Carbonies

Carbonies are a fictional species that appear in the science fiction novel "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury. They are depicted as inhabitants of Mars who are described as having a primitive, almost elemental nature. The term "carbonies" is a colloquial one used by the human colonists to refer to these indigenous life forms, highlighting their presumed organic composition.

In Bradbury's narrative, the carbonies are encountered by the early human explorers on Mars. They are not portrayed as technologically advanced or possessing a complex society. Instead, they are presented as beings who are deeply connected to the Martian environment, living in harmony with the planet's arid and alien landscape. Their existence is largely passive, and they seem to be more observers than active participants in the events of the story.

The concept of the carbonies serves as a literary device to explore themes of colonization, cultural misunderstanding, and the impact of humanity's arrival on alien worlds. They represent the original life of Mars, which is ultimately displaced or altered by the human presence. Bradbury's depiction of the carbonies is somewhat ambiguous, leaving room for interpretation about their true nature and fate as the human colonization progresses. They are a symbol of the lost or vanishing Martian civilization.