SOURCE: "The World of the War God" (Pearson's Magazine, February 1900) by George Griffith

DESCRIPTION: "...Swarms of human figures, but of more than human statures clad in tunics and trousers or knickerbockers, came out of the glass-domed palaces from all sides into the park. They were nearly all of the same stature and there appeared to be no difference whatever between the sexes. Their dress was absolutely plain; there was no attempt at ornament or decoration of any kind. 'If there are any of the Martian women among those people,' said her ladyship, 'they've taken to rationals and they've grown about as big as the men. And look; there's someone who seems to want to communicate with us. Why, they're all bald! They haven't got a hair among them -- and what a size their heads are!' 'That's brains -- too much brains, I expect! Those people have lived too long. I expect they've ceased to be animals -- civilised themselves out of everything in the way of passions and emotions, and are just purely intellectual beings, with as much human nature about them as a limited company has.'" ("The World of the War God" by George Griffith)

NOTES: The Martians are nine foot humanoids who have evolved beyond the state of Earthly humans. Their culture is emotional-less, utilitarian and war-like. As the resources of Mars dwindle, the different peoples war for the remaining land. The cities of Mars are gorgeous but date back to another time when Martians were not so hard-pressed. The Martian women are almost exactly like the men, tall, bald and emotionless. When the ruler of one of the Martian cities sees a beautiful earth-woman he immediately tries to claim her. The earth folks quickly put him down with revolver fire. The Martians possess airships that use propellers on long stacks. The ships are armed with cannons that shoot poisonous gas. They do not have explosive shells. The Earthship Astronef destroys the Martian ships by ramming them with its steel prow and with explosive shells.

HISTORY: I wonder if Griffith was parodying the Communist Russians with his Martians. He definitely sets a precedent for many Space Opera tales to follow, that see the Martians on the other side of the blaster. The Martians physique reminds me of Richard Kiel as the Kanamit in The Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Man".

Prime Directive? What Prime Directive?