Does anyone know why (other than just to update the titles)Bradbury changed August 2026 to August 2057 in Martian Chronicles pub'd 1997?

There is nothing more to it - reality was beginning to catch up with the dates in the book, so when a new edition came along he took the opportunity of moving the story further into the future.

I wouldn't have minded if he had kept the original dates. Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four hasn't suffered for being 'out of date'.

Very good point, Phil.

One difference though:

'1984' is the actual title of the book, and known worldwide by that name...

"We are the dead."
"You ARE the dead..."
(sic)

I have to agree with Phil. I don't think one ioda should be changed in any of his released material. Are we even sure that Ray himself did this and not somebody else?

quote:

Originally posted by Robert M Blevins:
One difference though:

'1984' is the actual title of the book, and known worldwide by that name...

Good point! I wonder how many other SF writers have 'updated' their stories in this way?

(Incidentally, the pedant in me is required to point out the title is written out, thus: Nineteen Eighty-Four, at least here in the UK. I believe the first film version was called 1984.)

quote:

Originally posted by Robot Lincoln:
I have to agree with Phil. I don't think one ioda should be changed in any of his released material. Are we even sure that Ray himself did this and not somebody else?

Robot Lincoln, the change are detailed in Eller & Touponce's book The Life of Fiction. As far as I can recall, they were Bradbury's changes, not an editor's or publisher's.

quote:

As far as I can recall, they were Bradbury's changes, not an editor's or publisher's.

Ray has always been that way, constantly changing and rewriting stuff for the re-release.

He owns it - I guess he can do with it as he pleases.