The book is laid out like a bunch of short stories arranged chronologically. Most of the stories have no connection and this was what confused me and I really did not like this feeling. But towards the end a few of them mention earlier incidents or couple of characters appear from earlier stories which gave it a common thread and established that it was indeed taking part in the same dimension and on the same planet. 
 My favorite stories in no particular order are: 
 August 2030: The Earth Men (view spoiler)[ It would be so easy to drive people mad just by not acknowledging them (hide spoiler)] 
 April 2031: The Third Expedition (view spoiler)[ This one was so devious. What a plan by the martians (hide spoiler)] 
 June 2032: And the Moon be still as bright (view spoiler)[ The need to preserve a place or culture even though it is not your own... if everyone thought like that then there would be less conflict (hide spoiler)] 
 May 2034: The Wilderness (view spoiler)[ This one made you feel for all the women and children left behind while the men went to new frontiers searching for a better life for their family (hide spoiler)] 
 April 2036: Usher II (view spoiler)[ This story was such a well plotted revenge. Could have been a horror movie. I haven't read any Edgar Allen Poe but look forward to picking up some of his work (hide spoiler)] 
 December 2036: The Silent Towns (view spoiler)[ This story was so funny. But it was also about expectations and what would you do if you were faced with a difficult choice (hide spoiler)] 
 August 2057: There will come soft rains (view spoiler)[ This one made me think of all the things/ monuments standing through the tests of time. To watch everything around you disappear until one day it to will crumble (hide spoiler)] 
 I am glad I did not DNF this book and stuck with it till the end. There is no big reveal or climax to this book but if you look at it from the point of a view of 2 civilizations: a local civilization and an immigrating civilization, this story will reveal a lot more. 
 So my rating of 3 stars is because this book was different but did not hold my attention throughout. It is a good read and I think sci-fi fans and maybe people interested in human civilizations will enjoy this one.