According to Mr. Phoebus Apollo, retired teacher of astronomy, the Martians aren't such bad sorts. They enjoy a bit of gin in the tavern now and then. The wheat they brought to Earth makes very palatable beer and bread, once you get used to the grain's bright blue color. They don't know as much about stamp collecting as Mr. Apollo does, but then neither does anybody else.

The first invasion from Mars, readers of H.G. Wells will recall, was not a success from the Martian point of view. This time, however, they've cleaned up their act. No more death rays, no more cities in flames. This time they're attacking the human race at its weakest point: They're buying it off.

This mordant parody of the Wells classic is full-blooded satire in the Gogol tradition, rich in action and vivid characters that make you laugh and ponder. Once you've read it, you'll never take stomach juice for granted again!