How Scientific Falsehoods Convince the Public
David Baron, The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, August, 2025). Hardcover: $31.99. 336pp, 6X9”, 101 illustrations. ISBN: 978-1-324-09066-3.
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“‘There Is Life on the Planet Mars’ —The New York Times, 9 December 1906.” This “headline was no joke. In the early 1900s, many believed intelligent life had been discovered on Mars. The Martians—a bizarre tale reconstructed through newly discovered clippings, letters and photographs—begins in the 1890s with Percival Lowell, a Harvard scion who was so certain of his Mars discovery that he (almost) convinced a generation of astronomers that grainy photographs of the red planet revealed meltwater and an intricate canal system, declaring ‘there can be no doubt that living beings inhabit our neighbouring world’ (The New York Times). So frenzied was the reaction that international controversies arose. Tesla announced he had received Martian radio signals, biologists debated whether Martians were winged or gilled and a new genre called science fiction arose. While Lowell’s claims were debunked, his influence sparked a compulsive interest in Mars and life in outer space that continues to this day.”
To clarify, science-fiction was designed as a genre that excused scientists who made false claims and tried to but failed to convince the public of their truthfulness. Scientific false-telling that succeeds in being believed becomes “scientific fact” until it is hopefully later proven to be false. Scientific fiction is falsehoods that are immediately contradicted or proven to be false because they are so incredible, and are supported with such non-existent, or irrelevant “proof”. This set of reviews includes the first Chinese science-fiction that seems to have been designed by colonialists trying to seize China’s land to sell the idea of a future utopia if Chinese leaders surrendered their power over their own territories. Alien-invasion, or alien “exploration” narratives generally puffed the idea of colonialism, or wars against other nations as a supernatural, or super-scientific endeavor.
The New York Times ran an article on May 27 indicating that Lowell’s Observatory in Arizona found evidence in photographs of “canals” on Mars: Lowell insisted “photographic negative is nothing if not truthful.” These photos are now stored in this Observatory’s archives. They are “less than a quarter inch across” and are incredibly “coarse and grainy”. They show “dark patches” across Mars, but there are no visible “canals”. The marketers of these images stated the opposite or that they “are remarkably sharp”, and this claim from scientists seems to have been sufficient to convince the public. Canals were claimed to be visible with a “good magnifying glass”. These photograph studies took place in around 1905, at around the same time when the first Chinese science-fiction novel was written. Rival scientists probably could not fully contradict these findings because of the monopoly Brits held over the world’s academic and news press.
Telsa is soon roped in, and Telsa’s first instinct is that the generated public interest means there’s money to be made in agreeing with the existence of life on Mars, and working to “prove” this untruth. Tesla wrote in 1907: “As to life [on Mars,] if you will find some millionaire who will listen to me we shall know more” (173). J. P. Morgan had previously “refused to provide additional funds for Tesla’s communications tower on Long Island”. Tesla was failing to find funds elsewhere as he was proposing other sci-fi concepts such as a “remote-controlled torpedo boat”, “wireless energy”, and “communicating with Mars.” Back in 1901, Tesla claimed he “had received interplanetary messages” (174-7). Tesla kept hitting this money-bank until he capitalized on this fiction.
This is a very interesting perspective. I have not read similar attempts to bring science down to Earth by explaining how charlatans tend to rule it because science-fiction or the impossible tends to be more interesting to the public than the small scientific steps that can actually be taken. This is a pretty light book that should be an enjoyable read for anybody interested in this topic. The reader does not have to be a specialist on this subject. All libraries can benefit from acquiring this book, as it provides new explanations of an important subject.
--Pennsylvania Literary Journal: https://anaphoraliterary.com/journals/plj/plj-excerpts/book-reviews-summer-2025/

It is an inspiring epic of human inventiveness. It is a cautionary tale of mass delusion. It is a drama of battling egos. Ultimately, though, it is a love story, an account of when we, the people of Earth, fell hard for another planet and projected our fantasies, desires and ambitions onto an alien world. [Introduction]
This is an account of Percival Lowell's obsession with the planet Mars, and its profound consequences for the human race. Following the observations of Schiaparelli -- who described a network of long straight lines on the planet, 'canali' (channels, but mistranslated as 'canals') -- Lowell, a wealthy businessman, published a number of books about his observations and his interpretation of them. He also founded the Lowell Observatory, and inspired a generation of scientists and science fiction authors.

The first part of the book, 'Century's End - 1876-1900', recounts Lowell's early life, and the context in which his astronomical work was received: his first books were published in the 1890s, in a period where science and technology were celebrated. Several reputable figures had asserted that life was not only possible but probable on other planets, and there was much discussion -- in parallel with the fashion for spiritualism -- about how to communicate with the inhabitants of our nearest neighbour. Nikola Tesla was convinced that his work in 'wireless telegraphy' (radio) would enable him to signal Mars.

