Month: 2015. gada novembris

Kurt Vonnegut – Slaughterhouse-Five (audiobook)

4981

Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Kurt Vonnegut’s absurdist classic Slaughterhouse-Five introduces us to Billy Pilgrim, a man who becomes unstuck in time after he is abducted by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. In a plot-scrambling display of virtuosity, we follow Pilgrim simultaneously through all phases of his life, concentrating on his (and Vonnegut’s) shattering experience as an American prisoner of war who witnesses the firebombing of Dresden.

Don’t let the ease of reading fool you – Vonnegut’s isn’t a conventional, or simple, novel. He writes, “There are almost no characters in this story, and almost no dramatic confrontations, because most of the people in it are so sick, and so much the listless playthings of enormous forces. One of the main effects of war, after all, is that people are discouraged from being characters.”

Slaughterhouse-Five is not only Vonnegut’s most powerful book, it is also as important as any written since 1945. Like Catch- 22, it fashions the author’s experiences in the Second World War into an eloquent and deeply funny plea against butchery in the service of authority. Slaughterhouse-Five boasts the same imagination, humanity, and gleeful appreciation of the absurd found in Vonnegut’s other works, but the book’s basis in rock-hard, tragic fact gives it a unique poignancy – and humor.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Harper Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www. Izvēlējos no Top 100 Sci-Fi Books grāmatu listes.

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Galvenais varonis Billijs Pilgrims piedzīvojis kara šausmas, redzējis kā mirst viņa biedri, bet īsti par to nebēdā. Kāpēc? Jo pateicoties citplanētiešiem no Tralfamadore planētas, kur būtnes spēj redzēt ne vien telpā, bet arī laikā, tādējādi varētu teikt, ka katrs eksistē mūžīgi, bet tas nenozīmē nemirstību. Stāstā Tralfamadoras būtnes pavīd pavisam maz; ir pāris ainu, bet gribētos uzzināt par viņiem vairāk un plašāk. Billijs varētu ‘’pateikties’’ viņiem par atbrīvošanu no laika ķetnas, kamēr mēs pārējie kustamies tikai telpā.

Pats Billijis nespēj kontrolēt, kad un kur viņš laika ‘’lēcienos’’ nokļūst (būtu vēl jāpadomā, vai tikt tas galu galā nav drīzāk lāsts; vismaz tas notiek savas dzīves ietvaros), arī stāsta sižets nav laika līnijas ziņā vienmērīgs; ar lēcieniem šurpu turpu.

Lai gan aprakstā apgalvots, ka tēlu gandrīz vai nav (vien daži) un konfrontāciju arī pamaz, tad negribētos tam piekrist. Kaut vai grāmatas sākums, kas uzreiz nogādā lasītāju brīdī, kad Drēzdene tiek bombardēta. Bez Billija pieminēšanas vērts ir arī Roland Weary tēls, viņu karš ietekmē daudz smagāk.

Cik saprotu, dzirdēto var uzskatīt daļēji par autora reāli piedzīvoto Otrajā pasaules karā. Neiztrūkst arī filozofiska rakstura pārdomas. Patika neraksturīgā pieeja stāsta formai; šur tur pavīd arī optometristi :D. Sci-fi aspekts laikam piedēvējams (vien) citplanētiešu un Billija jauno ~spēju dēļ, citādi tiešām vairāk atskats uz kara atmiņām.

                                                                                                                                           

Our main character Billy Pilgrim has seen how horrible the war can be and how his colleagues have died but that doesn’t trouble that much. Why? Because thanks to aliens from planet Tralfamadore he now knows that death isn’t the end, everyone exists forever but that doesn’t mean that they or others are immortal. Creatures from that planet can also see back and forward in time, not just only in space. In the story those creatures are shown very little; I would have liked to know a bit more about them. Billy could ‘’thank’’ them about making him unstuck in time while we forced to moved around just in three dimensions.

