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Excerpt from The Planet Mars and Its Inhabitants, a Psychic Revelation, by J. L. Kennon

At the present day the system is most complete, but constant work is
required to keep the canals in working order. In addition to the
gigantic Canal system, provision had to be made for suitable reservoirs
to impound the water after the seasonal thaws at the poles. To this
end immense reservoirs were constructed at most canal intersections.
In some instances the reservoirs are established between parallel
canals; but in every case smaller canals, or laterals, always intersect
at these points.

Many of the canals on Mars are double, as they appear to your
astronomers. These double waterways parallel each other at a distance
of about 75 miles. The reason for this is that as the Martian
population is absolutely dependent upon the Polar waters to irrigate
their crops, any accident to a canal, such as a landslide stopping the
regular flow of water or the breaking of a lock or gate, would mean a
very serious calamity to a great number of people. And for that
reason, soon after the main canals were constructed, second and
parallel waterways were made for the purpose of guaranteeing an
uninterrupted flow of water from the Poles to the Equatorial regions.
The result of this was that on many occasions the foresight of the
Martian engineers who had the water supply of the planet in charge,
saved immense areas from drought.

The rainfall on Mars is almost nil and the immense population (eight
times larger than that of your Earth) is entirely dependent on the
water supply from the melting Polar caps. Water on Mars is a most
precious fluid and there is none to waste. Our oceans evaporated ages
ago, and outside of the precipitation of moisture at the poles in the
form of snow, none is to be had anywhere else on the planet except in
very meager quantities.

Explanation ​

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Planet Mars and Its Inhabitants by J. L. Kennon ​

Context of the Source ​

The Planet Mars and Its Inhabitants: A Psychic Revelation (1922) by J. L. Kennon is a speculative work that blends early 20th-century astronomical observations with psychic or channelled communications (allegedly from a Martian entity named "Miahuatl"). The book reflects the popular fascination with Mars during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fueled by:

  • Astronomer Percival Lowell’s theories about Martian "canals" (1895–1906), which he believed were artificial waterways built by an advanced civilization.
  • Scientific debates about life on Mars, inspired by telescopic observations of the planet’s surface features (including seasonal changes in polar ice caps).
  • Spiritualist and Theosophical movements, which often claimed extraterrestrial contact through mediums.

Kennon’s work is not scientific but rather a pseudo-scientific and metaphysical account, presenting Mars as a highly advanced, water-starved civilization that has engineered an intricate hydraulic system for survival.

Themes in the Excerpt ​

  1. Engineering and Survival

    • The Martians are depicted as master engineers, having constructed a planet-wide network of canals and reservoirs to distribute water from the poles.
    • Their survival depends entirely on artificial water management, suggesting a civilization that has outgrown natural resources and must rely on technology.

  2. Scarcity and Resource Management

    • Water is extremely precious—Mars has no oceans, almost no rainfall, and only polar ice as a source.
    • The double canal system acts as a fail-safe, preventing catastrophic droughts if one canal fails.
    • This reflects early 20th-century anxieties about industrialization, overpopulation, and resource depletion on Earth.

  3. Civilizational Decline vs. Adaptation

    • The mention that Mars’ oceans "evaporated ages ago" implies a once-thriving planet now in decline, forcing its inhabitants to adapt through large-scale infrastructure.
    • This aligns with Lowell’s theories that Mars was an aging world, where an ancient civilization was struggling against desertification.

  4. Collectivism and Centralized Control

    • The government or engineering elite ("Martian engineers who had the water supply of the planet in charge") suggests a highly organized, possibly authoritarian society where water distribution is centrally managed.
    • This could be read as a commentary on Earth’s own industrial and bureaucratic systems of the time.

  5. Human (Earthly) Comparison

    • The text contrasts Mars with Earth, noting that Mars’ population is "eight times larger" yet far more vulnerable due to water scarcity.
    • This may serve as a warning about Earth’s own population growth and environmental limits.

Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices ​

  1. Pseudo-Scientific Tone

    • Kennon mimics technical writing, using terms like "reservoirs," "laterals," "locks and gates," and precise measurements ("75 miles") to lend credibility.
    • This blurs the line between fact and fiction, making the fantastic seem plausible.

