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Stowaway to Mars #2
Sleepers of Mars
Coronet Books recently published STOWAWAY TO MARS, one of John Wyndham’s most famous stories. The title story of this collection, though it can be read as a separate entity, pursues the ideas thrown up by the original novel, drawing them to some fascinating conclusions.
Of course, we are now well used to the idea of Man On The Moon, we have become blasé as to the possibilities of inter-planetary travel. But imagine two expeditions to Mars, one British, the other Russian, both in the process of discovering a mechanical race, invented and produced by the Martians as they believe their specie to be dying.
The other four novellas in this collection give further evidence of John Wyndham’s genius at invention, characterisation and sense of movement.
Of course, we are now well used to the idea of Man On The Moon, we have become blasé as to the possibilities of inter-planetary travel. But imagine two expeditions to Mars, one British, the other Russian, both in the process of discovering a mechanical race, invented and produced by the Martians as they believe their specie to be dying.
The other four novellas in this collection give further evidence of John Wyndham’s genius at invention, characterisation and sense of movement.
155 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1938
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493 people want to read
About the author
John Wyndham
377 books2,010 followersJohn Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris was the son of a barrister. After trying a number of careers, including farming, law, commercial art and advertising, he started writing short stories in 1925. After serving in the civil Service and the Army during the war, he went back to writing. Adopting the name John Wyndham, he started writing a form of science fiction that he called 'logical fantasy'. As well as The Day of the Triffids, he wrote The Kraken Wakes, The Chrysalids, The Midwich Cuckoos (filmed as Village of the Damned) and The Seeds of Time.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 21, 2025
In 1935, the author known as John Beynon wrote a novel called “Stowaway to Mars”. Three years later in 1938, he wrote a sequel: a novella called Sleepers of Mars. The novel, by a writer of stories for popular American Science Fiction magazines, was pulp. Superior pulp, but definitely pulp. Sleepers of Mars is rather better. Ignoring the prevailing world-wide cynicism, the author keenly studied the first tentative experiments in rocket propulsion, and early studies into aeronautics. He took ideas from what he learned, and what some scientists postulated, and created his own imaginative stories.
“All the planets are dying. Some, like Pluto swinging in his remote icy circuit, are dying without having lived. They have passed straight from glowing birth to frozen death, too far from the Sun ever to have nourished life. Nor so the inner planets; certainly not so Mars. But there is nothing eternal about a star system. Those members of it which manage to produce life can sustain it only for a short time, while all the conditions are suitable. And the time left to life on Mars was growing short.”
In “Stowaway to Mars” we learned that Mars was a dying planet. The story ended with the British rocket “Gloria Mundi” and its crew
This story, which can be read as a stand-alone, picks up just before this point in the future 1981, and we see the ending from a different point of view. In “Stowaway to Mars”, We follow the Soviet crew, with a landing party, keen to replace the Union flag with a red flag showing the hammer and sickle. As we follow the action, we learn how only five of the Soviet crew had died, including Karaminoff the leader, Vassiloff the second in command, Steinoi and Mikletski, the biologist. Vinski remains the only one from that party alive, meaning that less than half of the original crew are still alive—and they have no Comrade Commander.
The sky which had once been blue was now purple, growing deeper as the centuries sucked the air into space; and the ebb of the air was the ebb of life. Slowly and relentlessly the deserts crept ever closer to the edges of the canals …”
Because of his physical size, as much as anything, it is left to the Ukrainian Vinski to take command, even though his official position had been as historian and recorder of the expedition. It is quite literally a motley crew, with the only others being the ones left behind to maintain surveillance. Zhatkin, a Kirghizian (the country is now known as Kyrgyzstan) is the mathematician responsible for plotting the route, and Platavinov is a doctor. Gordonov is an engineer, originally from Clydeside (in the North East of England). He had defected and become a Soviet citizen, in the hope of more equality and better prospects in his profession.
Stunned by the loss of half their crew, the Russians have to address the problem of the orientation of their rocket, which is at completely the wrong angle for take-off. To their surprise, it is being lifted to the upright position by the Martian machines.
These two great rockets from Earth were not wanted on Mars, and their departure was being arranged for them.”.
The Martians make contact, in a cleverly described way similar to that in “Stowaway to Mars”, and the history of Mars is explained to Platavinov. When he relates it to the others, the astronauts are left under no illusions. The Martians want them to go, and they are assisting them by getting their rocket ready.
The term “astronaut”, oddly enough, is never used in this story, even though it had been coined as early as 1930. Space travel was well in the future, but John Beynon used the latest scientific advances he could read of. Thus the premise of this and the previous story is that Mars has canals, which was the belief at the time. The so-called “Canals of Mars” are apparent systems of long, straight linear markings on the surface of Mars. These “canali” were first observed in 1877 along with the “seas” and “continents” of Mars, by the astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli. The word better translates as “channels”, but the idea of “canals” was firmly fixed in the public—and many scientists’—minds.