In the second section, 'A New Civilization - 1901-1907', the sense of the limitless possibilities of the new century is strong. Mars became fashionable: everything from stage plays to dance tunes, advertising, and a plethora of stories in the popular press. (Meanwhile in London, Edward Maunder, an assistant at the Royal Observatory, conducted a study at the Royal Hospital School in Greenwich, showing that schoolboys perceived straight lines on images of Mars if seated at a certain distance from the pictures. Closer, and they could distinguish the lines and curves that made up those 'straight lines': further away and it was all a blur.)

The third section, 'The Earthlings Respond - 1908-1916', describes the waning of popular enthusiasm for Lowell's ideas -- although he continued his lecture tours until his death in 1916, maintaining that "the difficulty in establishing the fact that Mars is inhabited lies not in the lack of intelligence on Mars, but rather the lack of it here." What he lacked in scientific rigour, he made up for in sheer stubborn belief.

Baron's epilogue, 'Children of Mars', celebrates Lowell's legacy. He suggests that the reason the American public were so ready to believe that Orson Welles' radio production of The War of the Worlds was real news was that many could remember all the newspaper reports about life on Mars. And, more importantly, 'intelligent eyes really had been watching human affairs keenly and closely': not aliens but children who grew up hearing stories and theories about other worlds. A young man in Luxembourg was enthralled by Lowell's Mars: his name was Hugo Gernsback, and he is regarded as a key figure in the rise of science fiction as a genre. H P Lovecraft attended one of Lowell's lectures aged 16; H G Wells met Lowell and discussed Mars with him (this fact established by Baron's own research); and Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars featured canals, deserts and dry lakes, just as Lowell had suggested. Burroughs' Barsoom, in turn, inspired another generation of writers and scientists, including Carl Sagan, Ray Bradbury and Arthur C Clarke.

This was a great read, full of fascinating detail and copious illustrations. Baron's authorial voice is unobtrusive: his accounts of his research expeditions are interesting but very much secondary to the main narrative. There's a good bibliography and extensive references. And I did like his conclusion:

... I thought I had set out to tell a tale of human folly, about how easy it is to deceive ourselves into believing things simply because we wish them to be true... I discovered another, perhaps more powerful takeaway: Human imagination is a force so potent that it can change what is true. Thanks to Lowell's Martian fantasies that helped inspire the early space age, visiting the Red Planet has become a potentially realisable goal for today's children. [loc. 3031]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance review copy, in exchange for this full honest review. UK Publication Date is 26 AUG 2025.

"Why Mars?" is the question asked not only by the author, but of the reader. Why this fascination with the red planet, one of Earth's closest neighbors? And why was there this fixation on canals and intelligent life on Mars? Where did that come from and what has it spawned? Those are some of the questions that David Baron seeks to answer in The Martians.

David Baron divides his tale into three parts - Part One - Century's End - 1876-1900, Part Two - A New Civilization - 1901-1907, and Part Three - The Earthlings Respond - 1908-1916. David Bruce brings in all of the big guns of the day - Percival Lowell who became enthralled with the Far East before he turned his vision onto the heavens, the Widow Guzman who funded the Pierre Guzman prize for communication with another planet, or star, Camille Flammarion, a French astronomer, and color-blind Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli who mapped Mars and drew in the canali or channels that he saw on the surface which caused much confusion when the term migrated into English as "canals." Later on Nicoli Tesla makes his appearance along with H. G. Wells who brings a Martian invasion to his local village. A whole host of British and American astronomers who argue both for and against the concept of Martian life spend decades going back and forth over the evidence that Lowell and others produce until newer and better telescopes clarify the view of Mars from Earth. David Baron not only tells the tale of the Martian craze, he also provides the context in which it occurred giving the reader a feel for the popular culture that existed alongside it and the consequences and influence the craze had on American and world culture.

If a well-written true science tale mixed with popular culture is what you crave, pick up David Baron's The Martians and be prepared to enjoy yourself!

Thanks Netgalley and Liveright Publishing Corporation for the chance to read this title!

I very much enjoyed this wide ranging and very well written exploration of ideas about Mars and the Mars canals in particular. A super easy read that was never dumbed down.

Thanks to W.W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for this free ARC in return for my honest review.