Billy himself can’t control where and when he will show up when the time jump occurs (you would have to think hard – if in the end that’s not a curse, at least that happens within his own life), because of that also the story jumps back and forth.

Although in the synopsis it’s mentioned that there are almost no characters or dramatic confrontations, I wouldn’t like to agree to that. As for example the beginning of the book is when the reader is already at the bombing of Dresden. Besides Billy’s character I would like to mention Roland Weary, it seemed that the war affected him harsher.

If I understood correctly this can be partially considered as Vonnegut’s memories of what he experienced in the World War II. Inevitably there are some philosophical thoughts. I liked the unusual and quirky approach to the story; here and there you might see some optometrists :D. I guess the only reason this could be considered as a sci-fi is because of aliens and what they did to Billy (his new capabilities), otherwise more likely a retrospect of war memories.

I, Mary Blog Tour (Guest Post)

I, Mary banner

I, Mary

About the Book:

Title: I, Mary
Author: Mike Hartner
Publisher: Eternity 4 Popsickle Publishing
Pages: 266
Genre: Historical Romance

Mary Crofter’s first trip on the water was just after her first birthday, when her parents came from her birthplace in Kilwa to Portsmouth. She’s been on several trips from Portsmouth to London and other places since. She loves the water and the water seems to love her. Can she survive on the water? Will people ever take seriously a GIRL as a sailor? Will she ever come off the water? If she does, will the lure of the ocean draw her back?

For More Information

Book Excerpt:

I looked upon the gray waters that surrounded me.  To the west it was dark and cloudy, the wind blustering.  But as I braced myself against the gale hitting full force against my peacoat, I smiled.

It was fitting that I was here, and nothing could ever convince me otherwise.  I’d been birthed on land but it wasn’t long afterward that I was on the water—and acquiring my sea legs.  From the time I could walk, I learned to balance myself on the uneven deck. And later to climb the gnarly spars and ultimately the sayles.  My parents taught me my numbers and to read and write as well.  Numbers, well, was my best subject, and I was good at that.  But my time at sea was what I loved the most.  In truth, the only fun I remember in my childhood was when they took me on our merchant ship from our home in Portsmouth to London or to Bristol.  It wasn’t the location that I liked or the end of the journey; no, for me it was the sayling, standing on the deck, listening to the wind, watching the ocean and the clouds and . . . late at night . . . the stars.  I wanted to be on the sea forever, and I knew this from my very first time aboard ship.

I remember very well every one of those trips, because during each voyage I would close my eyes and concentrate, and it was as if I were talking to the water.  And through a combination of waves and the ship’s motion, it felt as if the sea was in turn communicating with me.

I recall all of the journeys with my father and his good friend, Captain Jose.  The saylors on those ships were always good to me, and I came to respect all of them.  They taught me sayling while they went about their own jobs.  Even as a little kid I was taught how to tie knots.  And when I was eleven they instructed me on how to throw knives and swing a cutlass.  Soon afterward I was taught how to prime, load, and shoot a musket.  But I turned up my nose at the musket, even the smaller flintlock pistols.  To me, there was no honor in this sort of fight.  No great talent was needed to shoot somebody.  Any idiot could pull a trigger.  In my mind, it required real skill to defeat a man, or woman for that matter, with a cutlass.   And, yes, I will take up swords against a woman.  Because, you see, I am one also.

Captain Jose had been a friend of the family since before I was born.  He’d sayled with my father, James, and my mother, Rosalind.  I heard the stories of the trip from Kilwa, where I was born, and then to Portsmouth, where we now live.  I don’t know how they originally met because I haven’t been told that yet, but Captain Jose is so close to the family that I’ve always called him Uncle Jose or Uncle for short.

Currently, I am not quite twelve years old, thin as a rail, a little over eleven hands high, and maybe weighing four stone soaking wet.  My hair is long enough to wear tied behind so it looks like the tail on a pony, but many men wear their hair the same way, so no one would know I was a girl just by looking at me.