John Beynon postulates that these were made by a dying humanoid race, in a desperate attempt to eke out all the water and plants for as many generations as possible. We now know that these canals are illusions, caused by the chance alignment of craters and other natural features on the surface of Mars. These deceptive features can be seen in telescopes near their limits of resolution. However, there is a human tendency to see patterns in things, even when patterns do not exist. Thus an imaginary network of crisscrossing lines covering the surface of Mars led to much controversy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The idea of extraterrestrial life beyond Earth, but as close as Mars, was irresistible—and led to great stories like this one—and many others of varying standards.
Back to the story, where the main thing to be decided is whether to leave for Earth right now in the rocket “Tovaritch”, or whether to ignore the Martians’ wishes. Perhaps it would be better to stay, and collect unique specimens, which may prove invaluable in learning more about our solar system. As Platavinov says:
“So far we have learned almost nothing of Mars save that an intelligence of some kind certainly exists here. Are we justified in wasting the labour and expense which our comrades put into the ship by going back practically empty-handed?”
The British might have been satisfied to claim the planet for the British Empire: “It is just the kind of sentiment to find in a capitalist country” but shouldn’t they try to find flora, fauna and minerals? And to communicate with the inhabitants too, to tell them that their intentions are peaceful? Just as in “Stowaway to Mars” the astronauts assume However, Vinski convinces the doctor that it is important that the Soviets are seen as the first to arrive at this new destination; that it is important to claim Mars as the eighth and latest republic to be attached to the Soviet Union. There must be no confusion of claims, or else in the public mind, Mars will just be another British colony, and any further exploration of Space will be prejudiced in favour of the British Empire.
As well as the scientific basis for this novel needing a little explanation, so may the political situation. In 1935, before the Second World War, the British Empire was still strong, and viewed as a positive force. The British colonies were viewed with benign patronage, and (apart from the United States), their future independent status was still decades in the future. The emphasis was on acquiring new colonies, not releasing them.
Alongside this hovered the perceived threat of the USSR (“Union of Soviet Socialist Republics”), a socialist state which spanned most of Europe and Asia during its existence from 1922 to 1991. In 1935 therefore, these countries were described as the “Soviet Union”, and often, mistakenly the words “Russia” and “Russians” were used to describe the countries and their citizens, which had been taken over by the Bolsheviks by force. Thus Russia had a hegemony over many East European countries. Although the Soviet crew in Sleepers of Mars may be referred to as Russian, they are from different countries, and speak different languages. This is actually a clever point of the plot, which would not work if each astronaut’s mother tongue had been the same, but the politics pertaining are of their time.
“Stowaway to Mars” had been prescient in predicting a first spaceship in the future of 1969. The only difference was that John Beynon assumed it to be in orbit round the Moon, rather than actually landing on it, as we now know happened. In a similar way Sleepers of Mars is remarkably prescient about the so-called “Race to Space” to come. During the 1950 and 1960s, the world watched spellbound as the USA and the USSR competed to be the first in Space (the USSR, with my childhood hero, Yuri Gagarin), and on the Moon (the USA, with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin).
The only difference to John Beynon’s prediction, is that Great Britain was not involved. The British Space programme began in 1952, but was restricted to satellites; Britain has never had an astronaut corps. Also, the Space initiatives in any country are not usually funded by private individuals. John Beynon based this on speedboats, speed-cars and competitive races of this kind, which were only ever for—or financed by—wealthy individuals. He was not to know that governments would become involved and take over at every stage. He was also to watch Great Britain withdraw from the Race, becoming bystanders, rather than being at the forefront of the quest to conquer Space, much as the British Empire crumbled, although it had once sought to hold dominion over the world.
“An eye like Mars to threaten and command.” (Gordonov quoting Shakespeare's “Hamlet”.)
Because they have empty cities, well-stocked with food and everything the astronauts could need, the Soviet crew are directed how to get to a city called Ailiko through the underground tunnels:
“The white walls of Ailiko rose sheer from the desert sand. There was no degeneration or spread of minor buildings. Like a cliff, but with a face perforated by thousands of windows, the city reared unashamed, a frank product of civilisation defying the wastes about it.”
At first the four astronauts are content to have their rocket made space-worthy again, but Platavinov, with his insatiable scientist’s thirst for knowledge, goes off to explore. What he finds stuns them all. And we learn about the Sleepers of Mars.
All through the story we see matters of conscience. Respect, and what it means to be human are uppermost; all leading to this devastating ending. The best Science Fiction raises issues of humanity, and this is one example. With this novella, John Beynon posed questions and put forward concepts which would be central to his later novels. A quest for knowledge, tempered by respect for nature, is one. Our potential for tolerance and compassion, or an overriding arrogance when faced with what is alien to us—the “hive” mentality—is another. Themes of loyalty, responsibility, sacrifice, and what makes us human, are presented throughout.
