Martian Structures in Modern Science Fiction and the Home of the Martian (The Martian)

Science fiction is a gateway to alternative realities that can be conceptualized with imaginary scientific and technological advancements. Therefore, it usually takes inspiration from grounded and realistic impressions. The evolution of classical science fiction towards modern science fiction entails an increasing diligence towards scientific accuracy, care for technical details and close follow-up of contemporary scientific discoveries while transforming them into science-fictional concepts. This essay aims to explore the landmarks of architectural representations of fictional Mars’ structures in science fiction literature and investigates whether the trend presented above is reflected in fictional Martian architectures throughout the history of the genre. Selected works from classic science fiction, modern science fiction, and contemporary science fiction are comparatively analyzed, while the novel by Andy Weir, The Martian, is centered in the focus of the analysis.