At the turn of the 20th century, claims by astronomer Percival Lowell that Mars was crisscrossed by canals built by intelligent life ignited a nationwide craze, blending scientific speculation, sensational journalism, and popular culture into a mass belief in Martians. This meticulously researched account explores how the era’s fascination with extraterrestrial life reflected deeper societal hopes, anxieties, and the enduring power of human imagination.

Reader Review Summary

This book reconstructs the turn-of-the-century American obsession with life on Mars, focusing primarily on the influence of Percival Lowell, a wealthy amateur astronomer who popularized the idea that Mars was crisscrossed by canals built by intelligent beings. Drawing on newly discovered clippings, letters, and photographs, the narrative traces how Lowell’s theories, based on telescopic observations and a mistranslation of the Italian word 'canali,' ignited widespread public and scientific fascination. The book covers the period from the late 1800s through the 1910s, detailing how the Martian craze permeated popular culture, inspired figures like Nikola Tesla and H.G. Wells, and contributed to the birth of science fiction. It also explores the broader cultural context, including the role of sensationalist journalism, the building of observatories, and the debates among scientists, as well as the eventual debunking of Lowell’s claims and the lasting impact on American imagination and space exploration dreams.

Readers appreciated the book’s thorough research, engaging narrative style, and the way it contextualized the Martian craze within broader social, scientific, and cultural trends of the era. Many highlighted the inclusion of primary sources, illustrations, and photographs, as well as the author’s ability to make complex scientific debates accessible and entertaining. The book’s exploration of the personalities involved—such as Lowell, Tesla, Schiaparelli, and H.G. Wells—was frequently cited as a strength, as was its examination of how the Martian myth influenced both scientific progress and the rise of science fiction. Several reviewers noted the effective blending of biography, cultural history, and scientific explanation, and praised the epilogue’s discussion of the Martian legacy in later popular culture and scientific thought.

Some readers found the book overly focused on Percival Lowell at the expense of other figures and broader perspectives, with a few suggesting the subtitle should reflect this emphasis. Criticisms included occasional repetitiveness, overwritten passages, and technical sections that disrupted the narrative flow or diluted emotional momentum. A number of reviewers wished for deeper analysis of intersectional issues such as gender, race, and imperialism in the context of the Martian craze, noting that the contributions of women and marginalized groups were underexplored. The audio narration was described as disappointing by at least one reader, and some felt the book’s structure struggled to balance biography with cultural history.

The book is organized into three main chronological sections, followed by an epilogue that traces the Martian obsession’s influence on later generations of scientists and writers, including Hugo Gernsback, H.P. Lovecraft, and Ray Bradbury. It includes extensive endnotes, a bibliography, and a list of illustrations, reflecting the depth of research involved. The narrative occasionally incorporates the author’s own visits to historical sites, though these are brief and secondary to the main story. The work has been recommended for readers interested in the history of science, astronomy, popular culture, and the interplay between scientific ideas and public imagination, and has been featured in science book recommendations and literary festival lineups.