In 1972, this novella was republished with an introduction by Walter Gillings, the founder of “Tales of Wonder”, the first British magazine to specialise in Science Fiction, and who had initially published this story in the author’s home country, rather than first in the USA. He suggested:
“As you read the fabled history of this ancient globe and its doomed civilisation, you may be tempted to see in the efforts of the Martians to put off their inevitable fate some hint of the methods which man may have to adopt if he is to survive on his own overcrowded, polluted planet.”
The astronauts themselves despair:
“Indeed, what was the use? Why civilise? Why build? Why try to live by a code? Why do anything if this was to be the end of it all?”
One of the ideas here owes much to the core concept in H.G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds”. Here is part of its final paragraph (put under spoilers for those who do not know the novel):
Taking from one of H.G. Wells’ greatest works, and extending the idea, John Beynon came up with something new, which is allied to our own flawed human nature.
But it is a moral conundrum. Who was in the right here? And that thought alone lifts this novella into quite another sphere; that rightly occupied by a very famous Science Fiction writer: John Wyndham. With this modest novella, for me, John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris became a truly great author, under another version of his own name “John Wyndham”.
There are other stories in this book:
Worlds to Barter
Invisible Monster
The Man From Earth
The Third Vibrator
“All the planets are dying. Some, like Pluto swinging in his remote icy circuit, are dying without having lived. They have passed straight from glowing birth to frozen death, too far from the Sun ever to have nourished life. Nor so the inner planets; certainly not so Mars. But there is nothing eternal about a star system. Those members of it which manage to produce life can sustain it only for a short time, while all the conditions are suitable. And the time left to life on Mars was growing short.”
In “Stowaway to Mars” we learned that Mars was a dying planet. The story ended with the British rocket “Gloria Mundi” and its crew
This story, which can be read as a stand-alone, picks up just before this point in the future 1981, and we see the ending from a different point of view. In “Stowaway to Mars”, We follow the Soviet crew, with a landing party, keen to replace the Union flag with a red flag showing the hammer and sickle. As we follow the action, we learn how only five of the Soviet crew had died, including Karaminoff the leader, Vassiloff the second in command, Steinoi and Mikletski, the biologist. Vinski remains the only one from that party alive, meaning that less than half of the original crew are still alive—and they have no Comrade Commander.
The sky which had once been blue was now purple, growing deeper as the centuries sucked the air into space; and the ebb of the air was the ebb of life. Slowly and relentlessly the deserts crept ever closer to the edges of the canals …”
Because of his physical size, as much as anything, it is left to the Ukrainian Vinski to take command, even though his official position had been as historian and recorder of the expedition. It is quite literally a motley crew, with the only others being the ones left behind to maintain surveillance. Zhatkin, a Kirghizian (the country is now known as Kyrgyzstan) is the mathematician responsible for plotting the route, and Platavinov is a doctor. Gordonov is an engineer, originally from Clydeside (in the North East of England). He had defected and become a Soviet citizen, in the hope of more equality and better prospects in his profession.
Stunned by the loss of half their crew, the Russians have to address the problem of the orientation of their rocket, which is at completely the wrong angle for take-off. To their surprise, it is being lifted to the upright position by the Martian machines.
These two great rockets from Earth were not wanted on Mars, and their departure was being arranged for them.”.
The Martians make contact, in a cleverly described way similar to that in “Stowaway to Mars”, and the history of Mars is explained to Platavinov. When he relates it to the others, the astronauts are left under no illusions. The Martians want them to go, and they are assisting them by getting their rocket ready.
The term “astronaut”, oddly enough, is never used in this story, even though it had been coined as early as 1930. Space travel was well in the future, but John Beynon used the latest scientific advances he could read of. Thus the premise of this and the previous story is that Mars has canals, which was the belief at the time. The so-called “Canals of Mars” are apparent systems of long, straight linear markings on the surface of Mars. These “canali” were first observed in 1877 along with the “seas” and “continents” of Mars, by the astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli. The word better translates as “channels”, but the idea of “canals” was firmly fixed in the public—and many scientists’—minds.
John Beynon postulates that these were made by a dying humanoid race, in a desperate attempt to eke out all the water and plants for as many generations as possible. We now know that these canals are illusions, caused by the chance alignment of craters and other natural features on the surface of Mars. These deceptive features can be seen in telescopes near their limits of resolution. However, there is a human tendency to see patterns in things, even when patterns do not exist. Thus an imaginary network of crisscrossing lines covering the surface of Mars led to much controversy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The idea of extraterrestrial life beyond Earth, but as close as Mars, was irresistible—and led to great stories like this one—and many others of varying standards.