I was in the office of Crofter Shipping Yards one day when Uncle Jose called me to him said, “Come over here and sit down.”  He was always so nice to me that I never hesitated at any request of his, so I took a seat next to him.  He gave me a funny look, kind of sly but not really since he smiled right away.  “I’ve already talked to your parents, and both James and Rosalind agree with me.”

I looked at him and fidgeted, not having a clue what he was going to say next.

“You’ve sayled with your father and me all your life.  We brought you to Portsmouth on a carrack many years ago.  You’ve been on the caravel we sayled to Le Havre and on a special boat too, a cog—the one with just one sayle—when we sayled to London.”

I nodded at him, but I was confused.  Had I done something wrong?

“Mary, there is a caravel that will be leaving these shipping yards in a little over a week.  It’s headed to the north of Scotland.  Seldom do pirates sayle these waters, so other than weather it will be relatively safe and . . .” My eyes widened.  Was I getting the right message?  Was he really doing this?  Was he really going to make my dream come true?  “If you should be interested, I can schedule you to take your sayling tests in the next few days so you can be on that caravel and start out as part of the crew on this trip.  This way, you can see if sayling is really what you want to do.”

I threw myself at Uncle Jose. “Yes, yes.  Please, yes.”

He laughed.  “Then let’s go get you some sayling clothes and set you up to crew on your very first ship.  Then I’ll introduce you to the captain.”  I jumped up from my chair but Uncle Jose pointed to me so I’d  retake my seat.  His face turned solemn, almost to a frown.  “There’s something we need to discuss, and this won’t be easy to talk about.  I brought this up this with your parents, and they told me to go ahead and tell you.”

Uncle Jose’s change of attitude was so great that I was startled.  “I don’t understand.”

“I’ve already spoken to the captain, since I assumed you’d say yes.  And he assured me that his main crew will respect you as a girl and also as a Crofter.  But there are always new men brought on board.  And even though the regular crew is honorable as far as this captain knows, they are still men of the sea.  Mary, do you understand what I’m saying to you?”

“Your crew was always wonderful to me.”  As soon as I said this I started to think back to all the times the men had helped me.

“You were a young girl who was the daughter of the owner of the ship, and I was the captain who knew each man well.  If anyone had stepped out of line, he would have been run through or thrown overboard.  This will be different, and you must understand that you are older now, almost a woman if you aren’t already.  I don’t know how else to put it, but to say you will have to be on your guard at all times.  The captain will have a couple of his most trusted men watching over you, but even a caravel is a big enough boat that . . . well, no person can be looked after day and night.”

I hadn’t given what Uncle Jose was talking about a single thought, but I wasn’t scared.  “I’m not saying I can take down a saylor, but I know how to defend myself, and Mother has taught me how to hurt a man where it hurts the most.”

Uncle Jose let out a muffled laugh that might’ve been a groan.  “Always know who’s around you, and be aware that you’re going to constantly have to prove yourself.”

“Because I’m a girl?” I snapped, mad that I’d done so at Uncle Jose.

“Yes,” he came back just as fast, but then he smiled and showed his big teeth.  “Just be aware that nothing I have said was with the intent of trying to talk you off the boat.  I just don’t want you—”

“Uncle Jose, I’ve heard the men talk on the boats since I was first able to walk the decks.  Sometimes I’d hear things that I know I wasn’t supposed to, and as I got older many saylors didn’t even think I was not one of them, so I’m not unaware that men are going to be men at times.  I can handle myself, I promise.”

“Let us hope you don’t have to.”  He stared hard at me.  “At least with the crew.”

Mike Hartner

About the Author:

 

Mike Hartner was born in Miami in 1965. He’s traveled much of the continental United States. He has several years post secondary education, and experience teaching and tutoring young adults. Hartner has owned and run a computer firm for more than twenty-five years. He now lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with his wife and child. They share the neighborhood and their son with his maternal grandparents.

