
Cover created by Transcriber, using an illustration from the original book, and placed in the Public Domain.
A clear‑sighted guide to the early 20th‑century fascination with the Red Planet, this work invites anyone with a modest grasp of astronomy to weigh the evidence for life beyond Earth. The author frames the question of Martian intelligence in terms anyone can understand, suggesting that the planet’s similarities to our own world merit serious, unbiased scrutiny.
Drawing on firsthand observations made at the Lowell Observatory, the book walks readers through the curious markings that have sparked endless debate—whether they are natural cracks, geological features, or the remnants of an intelligent hand. Detailed illustrations accompany the discussion, helping the reader visualise the canals, fissures and other surface patterns that have long intrigued scientists and dreamers alike.
Written with both rigor and imagination, the text captures the spirit of an era eager to reconcile hard data with the possibility of extraterrestrial life, offering a timeless snapshot of the quest to decode Mars’s enduring mystery.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (234K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Charlie Howard and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2013-11-24
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1838–1925
Best known as a pioneering zoologist and one of the founders of Japanese archaeology, he brought a restless curiosity to everything from shells and brachiopods to pottery, homes, and daily life in Japan. His books mix close observation with the excitement of discovery, making even specialized subjects feel vivid and human.
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