How we cite our quotes: ("Story Name," Paragraph)
Quote #1
"We'd like someone to give us the key to the city or something like that, and we'd like somebody to shake our hands and say 'Hooray' and say 'Congratulations, old man!'" ("The Earth Men," 99)
Well, this seems like a silly dream of Captain Williams. It also clues us into the problem with these early explorers—they're obsessed with recognition for their deeds, but they don't particularly care about what they do to get it.
Quote #2
"Well," said the captain, "it's simply that we never thought we'd find a thing like this on Mars." ("The Third Expedition," 122)
Okay, we were pretty hard on Captain Williams (you know, because he's clueless), but we'll admit that it's hard to plan for everything that might happen. Where Captain Williams fails is that he cannot change his ideas once the plan (go to Mars and celebrate) meets reality (the Martians could care less).
Quote #3
They would not talk about the return trip. Someone brought that up, but they told him to keep quiet. ("—And the Moon Be Still as Bright," 12)
We're honestly confused here: why don't these men talk about their return trip to Earth? Is it because there's no plan to return? Is it because they're afraid the plan won't work out? Or do they just want to enjoy their own success in getting to Mars? (We kind of suspect they're not going back. Seriously. How are they going to get that rocket back up in the air?)
Quote #4
It can't be a dirty, silly thing like chicken pox. It doesn't fit the architecture; it doesn't fit this entire world! ("—And the Moon Be Still as Bright," 32)
This is Spender's nightmare for the Martians: that they weren't able to plan for their deaths the way they planned for their lives. But, seriously, death doesn't usually follow anyone's plan—and if it does, we usually call that suicide. And maybe Spender plans his death by letting Wilder kill him.
Quote #5
After I've made friends with them and explained that our rocket exploded one day—I intend to blow it up after I finish my job this week—I'll kill them off, every one of them. Mars will be untouched for the next half century. ("—And the Moon Be Still as Bright," 227)
Sure, Spender. This is an awesome plan to keep Mars human-free. (Actually the plan is longer than this—he gives us a very detailed look at it.) Hey, at least he's got something to work towards—right? Well, maybe not. Turns out having a goal isn't the only thing that matters.
Quote #6
"We'd like to know about the Martians. For only if we know about them can we plan our church intelligently. Are they ten feet tall? We will build large doors. Are their skins blue or red or green? We must know when we put human figures in the stained glass so we may use the right skin color. Are they heavy? We will build sturdy seats for them." ("The Fire Balloons," 39)
Father Peregrine has lots of plans: paramecium get a mini church (114), sea lions get an undersea church, and sparrows get a flying church (178). These plans may be a little impractical, but they show us that Peregrine is flexible. They also tell us something about his priorities: it doesn't matter what the church looks like on the outside, it's how it makes the worshippers feel.
Quote #7
How he would savor this in his old age. This paying back of the antiseptic government for its literary terrors and conflagrations. Oh, how the anger and hatred had grown in him through the years. Oh, how the plan had taken a slow shape in his numbed mind, until that day three years ago when he had met Pikes. ("Usher II," 95)
Stendahl has a Spender-like ability to plan murder. But instead of a big chunk of dialogue explaining the plan, we only get hints about it: it involves robot lookalikes and a haunted castle. And yet we always know what inspired the plan: Stendahl's hatred of censorship. Evidently, Earth Men destroy Earth culture just as effectively as they destroy Martian culture.
Quote #8
"All I wanted to do was have a hot-dog stand, the only one on Mars, the first and most important one. You understand how it is? I was going to serve the best darned hot dogs there, with chili and onions and orange juice." ("The Off Season," 121)
Not all plans are created equal. Parkhill's dream of opening a hot dog stand on Mars is ridiculous, like Captain Williams's dream of being celebrated by the Martians. You're on Mars, for Pete's sake! Dream a little bigger!
Quote #9
"I thought: Well, here I am, the only lady on Mars, and here is the only man, and, well... " ("The Silent Towns," 148)
Since Gripp is the last man on Mars and Genevieve Selsor is the last woman, they should get married, right? This is another example of an Earth-style plan (like the hot dog one), and those don't go well—since Gripp's dream girl looks a lot different from Selsor.
Quote #10
"Daughters?" asked Timothy. "How many?"
"Four."
"I can see that'll cause trouble later." ("The Million-Year Picnic," 100-2)
Timothy's family (three sons and a daughter on the way) has just moved to Mars. They hope to meet up with another refugee family (the Edwards), who have four daughters. Timothy's mom's initial thought is that there are more daughters than sons. But are Earth institutions like marriage really necessary on Mars? Haven't we seen that Earth-style plans don't do well there?