 

His latest book is the historical romance, I, Mary.

For More Information

 

Thank you for hosting!

Media Contact:

Dorothy Thompson

Pump Up Your Book

P.O. Box 643

Chincoteague Island, Virginia 23336

Email: thewriterslife@gmail.com

Facebook, Google+, Pinterest

 

Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle – The Mote in God’s Eye (Moties #1) (audiobook)

100365

Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

In 3016, the 2nd Empire of Man spans hundreds of star systems, thanks to faster-than-light Alderson Drive. Intelligent beings are finally found from the Mote, an isolated star in a thick dust cloud. The bottled-up ancient civilization, at least one million years old, are welcoming, kind, yet evasive, with a dark problem they have not solved in over a million years.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Audible Frontiers

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www. Izvēlējos no Top 100 Sci-Fi Books grāmatu listes.

Vērtējums/Rating: 4/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Kāda gan būtu cilvēces reakcija pirmoreiz sastopoties ar pilnībā atšķirīgu, inteliģentu rasi? Parasti visās filmās agresori un tie, kas vēlas visu iznīcināt ir tieši citplanētieši, bet šoreiz sastapšanās notiek, kad cilvēce jau spējusi spert savus soļus Visuma apgūšanā un apdzīvošanā. Vairākkārt tiek minēta Otrā impērija un pirmo atceras ar godu, apbrīnu, bet ne pilnībā izskaidrots tās sabrukuma iemesli.

Sastaptajai rasei Moutiem(negribas dēvēt par Puteklīšiem) ir maz līdzību ar cilvēkiem. Ne tikai ārējā ziņā un fizioloģiski, bet arī kultūras, sabiedrības un izturēšanās ziņā; jāņem vērā, ka viņu rasei ir bijis gana ilgs laiks, lai attīstītos. Reizēm vien pēc mirkļa sapratu, ka skatpunkts ir pārslēdzies no cilvēku uz citplanētiešu.

Mouti par sevi rada draudu neradošu un varbūt pat muļķu iespaidu, bet tas tikai tādai iemidzināšanai, arī viņi veic savus pētījumus un novērojumus, ne tikai cilvēks, no kuriem daļai ir ļoti lielas grūtības uzticēties un grib labāk uzbrukt pirmie, jo tak nevar zinātu, kad viņi tā varētu izdarīt. Noslēgums vismaz uz miermīlīgākas un cerīgākas nots.

Dominē militārais aspekts; dažās atsauksmēs minēts, ka darbs ir seksistisks (nav daudz sieviešu dzimuma tēlu) un tēli stereotipiski, bet vai nu īpaši nemanīju, vai arī šoreiz tas netraucēja.

­                                                                                                                                           

What would be mankind’s reaction for the first time meeting absolutely different, intelligent race? Usually in the movies the aggressors and those who want to destroy everything are the aliens, but this time the encounter happens when humans have had their chance to explore and populate the Universe. Occasionally it is mentioned that now it’s the 2nd Empire of Man and the first one is remembered with honor and admiration, but it wasn’t completely explained why the first one collapsed.

The aliens (Motes) have very little similarity with human, not only visually but also with their culture, behavior and society module. Of course their race is more than a million years old and with plenty of time to evolve.  There were some moments when POV changed from human’s to Motie’s, and then it took me awhile to catch that.

Moties create an impression about themselves as nonthreatening and maybe even a bit dum, but that’s exactly what they want. Humans aren’t the only ones that study and examine the other side, Moties do the same. Some people have trouble with trusting and all they want is to strike first just because you never know when they might. At least the ending is on hopeful and more peaceful note.

The fact that this more of a military sci-fi is clear; in some reviews I read that this book is sexist (there wasn’t many female characters) and that characters are stereotypical, but maybe I didn’t notice it that much or this time it just wasn’t bothering me.