Back to the story, where the main thing to be decided is whether to leave for Earth right now in the rocket “Tovaritch”, or whether to ignore the Martians’ wishes. Perhaps it would be better to stay, and collect unique specimens, which may prove invaluable in learning more about our solar system. As Platavinov says:
“So far we have learned almost nothing of Mars save that an intelligence of some kind certainly exists here. Are we justified in wasting the labour and expense which our comrades put into the ship by going back practically empty-handed?”
The British might have been satisfied to claim the planet for the British Empire: “It is just the kind of sentiment to find in a capitalist country” but shouldn’t they try to find flora, fauna and minerals? And to communicate with the inhabitants too, to tell them that their intentions are peaceful? Just as in “Stowaway to Mars” the astronauts assume However, Vinski convinces the doctor that it is important that the Soviets are seen as the first to arrive at this new destination; that it is important to claim Mars as the eighth and latest republic to be attached to the Soviet Union. There must be no confusion of claims, or else in the public mind, Mars will just be another British colony, and any further exploration of Space will be prejudiced in favour of the British Empire.
As well as the scientific basis for this novel needing a little explanation, so may the political situation. In 1935, before the Second World War, the British Empire was still strong, and viewed as a positive force. The British colonies were viewed with benign patronage, and (apart from the United States), their future independent status was still decades in the future. The emphasis was on acquiring new colonies, not releasing them.
Alongside this hovered the perceived threat of the USSR (“Union of Soviet Socialist Republics”), a socialist state which spanned most of Europe and Asia during its existence from 1922 to 1991. In 1935 therefore, these countries were described as the “Soviet Union”, and often, mistakenly the words “Russia” and “Russians” were used to describe the countries and their citizens, which had been taken over by the Bolsheviks by force. Thus Russia had a hegemony over many East European countries. Although the Soviet crew in Sleepers of Mars may be referred to as Russian, they are from different countries, and speak different languages. This is actually a clever point of the plot, which would not work if each astronaut’s mother tongue had been the same, but the politics pertaining are of their time.
“Stowaway to Mars” had been prescient in predicting a first spaceship in the future of 1969. The only difference was that John Beynon assumed it to be in orbit round the Moon, rather than actually landing on it, as we now know happened. In a similar way Sleepers of Mars is remarkably prescient about the so-called “Race to Space” to come. During the 1950 and 1960s, the world watched spellbound as the USA and the USSR competed to be the first in Space (the USSR, with my childhood hero, Yuri Gagarin), and on the Moon (the USA, with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin).
The only difference to John Beynon’s prediction, is that Great Britain was not involved. The British Space programme began in 1952, but was restricted to satellites; Britain has never had an astronaut corps. Also, the Space initiatives in any country are not usually funded by private individuals. John Beynon based this on speedboats, speed-cars and competitive races of this kind, which were only ever for—or financed by—wealthy individuals. He was not to know that governments would become involved and take over at every stage. He was also to watch Great Britain withdraw from the Race, becoming bystanders, rather than being at the forefront of the quest to conquer Space, much as the British Empire crumbled, although it had once sought to hold dominion over the world.
“An eye like Mars to threaten and command.” (Gordonov quoting Shakespeare's “Hamlet”.)
Because they have empty cities, well-stocked with food and everything the astronauts could need, the Soviet crew are directed how to get to a city called Ailiko through the underground tunnels:
“The white walls of Ailiko rose sheer from the desert sand. There was no degeneration or spread of minor buildings. Like a cliff, but with a face perforated by thousands of windows, the city reared unashamed, a frank product of civilisation defying the wastes about it.”
At first the four astronauts are content to have their rocket made space-worthy again, but Platavinov, with his insatiable scientist’s thirst for knowledge, goes off to explore. What he finds stuns them all. And we learn about the Sleepers of Mars.
All through the story we see matters of conscience. Respect, and what it means to be human are uppermost; all leading to this devastating ending. The best Science Fiction raises issues of humanity, and this is one example. With this novella, John Beynon posed questions and put forward concepts which would be central to his later novels. A quest for knowledge, tempered by respect for nature, is one. Our potential for tolerance and compassion, or an overriding arrogance when faced with what is alien to us—the “hive” mentality—is another. Themes of loyalty, responsibility, sacrifice, and what makes us human, are presented throughout.
In 1972, this novella was republished with an introduction by Walter Gillings, the founder of “Tales of Wonder”, the first British magazine to specialise in Science Fiction, and who had initially published this story in the author’s home country, rather than first in the USA. He suggested:
“As you read the fabled history of this ancient globe and its doomed civilisation, you may be tempted to see in the efforts of the Martians to put off their inevitable fate some hint of the methods which man may have to adopt if he is to survive on his own overcrowded, polluted planet.”
The astronauts themselves despair:
“Indeed, what was the use? Why civilise? Why build? Why try to live by a code? Why do anything if this was to be the end of it all?”
