find out somebody exploded a dirty nuke in Baghdad or Islamabad. Or the North Koreans actually did launch some kind of a shit-kicking little missile and managed to blow up part of Tokyo. In terms of death toll, it probably won’t be any worse than what happened at Chernobyl. But the trauma. I mean, look at the situation we’re in -- people fly a jet plane low over New York City, and the city goes all Martian Chronicles.

The Martian Chronicles? Perhaps Stephen King meant The War of the Worlds.

Interestingly, “Mars’s Gift”, a short story by Jonathan J. Schlosser that was published online in the December 2008 issue of Aphelion: the Webzine of Science Fiction and Fantasy, is about a plague on Mars. The story has a passing reference to "An old book, still in paper bindings; the cover read The Stand."

Pictured above: Martian Spaceships Invade New York, by Frank R. Paul, artwork which was featured on the cover of the October 1966 issue of Amazing Stories magazine.

Forthcoming: Man O’War, a comic book based on the 1996 novel by William Shatner

Later in the year, comic book company Bluewater Productions will publish Man O’War, its one-shot adaptation of the 1996 science fiction novel by Star Trek actor and bestselling author William Shatner. In consultation with Shatner, the storyline for the comic will be a continuation of the established plot in the novel as opposed to a direct adaptation.

Here’s a description of the forthcoming comic book Man O’War:

In the near future, the population of the Earth has lumbered past the ten billion mark. Most of the planet's natural resources are dwindling or gone. The only thing keeping the ever-increasing masses of Earth alive are the vast food vats of Mars and the mining operations of the asteroid belts. But, the promised rewards for those who thirty years previous went to the stars to save humanity have never materialized. Instead of a new world to homestead, the colonists have been turned into virtual slaves by Red Planet, Inc., the corporation granted the charter to develop Mars.

Now, cheated, lied to, with no hope in sight, the Martian colony has begun to boil with talk of strikes and revolution. A stop in production would mean riots and chaos on Earth, billions dead in a matter of weeks. It would mean war, plague and famine at levels never before known. Into this most explosive political situation is thrust Benton Hawkes, the most trusted diplomatic negotiator alive. All sides agree, he the only man to be trusted to avert a catastrophe which could bring destruction to the entire solar system.

But, bitter reasons of his own, Hawkes wants nothing to do with Mars. And, on top of that, there are those who don't want to see the situation calmed, and who will do nothing to stop Hawkes from interfering with their plans.

Checkout the preview!

Did Space Cadet Tom Corbett use the female fertility drug HCG ?

Based on some speculative research by British SF author Adam Roberts, there is a distinct possibility that character Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, whose adventures were chronicled in Stand By For Mars! (1952) and seven other juvenile science fiction novels written by author Carey Rockwell, used the female fertility drug Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG).

Win a copy of Richard G. Risch’s novel Beyond Mars - Crimson Fleet

The blog Brummet's Conscious Discussions is offering a chance to win a copy of Beyond Mars - Crimson Fleet (2008), a science fiction novel written by Richard G. Risch. The deadline for entering the contest is Sunday morning, May 10, 2009.

If you're not familiar with Beyond Mars - Crimson Fleet, here's a detailed description:

The year is 2152. Martian colonists are faced with a drastic choice, remain on a slowly dying Mars or frantically fight their way out of the solar system in an escalating battle against the forces of their hated overlord, the Earth. The grim reality leaves most colonists reeling in a state of shock as they board waiting vessels to take them elsewhere into uncertainty. This is the opening of R.G. Risch’s Beyond Mars - Crimson Fleet, a whirlwind of a science fiction novel.

Throughout Beyond Mars - Crimson Fleet, readers follow the harrowing exploits of the Martian space destroyer Crazy Horse, commanded by an audacious naval captain, Richard Wakinyan, and his friend, First Lieutenant James Randall. Together with other Martian ships, the Crazy Horse battles against the most powerful and feared Earth armada in existence, the Crimson Fleet, seeking to destroy their evil pursuer, Admiral Selena Darius. But the outcome hangs in the balance as Admiral Darius proves herself to be a most ruthless and cunning opponent; one who has no problem in obliterating any obstacle that stands in her way.

Beyond Mars - Crimson Fleet is based on actual historic naval clashes with accurate visions of tomorrow’s technology. By any standard, it is one of the best action-packed and explosive science fiction thrillers, which deals with the never ending conflict between good and evil as well as man’s will to survive. Beyond Mars - Crimson Fleet by any standard, it is sure to be considered one of the best science fiction books of 2008, if not of all time!

While I haven't read this novel, I have read a sample chapter and selected reader reviews.