Lisa Gardner – Fear Nothing (Detective D.D. Warren #7)

18079661

Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

In #1 New York Times bestseller Lisa Gardner’s latest pulse-pounding thriller, Detective D. D. Warren must face a new fear as a serial killer terrorizes Boston.

My name is Dr. Adeline Glen. Due to a genetic condition, I can’t feel pain. I never have. I never will. 

The last thing Boston Detective D. D. Warren remembers is walking the crime scene after dark. Then, a creaking floorboard, a low voice crooning in her ear. . . . She is later told she managed to discharge her weapon three times. All she knows is that she is seriously injured, unable to move her left arm, unable to return to work.

My sister is Shana Day, a notorious murderer who first killed at fourteen. Incarcerated for thirty years, she has now murdered more people while in prison than she did as a free woman.

Six weeks later, a second woman is discovered murdered in her own bed, her room containing the same calling cards from the first: a bottle of champagne and a single red rose. The only person who may have seen the killer: Detective D. D. Warren, who still can’t lift her child, load her gun, or recall a single detail from the night that may have cost her everything.

Our father was Harry Day, an infamous serial killer who buried young women beneath the floor of our home. He has been dead for forty years. Except the Rose Killer knows things about my father he shouldn’t. My sister claims she can help catch him. I think just because I can’t feel pain doesn’t mean my family can’t hurt me. 

D.D. may not be back on the job, but she is back on the hunt. Because the Rose Killer isn’t just targeting lone women, he is targeting D.D. And D.D. knows there is only one way to take him down:

Fear nothing.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Dutton

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www.

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Grāmata iesākas brīdī, kad detektīve Vorena viena pati atgriezusies nozieguma vietā, lai to pārskatītu, bet viņas negaidītā vizīte kādu pārsteidz. Par laimi, paliek dzīva, bet iedzīvojas ļoti traumatiskā un sāpīgā savainojumā, kas liedz viņai darīt vienu no lietām, kuru viņa ļoti mīl, savu darbu.

Lai varētu pēc iespējas ātrāk atgriezties pie normālas dzīves, atlabšanas nolūkos skeptiķe Vorena nonāk pie sāpju speciālists Adelīnas Glenas, bet fascinējošākais retas ģenētiskas slimības dēļ viņa pati nespēj just pilnīgi nekādas sāpes. Brīnums, ka izdzīvojusi tik ilgi.

Nežēlīgās slepkavības turpinās, un ātri vien tiek atrasta līdzība ar sērijveida slepkavu pirms 40 gadiem un šķiet viņam nupat uzradies liels fans! Interesantā kārtā viņš bijis Adelīnas, kā arī viņas vecākās māsas Šanas tēvs. Abu māsu likteņi izvērtušies ārkārtīgi atšķirīgi. Ja Adelīnai par spīti viņas slimībai paveicās un tika adoptēta, tad Šanas dzīves līkloči noveduši ieslodzījumā uz mūžu. Tomēr savas līdzības māsās šķiet, eksistē, kaut vai tādā ziņā, ka Šanai sāpju vietā nav pilnībā nekādas intereses par citiem, ja nu vienīgi kaut drusku par māsu.

Notikumi uzjundī ne vien Adelīnas niecīgās atmiņas par tēvu un ko vēlāk pati uzzinājusi, bet arī par atgadījumu, kas nosūtīja Šanu, tik jaunā vecumā, cietumā. Medijos un izmeklētāju sarunās slepkava iegūst iesauku The Rose Killer, pateicoties pie līķa atstātai rozei, kā arī šampanietim; un atkal kāds no mediju vidus negrib spēlēt pēc noteikumiem.

Ja, kādam šķita, ka Vorena spēj nosēdēt mājās, tad tā būtu pamatīga kļūda, bet vēl lielāka kļūda no vainīgā puses viņu mēģināt iebaidīt vai pakacināt. Diemžēl noslēguma lappuses uz tādas skumjākas nots.