One of the ideas here owes much to the core concept in H.G. Wells’ “War of the Worlds”. Here is part of its final paragraph (put under spoilers for those who do not know the novel):
Taking from one of H.G. Wells’ greatest works, and extending the idea, John Beynon came up with something new, which is allied to our own flawed human nature.
But it is a moral conundrum. Who was in the right here? And that thought alone lifts this novella into quite another sphere; that rightly occupied by a very famous Science Fiction writer: John Wyndham. With this modest novella, for me, John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris became a truly great author, under another version of his own name “John Wyndham”.
There are other stories in this book:
Worlds to Barter
Invisible Monster
The Man From Earth
The Third Vibrator
August 13, 2021
My dad introduced me to John Wyndham many, many moons ago. So I am always excited to read another one. I ordered this one from Betterworldbooks.com and it took me some time to get it as it had to be shipped from the UK. I originally bought it for the title story as it was a follow-up to a book I've already read. However, that the weakest story in the bunch.
There was a time travel story that had interesting twist, but it was the monster story that I liked the most. Great fun!
There was a time travel story that had interesting twist, but it was the monster story that I liked the most. Great fun!
May 10, 2013
5 novellas dating back from the mid 1930s (judging from copyright) from the writer of "Day of the Triffids".
"Sleepers of Mars" - the Russians and the British have landed on Mars, and encountered a dying race. The British escape, but the Russian rocket fails, stranding them there. The Martians help build the ship, and whilst the Russians are waiting, they explore the remnants of the civilisation, and stumble onto a secret. An accident and a poor decision by the doctor releases a catastrophic chain of events. This one hasnt specifically dated - designs of things arent hard and fast (except the one difference between the Russian and English rockets - 3 vs 4 fins) and the story itself is sound - it doesnt matter what nation you come from on earth, when you make a mistake that big on another planet, you have to face the consequences)
"Worlds to barter" It's 1945, and a scientist with his assistant is performing some experiments when they are rudely interrupted by a crash next door. It's the scientist's decendant from 2145, telling a story of time travel, and deformed himans from the 53rd century who have travelled back to 2145 to demand that the current inhabitants swap places. Typos aside (the future traveller keeps changing his name, and his girlfriend keeps changing sex from "he" to "she"!) this is still a little flat in the narrative, though principal was good.
"Invisible Monster". The crash landing of a spaceship returning from Venus is witnessed by 3 friends out on a fishing trip. They got to investigate and hopefully rescue any survivors. However there is something invisible inhabiting the ship and one of the three friends is killed. The two remaining men head to the nearest town and there soon arrives an increasing number of people in an attempt to address the issue, through increasingly violent means. Finally the beast is blown up, but there are unpredicted consequences that only makes the situation worse. However, help is on the way, finding out not only how to make the alien(s) visible but how to kill them. Whilst some of the detail is gruesome, there is still a lack of tension and emotional depth in this story - there seems to be little reaction to the fact that one friend is dead, and the other has apparently disappeared forever.
"The Man from Earth". We're back on Venus, with a human being kept in a cage, with a stark warning of his fellow humans to the people of Venus. Again, it's a single person narration of how he's come to be there, and this time it's about how people use each other and the things people are prepared to do to get what they think they want. In the end Gatz realises that he's the last human, and his fate is the same as that experienced in "Sleepers of Mars".
"The Third Vibrator" another story told after the event from one person to another. By this point this technique has become boring and repetitive. I suppose Wyndham uses it to keep the stories short, but when it all 5 stories are collected together and use the same format it shows a weakness. David is a scientist who has been sent to a psychiatric unit after smashing up his work, and he tells a story of believing he's invented this "vibrator" before and has destroyed two worlds with it, and needed to destroy the vibrator before it destroyed this world too.
"Sleepers of Mars" - the Russians and the British have landed on Mars, and encountered a dying race. The British escape, but the Russian rocket fails, stranding them there. The Martians help build the ship, and whilst the Russians are waiting, they explore the remnants of the civilisation, and stumble onto a secret. An accident and a poor decision by the doctor releases a catastrophic chain of events. This one hasnt specifically dated - designs of things arent hard and fast (except the one difference between the Russian and English rockets - 3 vs 4 fins) and the story itself is sound - it doesnt matter what nation you come from on earth, when you make a mistake that big on another planet, you have to face the consequences)
"Worlds to barter" It's 1945, and a scientist with his assistant is performing some experiments when they are rudely interrupted by a crash next door. It's the scientist's decendant from 2145, telling a story of time travel, and deformed himans from the 53rd century who have travelled back to 2145 to demand that the current inhabitants swap places. Typos aside (the future traveller keeps changing his name, and his girlfriend keeps changing sex from "he" to "she"!) this is still a little flat in the narrative, though principal was good.
