Quote: ” I do not mean that the adult martians are unnecessarily or intentionally cruel to the young, but theirs is a hard and pitiless struggle for a dying planet, the natural resources of which have dwindled to a point where the support of additional life means an added tax upon the community into which it is thrown” (21)
Comment: In a story that is clearly a fantastical version of America’s western frontier, I found this bit of commentary especially interesting. Although the author’s depiction of human Native Americans is largely stereotypical and unforgiving in its nature, he also seems to share an understanding of their plight, even if he can only acknowledge it through the lens of Martian birthing rituals. I would not have expected any social commentary in a work like this, especially one so entranced in mystical “Old West” mythology.
Question: Did this set any kind of precedent for the west and/or space were portrayed in media after it was published? Did this guy come up with the concept for the modern alien???