{"product_id":"2940015594812","title":"The Martian","description":"Many writers of science fiction, who have not given the matter much\u003cbr\u003e     thought, assume that a man of intelligence from one planet would\u003cbr\u003e     meet a cordial and sympathetic welcome on another world. It is\u003cbr\u003e     assumed that people are everywhere educated, curious about other\u003cbr\u003e     worlds and other cultures, and eager to help a visitor from an\u003cbr\u003e     alien race.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e     Unfortunately there is no assurance that such is the case. Even\u003cbr\u003e     were the members of another race, on another world possessed of\u003cbr\u003e     education, there would be bound to be among them low and brutish\u003cbr\u003e     elements. And if a stranger from another world, dazed by new\u003cbr\u003e     conditions and unable to make his wants known, were to fall into\u003cbr\u003e     their hands his fate might not be happy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e     We have read no story that pictures with such clarity and insight\u003cbr\u003e     the experiences of a man on another world than his own, than does\u003cbr\u003e     this present story. With the basis of a splendid plot Mr. Hilliard\u003cbr\u003e     has worked up a simply marvelous story.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e       *       *       *       *       *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe rolling, yellow sand reflected the heat of the sun in little,\u003cbr\u003eshimmering waves. It reflected the sun's light blindingly throughout all\u003cbr\u003eits visible expanse, with the exception of one spot where lay a circular\u003cbr\u003eshadow. In the great steely-blue dome of the sky there were no clouds.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe shadow, although not large, was very dark and distinct. The curved,\u003cbr\u003eeven line of its circumference was precisely drawn.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the air was a persistent rattle of sound--a series of closely spaced\u003cbr\u003eexplosions, ever rising in intensity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSuddenly a small, uneven shadow detached itself from the circular one;\u003cbr\u003eand floated swiftly across the sand. The rattling sound increased to a\u003cbr\u003etremendous booming roar, and the large shadow began to fade. At the same\u003cbr\u003etime, the smaller one grew steadily darker.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHigh above the sand, a man was falling--much too swiftly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe surface of the sand had been shaped into hills by the prevailing\u003cbr\u003ewinds. These long, ridge-like hills, or dunes, were convex and gradual\u003cbr\u003ein slope on their windward sides, but on their lee sides they were\u003cbr\u003econcave, and very steep.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt was near the top of one of these steep slopes that the man landed.\u003cbr\u003eHis frail legs and body crumpled under the weight of his head; he\u003cbr\u003epitched forward, and half rolled, half slid to the bottom where he came\u003cbr\u003eto rest more gently, the target of a small avalanche of sand.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eImmediately, he began to struggle; and, failing in his attempts to\u003cbr\u003erise, stretched his slim arms skyward and uttered a sharp, squealing\u003cbr\u003ecry, painfully prolonged. Far above him a spherical object rapidly\u003cbr\u003ediminished in size. Fixedly he watched the sunlight glinting on its\u003cbr\u003epolished grey sides; watched it shrink to a tiny ball, a point, and\u003cbr\u003ethen--nothing. He was alone.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe pressure was horrible. He buried his head in the hot sand, and\u003cbr\u003eclapped his ears in a vain attempt to ease the throbbing pain. They must\u003cbr\u003ehave underestimated the weight of the Toonian atmosphere if they had\u003cbr\u003eexpected him to live long here! It did not hurt his body, but his head\u003cbr\u003ewas being crushed. He knew that he would soon die--and was glad. This\u003cbr\u003ewild, senseless punishment would be at an end.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe opened his eyes again, and stared in growing fascination and wonder\u003cbr\u003eat the great arched blue dome above him. Gradually the spectacle of this\u003cbr\u003eweirdly beautiful canopy occupied his whole attention. It was like a\u003cbr\u003esoft curtain of light blue material hiding the blackness of the sky and\u003cbr\u003ethe gleaming stars;--yet the sun shone through. For a moment he forgot\u003cbr\u003ehis loneliness, his pain, in rapt contemplation of the immense\u003cbr\u003eperfection above him--but only for a moment. Then the explanation came\u003cbr\u003eto him. That beautiful blue was the heavy atmosphere of Toon, which was\u003cbr\u003eslowly crushing him to death! He closed his eyes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe heat was terrific, but not as intense as he had expected. Toon was\u003cbr\u003enearer the Sun than was his own world--millions of miles nearer; yet he\u003cbr\u003ewas not badly burnt, and this puzzled him. The explanation must again\u003cbr\u003elie in the heavy atmosphere--serving as insulation, he finally\u003cbr\u003edecided.... He didn't care.","brand":"SAP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47146341269744,"sku":"2940015594812","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940015594812","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}