Just a superb book about the history of Martians, the observations of the planet. The book focuses mainly on US pseudo astronomer Percival Lowell and his mapping of the Red Planet. Thanks to Lowell generations grew up thinking there were Canals on the planet, which in turn led to the idea that there were human like creatures who inhabited Mars, and that the canals were used to grow vegetation to feed the Martians, Lowell spend years observing the planet, and Tesla also got involved at one point in time trying to contact the planet. It is wonderfully researched and we get into the "yellow press", the building of bigger and better telescopes, H.G. Wells and his War of the Worlds book and how it was adapted for readers in New York & Boston when it came out in the 1890's. Yes, a true tour de force on our obsession with Mars, Martians, etc. This one is a fast read and one that is for me a true 5*****!!!

Reading this felt like stepping into a different era, one where science was as much an adventure as it was an intellectual pursuit. Baron follows three major figures—James Craig Watson, Maria Mitchell, and Thomas Edison—as they chase the total eclipse of 1878 across the American West. What makes it so compelling is how he weaves together personal ambition, scientific rivalry, and the wild optimism of a country expanding both westward and intellectually.

As someone who's always been curious about space but not especially well-versed in astronomy, I appreciated how accessible Baron made everything. He never dumbs anything down, but he makes the science feel immediate, even urgent. I found myself rooting for these long-dead scientists the same way I root for characters in a good novel.

What stood out most to me was Maria Mitchell’s story—a woman leading an all-female team of astronomers at a time when women weren’t even welcome in most scientific circles. Her determination added an unexpected emotional thread to the book, and I wish she were more widely known today.

This wasn’t just a history lesson or a science book—it was a reminder of how awe-inspiring the universe can be, and how human curiosity has always pushed us to reach for the stars, even before we fully understood what they were. I finished the book with a deeper appreciation for the cosmos—and with a firm decision to see a total solar eclipse in person someday.

I have long been fascinated by the character of Percival Lowell, whose staid, scientific exterior only concealed his deep eccentricity. This book dives deeper into his psychology than anyone has ever gone before, and I was sucked in from page one. With cleverly placed historical vignettes reminding us of the times in which Lowell, H.G. Wells, Tesla and others lived as well as delightful anecdotes of the author's travels to various archives, this book keeps up a lively pace and encourages the reader to stay alert as the material slowly grows more and more wild. Although the writing style encourages a broad readership, this book would also be well-placed in a publication like LRB or NYRB due to the unique combination of colorful writing and serious investigation of Lowell's life story. I can't wait to see it published, and I may pick up a print copy to reread!

I remember always being fascinated by Martians from an early age. As a young boy I remember seeing ‘The Martian Chronicles on TV and was filled with wonder and fear..
From the beginning of the 20th Century our interest in Mars grew into a craze which influenced Art in all its forms.
A compelling story for anyone curious as to the connections between stories and science of the Red Planet

My thanks to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for an advance copy of this new look at an early 20th century craze that swept the nation, one that scared and intrigued people, one that inspired many, and gave rise to a lot of different stories, ideas and conspiracies that we are still enjoying, or dealing with today.

I never thought it about it much but while other men are thinking about the Roman Empire, I find myself thinking of Mars. The Red Planet was part of my childhood with Marvin the Martian, and his duels with Daffy and Bugs Bunny. Somehow I remember watching My Favorite Martian, but I am not that old. I read Martian Chronicles and John Carter adventures set on Mars one summer, two different sets of stories that inspired me in different ways. And honestly anything I read about the Mars Rovers always make me sad, thinking about those robots carrying on past the life expectancy doing work, and making science, with only a cold lonely fate to look forward too. I guess I am not alone as many a finance bro and billionaire think of Mars as the next great thing, a landscape to exploit, maybe even a shelter from a dying Earth. Thinking about Mars is not a new thing. At the start of the 20th century, science was progressing in leaps and bounds. The heavens were being explored, and Mars was being made visible to telescopes and thinkers. And people who loved stories more than facts. The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America by science writer David Baron is a look at a time when Mars was the place, to paraphrase Sun Ra, when thoughts of aliens, canals, invasions, and much more filled the newspapers and lecture halls, and their effect on art, science and our thinking today.

The beginning of the 20th century was one of scientific technology leaping forward, with ideas coming quick and fast. The world was being explored, telegrams and telephones were able to speed communications. And the heavens were suddenly closer. Especially Mars. There had been much speculation on the planet being full of life, as a mistranslation of an Italian work by Giovanni Schiaparelli where he saw channels that was translated wrongly into canals. This error meant that many thought these formations were created by intelligent life, though many at the time were sure this was not so. However the world had changed much in a short period of time. Much of this change affected how people saw the world, and their importance in it. Into this stepped a young scientist with money to fund his experiments. Percival Lowell had the family name, the background and the ability to communicate to people, which he did on a series of lectures about Mars. How could Martians survive? Did they fly? Did they have gills? As more and more interest became apparant, soon the newspapers were making up stories for their readers. Tales of creatures, tales of structures on the surface. Tales of what could happen if they came here. Discussions began about what was real, and what was not, but soon Martian fever began to seep into the public consciousness, and people wanted more.