                                                                                                                                                

Fear Nothing starts at the moment when detective D.D. Warren all alone is revisiting a crime scene to check things once again but her unexpected visit surprises our perpetrator. Luckily she stays alive but receives a very painful injury which forces her for awhile to stop doing one of the things she loves very much, her job.

To get back as soon as possible she gets send to a pain expert Dr. Adeline Glen, but ironically she thanks to a rare genetic disease can’t feel any pain. It’s a miracle she’s been able to survive that long.

Gruesome killings continue and soon enough investigators notice similarities with the work of a serial killer 40 years ago, and it seems that now he has new number one fan! Coincidence or not he was father of Adeline and her older sister Shana. But lives for the two sisters have turned out very different. If Adeline despite her disease was lucky and got adopted then Shana got herself incarcerated for life. However there are some thing in common, for starters Shana instead of pain have no care about anyone else except for her and maybe her sister.

All the events bring up old memories – not only what little things Adeline remembers, but also what it was that got Shana at such a young age to prison. In mass media and between investigators the killer gets a nickname The Rose Killer thanks to how he stages the killings. Once again we see how one of journalists doesn’t want to play by the rules.

And if someone thought that D.D. Warren was capable to idly stay at home then that would be a major mistake, but even bigger mistake would be to try to intimidate her. Unfortunately the conclusion is on more of a sad note.

Ray Bradbury – The Martian Chronicles (audiobook)

76778

Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

The strange and wonderful tale of man’s experiences on Mars, filled with intense images and astonishing visions. Now part of the Voyager Classics collection.
The Martian Chronicles tells the story of humanity’s repeated attempts to colonize the red planet. The first men were few. Most succumbed to a disease they called the Great Loneliness when they saw their home planet dwindle to the size of a fist. They felt they had never been born. Those few that survived found no welcome on Mars. The shape-changing Martians thought they were native lunatics and duly locked them up.
But more rockets arrived from Earth, and more, piercing the hallucinations projected by the Martians. People brought their old prejudices with them – and their desires and fantasies, tainted dreams. These were soon inhabited by the strange native beings, with their caged flowers and birds of flame.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Sterling Audio Books

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www. Izvēlējos no Top 100 Sci-Fi Books grāmatu listes.

Vērtējums/Rating: 2.5/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Lai būtu kaut cik pieklājīga struktūra, kāds komentārs par katru no kolekcijā iekļautajiem stāstiem. Kaut gan bija vienota tematika un arī varoņi nav katrā pilnībā savi, tomēr kaut kas pietrūka.

Rocket Summer (January 1999/2030*)

Brīnišķīgs vasaras siltuma apraksts, kā arī sanākušo reakcija, paceļoties raķetei
Ylla (February 1999/2030)

Uzzinām par pirmās ekspedīcijas iznākumu, marsiešu izskatu un (par laimi) to, ka viņi netic, ka uz Zemes varētu pastāvēt dzīvība.
The Summer Night (August 1999/2030)

Marsiešim piemīt telepātijas spējas. Kad otrā ekspedīcija tiek komplektēta, viņi uztver dziesmas un sāk dungot, bet nekādīgi nesaprot kāpēc un no kurienes viņiem tādas domas/idejas.
The Earth Men (August 1999/2030)

Nedaudz komiski kā cilvēki, ieradušies uz Marsa, sagaida nez kādu slavu un apsveikumus no vietējiem par to vien, ka viņi redz ieradušies no Zemes. Diemžēl beigas stāstam traģiskas.
The Taxpayer (March 2000/2031)

Kad arī nodokļu maksātājs vēlas nokļūt uz Marsa.
The Third Expedition (April 2000/2031)

Trešās ekspedīcijas varoņus uz Marsa sagaida negaidīta situācija. Viņi sastop mīļotos, kuriem būtu jābūt mirušiem. Nedaudz neizpratu kontekstā ar iepriekšējiem stāstiem.
-And the Moon Be Still As Bright (June 2001/2032)

