The Martians are a sapient species of grotesque humanoids from the planet Mars.
Biology[]
Martians are giant humanoids, at least 15 ft. tall (~ 4.57 m), with disproportionally large craniums, bulging eyes and tridactyl hands. They have been described as humanoid, but grotesque, with exaggerated facial features resembling a Human caricature. They can survive in the vacuum of space by consuming certain pills which are speculated to contain nutrients and oxygen, and need no other protection. They can naturally breathe Earth's air, and seem to suffer no ill effects from the higher concentration of oxygen compared to the Martian atmosphere.
History[]
In the late 19th century the Martians launched a devastating and unprovoked attack against Earth, seeking to colonize the planet since their homeworld was slowly dying out. Biologically unprepared, the invaders perished due to infection by Earth bacteria. They were not defeated, however, as Earth astronomers found out that the Martians were preparing to launch a second attack.
Thanks to new kinds of spacefaring vessels and disintegrator rays invented by Thomas A. Edison, the nations of Earth united to fund an expedition to Mars to retaliate against the feared enemy before a second invasion of Earth could take place. The enterprise was ultimately successful and thanks to the efforts of Edison and his crew, the Martian race was annihilated.
Appearances[]
- Edison's Conquest of Mars, by Garrett P. Serviss (1898)
Notes[]
- Although Serviss' book is supposed to be read as a sequel to H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, these Martians bear no physical resemblance to those conceived by Wells and are clearly a distinct species.