I had known that Mars was a phenomena at one point, but I had no idea how big. Nor the effect that much of this had on not only science and scientific presentation and methods, but about art, and thinking. Baron is a very good writer, able to make the science clear and understandable, while also detailing the many different aspects in society that were being undergoing a lot of upheaval. Baron profiles many from Lowell, to H. G. Welles, and also a name that does not get enough attention. Maria Mitchell and her efforts to bring more women into science, when this idea wasn't even considered possible or useful. There are many good stories, and lots of asides of facts and information that really make the book quite enjoyable.

An interesting read for people who like to read about science, the fascinating people involved in science, both good and bad. Also science fiction fans will get a lot out of this. Probably like myself in thinking how different their life would be without Mars.

David Baron's "The Martians" brilliantly captures the electrifying fervor of the early 1900s, a time when the world was gripped by an unparalleled obsession with life beyond Earth. With masterful storytelling, Baron delves into the era's blend of scientific discovery and wild imagination, painting a vivid picture of how the public's fascination with Martians ignited both awe and hysteria. His narrative effortlessly transports readers to a time when telescopes became portals to other worlds, and the line between science and speculation blurred under the tantalizing possibility of extraterrestrial neighbors. This compelling account not only celebrates humanity's relentless curiosity but also underscores how the allure of the unknown can captivate the collective consciousness.

The idea of life on Mars in the 21st century is generally the stuff of science fiction or children's cartoons, but at the turn of the 20th Century most people believed that there were canals on Mars built by intelligent life. Were they were watching us here on Earth? Could we communicate with them via the new wireless radio? Newspapers as reputable as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal routinely published headlines contemplating aspects of Martian life, and amateur astronomers packed lecture halls with their thrilling talks on the red planet.

Chief among them was Percival Lowell, a wealthy young man whose fancy had always been with the stars and the endless expanse of the galaxy. Nikola Tesla was in the picture too (often disagreeing with Lowell's theories), as was H.G. Wells. They all followed the publications of Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli. It was Schiaparelli who first identified the "canali" on our neighboring planet, a label that was mistranslated into "canals". But what if there were canals on Mars? What would it imply about the sophistication and mastery of their world of creatures with the ability to build perfectly straight structures that ran for thousands of miles?

The concept fired the world's imagination. Casual astronomers routinely traveled the globe to get better views of astronomical events like eclipses. Lowell, blessed with great riches thanks to his wealthy family, built an observatory in Arizona, then another in South America, the better to see and map those canals. But what he saw with his limited telescopes was as much an optical illusion as the actual features of the distant planet, and ultimately his entire theory of intelligent life was disproven.

Science writer David Baron offers up a fascinating history of this era of Martian fever, approximately the late 1800s up to the 1920s, when wars and other global matters pushed the imagined Martians off the front pages and out of people's drawing rooms and casual conversations. The book is very focused on Lowell, however, suggesting that it might be better with the subtitle "How Percival Lowell ignited Western imaginations about the red planet" or similar. Still, a very engaging read, recommended for space enthusiasts and people who are intrigued by how crowds and groupthink can influence the national agenda and conversation.

An excellent look at the late Victorian / early Edwardian through the lens of the people studying Mars and how it became a part of the shared culture in a way that never really left the public sphere. All sorts of famous people pop up here - Tesla, Teddy Roosevelt, Emily Dickenson, Queen Victoria, Percival Lowell, H. G. Wells, and more, all fascinated with Mars, and as always, Mars acting very much as a mirror to current hopes and fears.

This is a sprawling narrative (covering decades and involving such intriguing people as H.G. Wells & Nikola Tesla!) focused on how the bold claims of one Percival Lowell (that Mars held intelligent life), spread so far and wide in popular culture. It was fascinating to read about this hoax, and see just how many people got drawn into the argument. This all might have happened ages ago, but this 'Martian myth' read as very modern.
The conclusion of the book was a little more hopeful than the overall narrative, showing that despite Lowell's false claims, his work DID inspire others in the future to study & explore Mars.

The Martians by David Baron has a sub-title that implies a National Enquirer-style lurid story of alien shenanigans. Simply not the case. Instead you get the compelling story of those who genuinely believed Mars may be a place where aliens lived. The believers whose stories Baron tells in a respectful and interesting way, one in particular, dedicated their lives to learning more. This was done without the benefit of high-powered telescopes, space travel, or the internet. It's a fascinating read. Even better is that it laid the groundwork for why Mars fascinates us today. Thank you to #netgalley and #liveright for the opportunity to preview this book.