New piece of flash fiction: “Martian Goes Grocery Shopping” by Zachary Whitten

“Martian Goes Grocery Shopping” (2009), a new piece of flash fiction by Zachary Whitten, is posted on Brain Release Valve, his blog. The piece is about a Martian contemplating his next meal. Here's the first line: "The stage lights were hot, and the suit trapped my sweat, making me even more uncomfortable."

Zachary Whitten lives in Memphis, Tennessee and occasionally writes things that just might see the light of day.

The Boston Globe newspaper taps canals for delivery to domiciles on Mars

Newspaper Taps Canals for Domicile Delivery on Mars
The Planetary Traveler, May 6, 2049
By Martin Gibson

NEW YORK -- A historic deal reached early Wednesday morning between The New York Times Company and the Water Workers’ Union could deliver the company’s prized asset, The Boston Globe newspaper, to the doorstep of every domicile on Mars.

Under the deal, reached shortly after 3:00 a.m. this morning in New York, the Water Workers' Union on Mars agreed to allow The New York Times Company to use the red planet’s extensive network of canals to establish domicile delivery routes for both the daily and Sunday editions of The Boston Globe. In exchange, the company guaranteed that members of the union will be exempt from any work activity related to or caused by the delivery of the newspaper. Union members also will be entitled to a lifetime subscription to the highly-coveted publication.

Pressed for details, Arthur O. Sulzberger IV, chairman of The New York Times Company, issued a statement from the company’s headquarters in midtown Manhattan: "We are pleased with the opportunity to grow The Boston Globe beyond Earth and to utilize a unique transportation system for its delivery to domiciles on Mars."

Supreme Goodmember Arnie Kott of the Water Workers’ Union released this statement from his undisclosed office in Lewistown, on the surface of Mars: “You know, this agreement is a win-win-win-win situation. The New York Times Company will get more business, readers on Mars will get slightly-dated copies of The Boston Globe delivered to their doorsteps, off-book entrepreneurs on both planets will still be able to get a piece of the broadside action, and Union members won’t have to do a thing.”

Meanwhile, the Skynet is buzzing with rumors that The New York Times Company is in discussions with Martian aborigines, known as the Bleekmen, to deliver The Boston Globe to the domiciles of subscribers by paddling gondolas through Mars’ system of canals. According to one anonymous source, the Bleekmen would serve as unpaid volunteers. A representative for the Bleekmen could not be determined.

Since its purchase in 1993, The Boston Globe has produced an estimated $25 billion in losses for the privately-held The New York Times Company. In a recent GSEC filing, the company’s auditor noted that the loss is just a paper loss and is designed to generate significant tax advantages for the Sulzberger family.

Martin Gibson is an independent journalist. He is a graduate of the Journalism School at Columbia University and has had several pieces of short fiction published.

Libraries support $125 million Google Books Search settlement, whisper concerns

Libraries Ask Judge to Monitor Books Settlement
The New York Times, May 4, 2009
By Miguel Helft

Three groups representing libraries, including the American Library Association, the largest such group in the United States, have asked a federal judge to exercise “vigorous oversight” over a class-action settlement between Google, authors and publishers.

The two other groups are the Association of College and Research Libraries and the Association of Research Libraries. The groups did not oppose the settlement, but in a court filing they asked Judge Denny Chin of Federal District Court to provide continuing oversight of it, to ensure that the prices Google charges for subscriptions to its digital library aren’t artificially high because of a lack of competition. They have also asked Judge Chin to ensure that the privacy of readers of books made available online by Google is protected. [...]

Read the entire article in The New York Times.

The French on Mars: 100 years of SF (1865-1965)

Thanks to Tinkoo of the blog Variety SF, I learned about an interesting English-Language website that provides an annotated bibliography titled The French on Mars: a Hundred Years Retrospective (1865-1965), compiled by a fellow named Jacques Garin. Most of the titles are new to me and there are even a few pieces of cover art. All worth your time if you’re a serious fan of Martian science fiction!

Pictured above: Les Aventures Merveilleuses de Serge Myrandhal sur la Planète Mars (1908), by Henri Gayar.

Dean McLaughlin's novella “Tenbrook of Mars” wins Analog magazine AnLab Award

“Tenbrook of Mars”, a novella by Dean McLaughlin that was published in the July-August 2008 issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact, recently won the magazine’s 2008 Analytical Laboratory (AnLab) Award for Best Novella, as voted on by readers. McLaughlin’s work, which also won the 2008 Marooned Award for Best Novella or Novelette, stars engineer Don Tenbrook and recounts the rescue of a group of Mars Petro employees who are stranded on the Red Planet.

