LITMIR.BIZ

      *Star map by Lee Streiff

      Figure 1.4: Intergalactic map showing the directions to the Virgo Cluster, M 31(the galaxy in the constellation of Andromeda), M 33(a galaxy in Triangulum), and other places from, apparently, the Milky Way, in the center.

      Figure 1.5: Transcription of the four square block area map. (North is at the Right)

      In addition, by standing in our backyard (as the night sky was much more visible then in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s), one could almost feel the affinity with and closeness to the celestial sphere and the streaming cloud of the misty Milky way. I remember many cold winter nights when James would take me out into the backyard and point out the various stars, constellations and planets. His own understanding of Astronomy — which in retrospect it must be remembered was limited to the knowledge of that time — was considerable, even if his spelling was eccentric.

      [Note: And, Pluto was not even discovered yet as a planet. Now of course there are questions about that.]

      It might be noted that the Zodiacal constellations are grouped in the center of this map, and that suggests that the Milky Way was at the intersection of Pershing and Murdock’s store of streets, and that by looking out from there on the plane of the Ecliptic, one would see these constellations from Earth, or — slightly differently — from Mars. There was a small open air neighborhood grocery store of the kind familiar in the 1930’s nestled between some houses on Murdock, close to Pershing where we kids would frequently make stops for pop, Ice-cream and candy. I suspect this might have been the location of Shultz’s Beer Parlor in the outer-space Epic.

      In any case, the intergalactic map in figure 1.4 was only one such, among many in the files depicting episodes in the Epic. And many of the adventures were battles between the Martian Exiles and their various enemies. Most of these exploits are covered in James’ essays in the series Studies in Martian History and in articles in the Martian News Letter, and they will be discussed in Chapter 3.

      3. Religion

      The ancient Martian religion was polytheistic — and was complex and filled with not only a variety of gods, but other creatures as well.

      Figures 1.6 A, and B: The Little Men, Skyhooks, and Varnish.

      For example, there are The Little Men. In their spare time, these creatures act as messengers of KLONO. They are very mischievous, however, and as a result, NOSHABKENNING, the god of Space, does not permit them to move across space unless they are expressly on official business for KLONO. As can be seen in figure 1.6 above, they like to swim in cans of Varnish, hang on skyhooks, throw bombs and march in parades, among other things. Their favorite tool is the monkey wrench which obviously, they delight throwing into things.