(3) We have no idea how this will end up, but the very last story in the book is about people returning to Mars in order to get away from the war. For the first time in human history, people actually have the technology to kill every single person on Earth. So this part of the ending is very much a reflection of Bradbury's historical moment. In fact, the 1940s saw lots of novels and short stories about how a nuclear war could lead to the end of the world. During the 1940s, people would also be really worried about nuclear war and annihilation because of that little problem with the nuclear bombing of Japan. Okay, "There Will Come Soft Rains" may make you want an awesome automated house, but the awesome house really isn't the point. Are they going back to help the war effort or to be with their families? (Remember, these stories were written shortly after World War II, when everyone in America was supposed to help out the war effort in some way.) Or are they going back because they don't want to miss out on the excitement?Įven when the war is over, in "The Long Years," Captain Wilder wants to return to Earth to see what it's like (52). Can't miss it! Pretty much everyone decides to abandon Mars and head home. (1) In "The Luggage Store" and "The Off Season," the settlers learn that war is breaking out on Earth. We start with (1) people abandon Mars and then hit (2) the Earth is a wasteland, and then finally comes to (3) a few people escape back to Mars. So, we've got kind of a three-part ending here.
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