The Boston Globe’s business model is from the pages of Philip K. Dick’s novel Martian Time-Slip

Not surprisingly, the brain trust at The New York Times Company, which owns The Boston Globe newspaper, lacked the financial aptitude and political courage to shut down the beleagured broadside at midnight on Sunday, May 3, 2009, even though the largest union of workers, the Boston Newspaper Guild, failed to agree to management’s demands. If all goes according to The New York Times Company's plan, management will settle with the union, continue to print and deliver a daily edition of The Boston Globe that generates decreasing advertising revenue, and loose a projected $50 million this year.

This antiquated business model reminds me of a lengthy passage in SF author Philip K. Dick’s novel Martian Time-Slip (1964). You know the passage, the one I posted back in January 2009 about character Arnie Kott, king of the plumbing union on Mars, who enjoys reading a printed copy of The New York Times, Sunday edition, complete with a quarter-page advertisement listing all of the job skills in demand on the Red Planet.

Google patents process for scanning a book without breaking the binding

On March 24, 2009, information juggernaut Google was issued United States Patent 7508978, which solves the problem of how to digitally scan a book efficiently without breaking the binding.

Here's an abstract of U.S. Patent 7508978:

A system and method locate a central groove in a document such as a book, magazine, or catalog. In one implementation, scores are generated for points in a three-dimensional image that defines a surface of the document. The scores quantify a likelihood that a particular point is in the groove. The groove is then detected based on the scores. For example, lines may be fitted through the points and a value calculated for the lines based on the scores. The line corresponding to the highest calculated value may be selected as the line that defines the groove.

Ingenious, as NPR (National Public Radio) noted recently!

1993: Editor Scott Edelman discusses Mars with scientists and authors Geoffrey A. Landis, Robert Zubrin and Doug Beason

Back in May 1993, the (now dead) magazine Science Fiction Age published a neat conversation about Mars among editor Scott Edelman and scientists
and authors Geoffrey A. Landis, Robert Zubrin and Colonel Douglas Beason. Here’s an excerpt that focuses on Martian science fiction:

Scott Edelman: Would anyone care to comment on Mars fiction? What works, what doesn't? What's scientific, what's fantasy? Can you still read bad Mars fiction?

Robert Zubrin: Yes, I can. Burroughs or Bradbury are still fun.

Doug Beason: Look at the recent number of Mars books ...

Geoff Landis: There has been a recent space of novels taking place on Mars, and the post-Viking Mars at that --

Doug Beason: Bad fiction is bad no matter where it takes place.

Scott Edelman: Have you read "Danny Goes to Mars"?

Geoff Landis: Yes, amusing, although now outdated.

Scott Edelman: At least the VP doesn't believe in canals any longer ...

Geoff Landis: Kim Stanley Robinson's "Exploring Fossil Canyon" (a prelude to his Green Mars series) was an excellent post-Viking look at Mars in SF.

Robert Zubrin: I think that SF still has a major role to play in helping get us to Mars. As Shelly said, poets are the legislators of mankind.

Scott Edelman: Is there anything to fill in above? Did I skip over what you wanted to talk about?

Robert Zubrin: We need to create a vision among the public, including those who eventually turn up in the seats of power, that a human civilization on Mars is an idea whose time has come.

Geoff Landis: If not us, who? If not now, when?

Robert Zubrin: People need to know that history is not a spectator sport. The SF and pro-technology communities have more than enough clout to make a Mars mission happen, if we just decide to do so. People need to stop moaning about the stagnation of our space program and start doing something about it.

Former Vice President Dan Quayle is chairman of an international division of Cerberus Capital Management, the multi-billion dollar private equity firm that just drove Chrysler into bankruptcy.

Fort Worth theatre to stage a production of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novel A Princess of Mars

As part of its 33rd season, the Hip Pocket Theatre in Fort Worth, Texas will stage a production of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic science fiction novel A Princess of Mars (1912/1917) in October 2009. Here’s a description of the upcoming production, taken from the theatre’s website:

Suddenly projected to Mars, John Carter finds himself captive of the savage green men of Thark. With him is Dejah Thoris, lovely princess of Helium. Between them and rescue, a thousand miles of deadly enemies and unknown dangers await.

Pictured above: Dejah Thoris, as depicted by comic artist Frank Cho.

Graphic adaptation of The Martian Chronicles coming down the canal

Publishers Weekly reports that Sci-Fi author Ray Bradbury is working closely with artist Dennis Calero and Hill & Wang publisher Thomas LeBien on a graphic adaptation of Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles (1950), one of the classics of 20th century literature. No word yet on when the graphic novel will be published.