"Invisible Monster". The crash landing of a spaceship returning from Venus is witnessed by 3 friends out on a fishing trip. They got to investigate and hopefully rescue any survivors. However there is something invisible inhabiting the ship and one of the three friends is killed. The two remaining men head to the nearest town and there soon arrives an increasing number of people in an attempt to address the issue, through increasingly violent means. Finally the beast is blown up, but there are unpredicted consequences that only makes the situation worse. However, help is on the way, finding out not only how to make the alien(s) visible but how to kill them. Whilst some of the detail is gruesome, there is still a lack of tension and emotional depth in this story - there seems to be little reaction to the fact that one friend is dead, and the other has apparently disappeared forever.
"The Man from Earth". We're back on Venus, with a human being kept in a cage, with a stark warning of his fellow humans to the people of Venus. Again, it's a single person narration of how he's come to be there, and this time it's about how people use each other and the things people are prepared to do to get what they think they want. In the end Gatz realises that he's the last human, and his fate is the same as that experienced in "Sleepers of Mars".
"The Third Vibrator" another story told after the event from one person to another. By this point this technique has become boring and repetitive. I suppose Wyndham uses it to keep the stories short, but when it all 5 stories are collected together and use the same format it shows a weakness. David is a scientist who has been sent to a psychiatric unit after smashing up his work, and he tells a story of believing he's invented this "vibrator" before and has destroyed two worlds with it, and needed to destroy the vibrator before it destroyed this world too.
August 19, 2017
Pretty average collection of Wyndham stories, mildly enjoyable but not up to his usual standards I think. There's only five stories in here - more novelette/novella length than typical shorts, with three of them concerned in some way with space exploration, whether of Mars or Venus. One of the others ("The Third Vibrator") is the worst of the lot and pretty dire really, but it's balanced out by the best, a creepy Venusian alien of terrible hunger in "Invisible Monster".
A collection for Wyndham completists more than anything else, I think.
A collection for Wyndham completists more than anything else, I think.
March 7, 2020
Boys Own tales of varying quality. The title story is a good sequel to Stowaway To Mars. 'Worlds To Barter' is the other story here worth the admission price. Altogether a good, gentle read.
October 27, 2019
I always think that if I love one book by an author I'm sure to love the rest. It's occasionally true, usually not, but I cling to it like a kid wanting to believe in Santa Claus. I read this years ago, and the fact that I couldn't remember anything about it should have a clue. These are good solid sci-fi stories, good plotting and pacing, worthy of more than 2 stars. But I didn't care about one single solitary character in it. So I finished it, appreciated what was good, and was happy to do be done with it so I can donate this one and not bother with it again. There's really, really good writing and lovely descriptive passages, and I am easily seduced by beautiful descriptive passages. But I'm having a hard time reconciling this book coming from the mind that gave me David from The Chrysalids, a desert island character from a desert island book.
August 1, 2014
1939 Retro-Hugo novella nominee.
Gave it approximately 1/4 of the way through. Nothing very interesting happening. Characters aren't interesting me, the science doesn't seem to be thought through at all (I know it's unfair to judge very harshly - it IS 1938).
Here's my favorite quote: "But you don't want 0.5 of a mile more. Man, that's an awful lot. I'd say that 0.1 or even 0.10 will give us all the lead we'll need over that distance."
0.1 or EVEN 0.10!!!
Maybe it's going somewhere..... but with time running short, and with nothing grabbing me yet, I'm moving on.
Spoilery thoughts on all the novellas here:
http://ciaracatscifi.blogspot.com/201...
Gave it approximately 1/4 of the way through. Nothing very interesting happening. Characters aren't interesting me, the science doesn't seem to be thought through at all (I know it's unfair to judge very harshly - it IS 1938).
Here's my favorite quote: "But you don't want 0.5 of a mile more. Man, that's an awful lot. I'd say that 0.1 or even 0.10 will give us all the lead we'll need over that distance."
0.1 or EVEN 0.10!!!
Maybe it's going somewhere..... but with time running short, and with nothing grabbing me yet, I'm moving on.
Spoilery thoughts on all the novellas here:
http://ciaracatscifi.blogspot.com/201...
June 29, 2024
https://fromtheheartofeurope.eu/sleepers-of-mars-by-john-wyndham/
These are five stories by Wyndham in the space opera tradition, which is not what he is best known for. They each have a somewhat different twist on the format. I had read the title story back when it was up for the Retro Hugos in 2014, and noted then:
"this is actually rather an attractive story, Bradbury before his time, with the central characters being the Russian cosmonauts (though in fact they include a Ukrainian, a Kyrgyz and a politically exiled Scot) and an opening-the-tomb narrative with a surprising and downbeat ending."
Wyndham however got the number of Soviet republics wrong.
I wasn’t so impressed with the second story, “Worlds to Barter”, about a time-traveller attempting to interfere with his own ancestor’s crucial decisions, but I enjoyed the rest. “Invisible Monster” has, er, an invisible monster from Venus landing on Earth with a decently paced bit of horror. “The Man from Earth” is a parable of the fall of humanity as a result of exploring Dangerous Places. The title of the last story is “The Third Vibrator”, which OK is a bit snigger-worthy these days but again has a time paradox at the core.
