Many science fiction novels place focus on the adventures of a main set of characters within a fictional setting. However, other science fiction novels take a different approach and use those settings as an allegory of our real world. Ray Bradbury uses this approach well in his novel “The Martian Chronicles” to deliver important philosophical commentary on the human race in addition to an interesting and comedic underlying storyline.

The novel begins in a future setting (relative to 1950) in which an experimental rocket flies to Mars in order to prepare for colonization of humans due to an impending nuclear war. After reaching Mars, the expedition crew finds the Martians, and tries to communicate to them about their unprecedented arrival from Earth to Mars. Oddly enough, the Martians take this notice without surprise, and completely disregard the humans. The Martians believe that the humans’ accomplishments are of little importance, as they themselves are a much more advanced race. After much protesting by the expedition crew, the Martians take and lock them up in their Martian insane asylum.

Bradbury begins this novel with a bit of humor; he places humans in a setting where they are no longer important, thus causing their confusion. He describes the humans as overly confident in their own accomplishments and foolish compared to the Martians. Bradbury uses examples like these as means of giving commentary on the human race as well as a source of comedic satire.