Ceturtā ekspedīcija. Līdzīgi kā eiropiešiem ierodoties Jaunajā pasaulē, tā laikam arī ar marsiešiem šajā stāstā. Ekspedīcijas komanda nesastop nevienu marsieti; secina, ka lielākā daļa mirusi no kādas cilvēku atvestas slimības. Apcere kā cilvēkam padodas sačakarēt visu skaisto
The Settlers (August 2001/2032)

Arī ceturtā ekspedīcija neiztiek bez ievērojamām ķibelēm.
The Green Morning (December 2001/2032)

Par Marsa apgūšanu.
The Locusts (February 2002/2033)

Turpinās planētas pārveidošana. Vai nu šajā pasaulē ceļošana no Zemes uz Marsu izmaksā grašus, vai arī labs finansējums, ka var sūtīt vienu ekspedīciju pēc otras.
Night Meeting (August 2002/2033)

Viens no labākajiem stāstiem. Jauna vīrieša, kas ieradies no Zemes un marsieša sastapšanās, bet sastapšanās šķietami ārpus laika -> redz viens otru, bet no apkārtējā katrs redz atbilstošu ainavu no sava laika. Interesanta debate, kurš no abiem skaitās no nākotnes un kurš kā pagātnes pārstāvis.
The Shore (October 2002/2033)

Kolonizāciju viļņi. Uz Zemes laikam nav nekādi dižie apstākļi.
Interim (February 2003/2034)

Nu kur tad bez reliģiskās tēmas.
The Musicians (April 2003/2034)

Bērni spēlējas marsiešu pilsētas drupās.
Way in the Middle of the Air (June 2003/2034)

Šis stāsts nepatīkami pārsteidza ar savu rasistisko ievirzi.
The Naming of Names (2004-05/2035-36)

Stāsts, kurā kolonisti piedēvē objektiem savus nosaukumus, bet dažiem skumjas, ka viņi nekad nezinās to patiesos (marsiešu dotos) nosaukumus.
The Old Ones (August 2005/2036)

Pavisam īsi par to, ka arī seniori ierodas uz sarkanās planētas.
The Martian (September 2005/2036)

Viens no hronikas savādākajiem stāstiem.
The Luggage Store (November 2005/2036)

Epizode, kurā kolonisti apspriež pa radio dzirdēto, ka uz Zemes briest kodolkarš.
The Off Season (November 2005/2036)

Cerībā uz jaunu cilvēku pieplūdumu atveras karsto suņu stends. Par nelaimi tā īpašniekam karš uz Zemes tiešām sākas, un tas pat ir saskatāms no viņa skatpunkta :O
The Watchers (November 2005/2036)

Kolonisti uztraucas par saviem piederīgajiem, kas palikuši uz Zemes.
The Silent Towns (December 2005/2036)

Vēl komisks stāstiņš. (Gandrīz) Visi atsaukušies aicinājumam atgriezties. Walter Gripp var justies kā pēdējais cilvēks uz Marsa. Kad viņš sastop pēdējo sievieti viņa prieki ātri apsīkst.
The Long Years (April 2026/2057)

Roboti…
There Will Come Soft Rains (August 4, 2026/2057)

Kodolkaram uz Zemes bijušas postošas sekas; drūma aina. Kamēr iedzīvotāju vairs nav, viņu automātiskās mājas turpina darboties.
The Million Year Picnic (October 2026/2057)

Kāda ģimene tomēr pamanās tikt prom no izpostītās Zemes, bet ierodoties uz Marsa iznīcina raķeti un iznīcina dažādus dokumentus saistībā ar pamesto dzīvi, planētu. Optimistiskas beigas, jo viņi nav vienīgie un cilvēcei tomēr ir cerība uz garāku mūžu.

­                                                                                                                                                

*Pēc 1997.gada izveduma darbības laiks pārcelts uz priekšu par 31 gadu.