These flying Martians are a sapient race of bat-like creatures native to a lush valley somewhere on the planet Mars.
Biology[]
They appear vaguely like humanoid bats, although their habits are diurnal and their wings aren't built exactly like those of a bat, being more reminiscent of a huge butterfly, but supported by "curved ribs radiating from the body". Their heads are round and their faces are somewhat humanlike. The body is small, and from there protrude two bunches of prehensile tentacles which serve as the creatures' equivalent of hands and feet. The wings have been described as silvery and glistening.
Culture and society[]
The buildings that make up their cities have no doors, but rather large circular windows that serve as entrances for their airborne inhabitants.
Appearances[]
- "The Crystal Egg", by H. G. Wells (1897)
Notes[]
- Many authors have speculated that Wells' short story "The Crystal Egg" takes place in the same universe as his novel The War of the Worlds. The appearance of red weed in both works seems to support this, as does the fact that the two were written roughly at the same time. If this is true, it's possible to assume a relationship between these flying creatures and the other Martian race from that novel, especially considering that, apart from the wings, the two are actually quite similar.
- The fact that doors and any other form of defense or protection is nonexistent, plus the fact that no criminal behavior was attributed to any known martians witnessed by the protagonists, could possibly imply that they may - or may not - have achieved some form of world peace.