Status Updates From El hombre ilustrado

Just read the ninth story, "The Last Night of the World". Every adult on Earth has had a dream that the world will end the following night, taking 24 hours for the entire world to end. We watch a married couple go through one final evening together, just carrying on with their mundane daily routines before going to bed together one final time. Overall, thoughtful story. But now I want my honey!

Finished "The Fire Balloons"! As they walk down the hills back into town, Father Stone says that they have found the Truth on Mars like they have on Earth. They can travel to other worlds and find more Truths that add up to the ultimate answer. Furthermore, Father Stone is now able to see God in the blue spheres. Overall, very uplifting story, even though I'm an atheist and I've already read this one.

The priests perform a church service, and the fiery Martians arrive. However, they reveal that they cast away their material lives and bodies thousands of years ago, and live in a state of God's grace, free of sin, with no need for the makeshift church. They are willing to teach Father Peregrine more, then they fly away, leaving the priest on his knees, crying as he remembers the Fire Balloons from his childhood.

The priests put together a natural church on a plateau, complete with the constructed altar. They do add some familiar objects for their own comfort, though. Now to see how it all plays out (again!).

Father Peregrine announces his plan to the other priests. He plans to build a church for the spherical Martians, with a spherical Christ for them to worship, effectively bringing Christ to them in a shape they understand. Good plan, but we know Father Peregrine will be pretty disappointed when he hears what the fiery Martians have to say. Honestly, why did this story get reprinted here?

140

Up to Zero Hour.

Honestly loving the writing style and the dystopian 1960s space exploration feel of the short stories.