It is what it is. I think only “Worlds to Barter” even has a female character, so we don’t even get near the first step of the Bechdel test.
These are five stories by Wyndham in the space opera tradition, which is not what he is best known for. They each have a somewhat different twist on the format. I had read the title story back when it was up for the Retro Hugos in 2014, and noted then:
"this is actually rather an attractive story, Bradbury before his time, with the central characters being the Russian cosmonauts (though in fact they include a Ukrainian, a Kyrgyz and a politically exiled Scot) and an opening-the-tomb narrative with a surprising and downbeat ending."
Wyndham however got the number of Soviet republics wrong.
I wasn’t so impressed with the second story, “Worlds to Barter”, about a time-traveller attempting to interfere with his own ancestor’s crucial decisions, but I enjoyed the rest. “Invisible Monster” has, er, an invisible monster from Venus landing on Earth with a decently paced bit of horror. “The Man from Earth” is a parable of the fall of humanity as a result of exploring Dangerous Places. The title of the last story is “The Third Vibrator”, which OK is a bit snigger-worthy these days but again has a time paradox at the core.
It is what it is. I think only “Worlds to Barter” even has a female character, so we don’t even get near the first step of the Bechdel test.
November 18, 2023
Now, THIS, Larry Niven, is science fiction writing without waffle. Wyndham's (not always so) short stories are tightly plotted and written, but lose nothing in the prose. They are compelling reads, and I was reluctant to have to go off and attend to Real Life such was my enjoyment of this book. He had a way with the dialogue that makes people talking about the fantastic be absolutely realistic; there are normal conversations about astounding situations.
It's not a cheerful book. Ironic humour aside, particularly in the first story, there is a sense of doom throughout, yet everything is so well constructed that you still eagerly approach the end of the tale.
It's decades since I read anything by Wyndham, namely Chocky, so I am moving straight on to The Kraken Awakes, and I am expecting to enjoy it as much as this collection.
It's not a cheerful book. Ironic humour aside, particularly in the first story, there is a sense of doom throughout, yet everything is so well constructed that you still eagerly approach the end of the tale.
It's decades since I read anything by Wyndham, namely Chocky, so I am moving straight on to The Kraken Awakes, and I am expecting to enjoy it as much as this collection.
December 7, 2022
This book is interesting because it’s a collection of short stories and there are a ton of good ideas here to digest. The titular story is also a sequel to Stowaway to Mars, which I read right before this one.
I particularly liked the fact that the final story was called The Third Vibrator, which it’s difficult not to like. The other stories here were Worlds to Barter, Invisible Monster and The Man from Earth. Each of them was worth reading, and each of them left me with something that I took away.
That’s because Wyndham is at his best as an ideas man, and so when he’s writing short stories, he exposes the reader to a bunch of different ideas that leave them questioning ethics, morality and the relentless progress of science. Give it a good try!
I particularly liked the fact that the final story was called The Third Vibrator, which it’s difficult not to like. The other stories here were Worlds to Barter, Invisible Monster and The Man from Earth. Each of them was worth reading, and each of them left me with something that I took away.
That’s because Wyndham is at his best as an ideas man, and so when he’s writing short stories, he exposes the reader to a bunch of different ideas that leave them questioning ethics, morality and the relentless progress of science. Give it a good try!
June 10, 2025
I really liked the lead story Sleepers of Mars, which I started immediately after finishing Stowaway to Mars.
After that, it went downhill.
Worlds to Barter started off with promise but made a bad turn into a nonsensical plot and tapered off into a weak ending. My expected ending would've really made this dynamite! If the author ever finds a time machine in the past, he should come find me in June 2025 and I'll hit him up with my ideas.
Invisible Monster was better and held my interest to the end.
The Man From Earth was also decent, though slow to get going.
The Third Vibrator (snerk!) was tedious and I skimmed it.
So a star for each of the good stories, and no stars for the ones that weren't for me.
After that, it went downhill.
Worlds to Barter started off with promise but made a bad turn into a nonsensical plot and tapered off into a weak ending. My expected ending would've really made this dynamite! If the author ever finds a time machine in the past, he should come find me in June 2025 and I'll hit him up with my ideas.
Invisible Monster was better and held my interest to the end.
The Man From Earth was also decent, though slow to get going.
The Third Vibrator (snerk!) was tedious and I skimmed it.
So a star for each of the good stories, and no stars for the ones that weren't for me.
