Auf Zwei Planeten, meaning “On Two Planets” in German, was a popular science-fiction novel about intelligent Martians and how they change life on the Earth. Its author, Kurd Lasswitz (1848 – 1910), a German writer, educator and philosopher, was called “the father of German science fiction.” Though originally published in German in 1897, more than seven decades passed before the book was translated to English! The book, Two Planets, published in 1971 was based on an abridged version of the original novel.
In Lasswitz’s book, a group of explorers come across human-like Martians (but with much larger eyes) of superior intelligence who have set up camp on the Earth’s North and South poles. They are an ancient race, technologically far more advanced than humans – they use anti-gravity devices and rapid transport systems, eat synthetic food and have canals and space stations – but they are running out of water. They try to give humankind education and technologies in exchange for air and solar power which will help them revive their planet. But conflict arises and the Earth becomes a Martian colony! What happens afterwards forms the rest of the novel.
With its accurate descriptions of space travel and portrayal of a highly advanced society built on scientific principles, the novel was very popular in Germany, especially among youngsters. Science writer, Willy Ley, and aerospace engineer, Wernher von Braun, both famous German-born Americans, are said to have been inspired by Lasswitz’s writings.
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