  2. Appeal to Authority (Astronomers & Engineers)

    • References to "your astronomers" (Earth’s scientists) validate the claims by suggesting that observed "double canals" have a logical explanation.
    • The Martian engineers are portrayed as omniscient planners, reinforcing the idea of a superior civilization.

  3. Foreshadowing & Dramatic Irony

    • The line "saved immense areas from drought" implies that without this system, Mars would collapse—hinting at a fragile civilization on the brink.
    • The reader is left to wonder: How long can this system last? (A question relevant to Earth’s own environmental crises.)

  4. Contrast & Juxtaposition

    • Mars (artificial, controlled, scarce) vs. Earth (natural, abundant, wasteful)
    • The precision of Martian engineering vs. the chaotic unpredictability of nature (landslides, evaporation).

  5. Repetition for Emphasis

    • Phrases like "most precious fluid," "none to waste," "entirely dependent" reinforce the desperation and value of water.
    • The double canal system is described in parallel structure, mirroring its function.

Significance of the Passage ​

  1. Reflection of Early 20th-Century Fears & Hopes

    • The excerpt embodies Progressive Era anxieties about industrialization, overpopulation, and environmental collapse.
    • It also reflects faith in human ingenuity—the belief that technology can solve existential threats.

  2. Influence of Percival Lowell’s Theories

    • Lowell’s Martian canal hypothesis (later debunked) was widely discussed, and Kennon’s book popularized a romanticized version of it.
    • The idea of a dying Mars became a cultural trope, influencing later sci-fi (e.g., The War of the Worlds, Dune).

  3. Spiritual & Occult Context

    • As a psychic revelation, the text claims hidden knowledge from a Martian entity, appealing to Theosophists and New Age thinkers who believed in ancient wisdom from advanced beings.
    • The engineering marvels described serve as proof of Martian superiority, reinforcing the idea that Earthlings are less evolved.

  4. Environmental Allegory

    • The passage foreshadows modern climate change discourse—a civilization dependent on a dwindling resource, forced into extreme adaptation.
    • The double canal system can be seen as a metaphor for redundancy in infrastructure, a concept now applied to Earth’s water and energy grids.

  5. Sci-Fi & Cultural Legacy

    • Works like this paved the way for Mars in fiction, from H.G. Wells’ invading Martians to Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars Trilogy (which also features terraforming and water management).
    • The image of Mars as a desert world with ancient canals persists in pop culture (e.g., John Carter, The Expanse).

Close Reading of Key Lines ​

  1. "The system is most complete, but constant work is required to keep the canals in working order."

    • Implication: Even the most advanced systems require maintenance—suggesting that no civilization is permanently secure.
    • Possible critique: A warning against over-reliance on technology without sustainable practices.

  2. "Many of the canals on Mars are double, as they appear to your astronomers."

    • Appeal to Earthly science—Kennon validates his claims by aligning them with telescopic observations (Lowell’s maps showed "double canals").
    • Dramatic effect: The reader is invited to trust the narrative because it matches "real" astronomy.

  3. "The rainfall on Mars is almost nil and the immense population... is entirely dependent on the water supply from the melting Polar caps."

    • Existential threat: The entire civilization’s survival hinges on one fragile system.
    • Parallel to Earth: Echoes concerns about droughts, melting glaciers, and water wars.

  4. "Our oceans evaporated ages ago..."

    • Planetary decline narrative: Mars is older, wiser, but also weakened—a cautionary tale for Earth.
    • Mythic tone: Evokes lost golden ages (like Atlantis or Eden).

Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters ​

Kennon’s excerpt is not just a fantastical description of Martian plumbing—it is a mirror held up to Earth’s own fears about scarcity, engineering hubris, and civilizational collapse. By presenting Mars as a highly advanced yet vulnerable world, the text:

  • Critiques industrial-era wastefulness (Earth has oceans; Mars does not).
  • Glorifies human (or Martian) ingenuity while warning of its limits.
  • Blends science and mysticism, reflecting the cultural crosscurrents of the early 1900s.

Ultimately, the passage transcends its pseudoscientific origins to become a timeless allegory about survival, adaptation, and the fragility of civilization—themes that resonate even more strongly in today’s era of climate change and resource depletion.

Would you like a deeper dive into any specific aspect, such as its connection to Lowell’s theories or its influence on later sci-fi?