Mars in the Movies: A History : June 2021

PRAISE FOR MARS IN THE MOVIES

“Maybe it's just because the author and I agree so much on what our favorite movies are, but I found this book to be fascinating, comprehensive, authoritative and very well written... and in an informal conversational style that is highly readable without sacrificing information or accuracy. . . . I grew up with most of the movies and TV shows Miller discusses---which were immensely influential in creating the seeds for the career I was to follow---and it was immense fun reading the stories behind them---to say nothing of being intrigued by those I missed! Highly recommended!”—Ron Miller, Space Artist, Facebook

“Highly enjoyable look at Martian cinema from the earliest days of film to the more recent past. Miller’s approach is delightfully quirky, and he clearly knows Martian movies inside and out. His passion for his subject infuses every page and, like a benign plague, infects every synapse of the lucky reader’s brain. Perhaps best of all, Miller never patronizes." Mike Bogue, Amazon

"Thomas Miller's densely researched and loving book on Mars-centric films is a joy to read for any fans of the genre."—Joe Pearson, filmmaker, Facebook

“The title says it all. Thomas Miller has compiled, annotated, watched, summarized, and commented on [nearly] every movie (in the English-speaking world and more) that features Mars and some that do not and others that should. He includes cartoons, animations, documentaries, shorts, serials, and features. Did I say comprehensive? Comprehensive. Miller’s telling is personal and there are asides and tangents but they, too, add to the overall impression of our fascination with Mars and the way it is manifested in art and life, including his own life.”—Michael W. Jackson, Dept. of Political Theory and Practice, The University of Sydney, Australia

"[Miller's book] is a real gem for lovers of films about Mars and for those who love SF films in general.”—John Litchen, Dreams of Mars: 130 Years of Stories about Mars

“One of the things that stood out in Miller’s book was his devotion to go through each film presented in the sections and give both sides of the argument: in favor and against a film’s success, followed by his own analysis. In particular, it was fascinating to understand Five Million Years to Earth (Baker, 1967) and Quatermass and the Pit (Cartier, 1958), the direction and styles filmmakers were creating, and how Miller dissects these themes in a multitude of ideas streaming from a centralized and ongoing study of Mars in cinema.”—Carter B. Emory, Film Matters

"Truly an amazing book!!!! It inspired me to go back to Mars [for a recent film]…thanks to Thomas Kent Miller for writing this epic movie book.”—Neil Brooke Johnson, filmmaker, on Facebook and Instagram

“The ultimate, 292-page love letter to an often-overlooked sci-fi subgenre…Make no mistake, Miller is authoritative on this topic and it is refreshing to read his insightful comments…Serve[s] as a compliment to Keep Watching the Skies! (Warren 2010), Top 100 Sci-Fi Movies (Gerani 2011), [and] Videohound’s Golden Movie Retriever.”—Emerald Insights Research and Reviews

“If one day we send a manned mission to Mars, I heartily recommend Thomas Kent Miller's entertaining and definitive MARS IN THE MOVIES as in-flight reading.”—Peter Rainer, Pulitzer Prize Finalist and author of Rainer on Film: Thirty Years of Film Writing in a Turbulent and Transformative Era

“Mars in the Movies is a chatty, carefully researched accounting of a century’s worth of films invoking Mars…. I read [it] with considerable pleasure.”—FILMFAXplus

"From the beloved to the obscure, Miller holds great love for the genre and many of the films featured. If there was not already a book on this subject, there needed to be one. Miller has written it...and the definitive one at that."—Flick Attack

“One of the more entertaining and informative guides to the genre in some time. …What really makes this work stand out is Miller’s occasionally hilarious commentary. Fans of the genre should absolutely purchase it. Highly recommended for all sci-fi and film collections.”—American Reference Books Annual

"[A] thorough survey of pictures about Mars…includes a thoroughly indexed set of references…As is the case with good film encyclopedias, the value is finding new items, and Miller comes through with a bounty … Miller has a friendly writing manner that emphasizes his personal interest in the pictures, which makes the book a pleasant read."—Glenn Erickson, DVD Savant

“For anyone with the least interest in movies and Mars, this is certainly the book with the backgrounds and the answers! … There are many unusual posters and pictures in this fascinating volume. … recommended”—Reviews

"Informative, comprehensive, and engaging. Thomas Kent Miller has a real passion for the material that shines through on every page, and is matched only by the care taken to communicate it. Loving it!"—Vincent C, Amazon

“It comes as a surprise that, until the present day, there hasn’t been published a single specialized book that would be devoted solely to the sub-genre of Mars movies. Now…Thomas Miller…fill[s] this gap…with Mars in the Movies—the encyclopedic volume containing a comprehensive recapitulation of [nearly] all movies that ever featured the ‘Red Planet.’ …a thorough survey…”—SciFi4Ever Magazine

“Mars in the Movies can certainly serve as a reference work for anyone interested in Martian discourse; the book also provides an incentive for self-research, as the very extensive bibliography offers a rich fund of source material…. Written in a relaxed language, it's a source for browsing.”—Martin Ramm, MEDIENwissenschaft

—Andy Weir, author of the trendsetting and bestselling The Martian, when asked if he endorses Mars in the Movies: A History.

“My compliments on a ... fine book! I purchased a copy this weekend and have devoured it since.”—M.P. Altmann, on Flick Attack

"[A] useful book!"—humanMars.net team

Mars in the Movies: A History

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Some Reviews and Praise for Mars in the Movies: A History

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