April 13, 2020
First published in 1973, 'Sleepers of Mars' is a small collection of sf short stories written by John Wyndham, but originally published under the name John Beynon Harris over the period 1931-1938. The title story is more of a novella, and is the sequel to his 1935 novel 'Stowaway to Mars'. This is followed by 4 short stories written from 1931-1934, and whilst they are routine short sf, I felt that they demonstrated the improving quality of output by the author. My favourite was the 1933 story 'The Third Vibrator', which is actually about a type of WMD, what a great title.
November 16, 2024
Considering these short stories were written in the 1930's, they show remarkable imagination. One of the stories is hilariously named, "The Last Vibrator", obviously written before vibrators were commonly known as something altogether less alien. The titular story was perhaps the best, concerning ancient Martians being woken from glass tubes where they have been in suspended animation for thousands of years.
June 15, 2021
Great collection of short stories by John Wyndham. Considering they were published before World War II , I enjoyed reading them. The language maybe dated but the stories are not. Man From Earth, I thought, was a particularly strong story. World's To Barter was also very good. Well worth reading it you like classic sci-fi.
July 29, 2024
As is often the case, historical science fiction is more interesting for what it tells you about the time when it was written (in this case the early 1930's) than for the stories themselves. These are mildly interesting with a mix of space travel and time travel, but they lack the characters and depth of the later John Wyndham novels.
August 27, 2023
Ahead of his time
I have always enjoyed John Wyndham’s stories which are imaginative and chillingly plausible. He writes in very fluent prose, well expressed and easy to read. These stories are tense and thought provoking.
I have always enjoyed John Wyndham’s stories which are imaginative and chillingly plausible. He writes in very fluent prose, well expressed and easy to read. These stories are tense and thought provoking.
December 6, 2017
A bit 'Boy's Own' for me but nevertheless quite imaginative. Early work, I believe.
March 7, 2023
Very good.
September 15, 2023
The five stories in this book were written 90 years ago. Despite a slightly dated 'feel', they remain excellently crafted works; full of interest. (And other words of praise.)
August 7, 2024
A great collection of John Wyndham's earliest short fiction, written under the name 'John Beynon', which taps firmly into the 'sense of wonder' of the Pulp SF age. A fun romp, highly recommended.
June 16, 2024
Generally I don't get on so well with short stories as with full-length novels, possibly I think because there's a lot less scope for characterisation, and I found that on the whole that was the case with this book, promoted (by the publishers of 1973) as 'the sequel to Stowaway To Mars'. The title story was probably the most successful; it is not in fact the next-generation sequel promised in the final sentences of "Stowaway to Mars", nor even the tale of the fate of the 'Gloria Mundi' which is briefly hinted at in the former book, but the story of what happened to the rival crew whose ship never returned to Earth. It's an interesting choice.
The beginning of the "Hurakan" is somewhat clumsy/generic, but the idea and portrayal of the invisible monster is nastily effective...
The beginning of the "Hurakan" is somewhat clumsy/generic, but the idea and portrayal of the invisible monster is nastily effective...
October 14, 2016
For those of you not aware John Wyndham published a number of books under the name John Bunyan, these were his less favorite novels. For a long time despite loving his work I avoided these books as if the author didn't like them I felt I should respect that. This book conned me by publishing under his proper name that and the fact the first short story was a sequel put this book at a disadvantage. The stories are however good and somewhat different to the other compilations which I have read. A little on the depressing side there is however some absolutely cracking sci fi concepts in here which given how early these were written is decidedly abstract and clever. I probably won't buy a Bunyan book again but wouldn't feel too bad at being conned again.
July 31, 2014
I read the title story, "Sleepers of Mars," because it was nominated for the Retro-Hugo Award. The story starts out slowly, but really picks up after the stranded Russian astronauts find a cache of Martians in suspended animation. The unintended consequences of this discovery have quite chilling repercussions. Yes, some of the science is sketchy, but really much better than most of the Retro-Hugo nominees from 1938. (The line [p. 21], "I'd say that 0.1 or even 0.10 will give us all the lead we'll need over that distance," is quite likely a typo.) There is no question that this story deserves to be on the ballot.
July 19, 2014
I only read the title story, "Sleepers of Mars." I haven't yet gotten to the others, but when I do I'll write a review of them as well.
Sleepers of Mars is a great story. It's got all of the good stuff of science fiction, exploring a new world, the mystery of abandoned cities, and then, of course, the terror that comes from making a horrible mistake on another planet. The ending was chilling. I really liked it.
Sleepers of Mars is a great story. It's got all of the good stuff of science fiction, exploring a new world, the mystery of abandoned cities, and then, of course, the terror that comes from making a horrible mistake on another planet. The ending was chilling. I really liked it.
August 31, 2016
If nothing else, these five short stories are an intriguing look into the early career of one of the greatest science fiction writers of the 20th century. I particularly enjoyed "Worlds to Barter" and "The Man From Earth".
August 6, 2011
How eerie that in 1933 a science fiction author writes a story about weapons of mass destruction, that create deserts no less.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2013
Mediocre.
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