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A Princess of Mars (Barsoom #1)

by Edgar Rice Burroughs, John Seelye (Introduction)

3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 · rating details · 21,361 ratings · 1,771 reviews

The first published book by the creator of Tarzan of the Apes that introduced the world to intergalactic Civil War soldier, John Carter

Two years before Edgar Rice Burroughs became a worldwide celebrity with the publication of Tarzan of the Apes and its twenty-two sequels, which together have sold more than 30 million copies, he published the futuristic sci-fi romance, A Pr...more

Paperback, 186 pages

Published January 30th 2007 by Penguin Books (first published 1912)

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May 04, 2011 Stephen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fantasy, ebooks, easton-press, audiobook, pulpy, alien-cultures, 1900-1929, the-worlds-the-thing

2.5 stars. I know, I know. I can hear you out there saying “2.5 stars for one of the ALL TIME PULP SF CLASSICS" and looking at me like I just made a mess on the floor.

Rest assured, I'm not trying to drop gastronomical "leftovers" in the PULP SF punch bowl and my rating does not indicate a dislike for the book. As mentioned below, I was probably between 3 and 4 stars on the book EXCEPT FOR ONE THING THAT DROVE ME BAT SHIT NUTSO. So please let me explain my rating before you begin planning to hoi...more

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Jul 08, 2012 mark monday rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: futuristik-classik, rain-man-reviews

A SYNOPSIS OF THE BOOK A PRINCESS OF MARS!

John Carter travels to Barsoom to live, love, and fight amongst the Green Men, the Red Men, and the White Apes! his Earthman physique combined with Barsoomian gravity means he's incredibly strong and can jump like a giant-sized super-grasshopper!

John Carter arrives there nekkid! everyone is nekkid! they only wear weapons and ornaments! the Red Race knows what Earthers look like and they think all the clothing we wear is apalling and disgusting! i agree!

J...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Nataliya rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-also-saw-the-film, first-in-a-series

Old-school pulpy goodness. Fun classic full of manly adventures and good cheesy romance between an awesomely manly man John Carter (did I mention manly?) and a scantily-clad beautiful (and at necessary times appropriately helpless) princess Dejah Thoris among the red landscapes of ~~Mars~~ Barsoom.

And let's not forget John Carter's favorite Barsoomian "dog" Woola. Who in my head, thanks to the otherwise forgettable movie, will always look like this insanely adorable menacing monster-cutie - SQUEEE

...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Will Byrnes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Some years back David Bowie asked the musical question, "Is there life on Mars?" Had he read A Princess of Mars he might have known the answer.

Back in the early 60’s I fell in love. Not with a girl, (well, there were one or two cracks opened in that young heart, but we do not speak of that now) but with reading. And the brazen hussy that led me down that path was none other than Edgar Rice Burroughs. Of course there were others, all vying for my immature attention, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimo...more

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Mar 13, 2012 Jonathan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, fantasy, classic-literature, popularity-contest, books-with-films

I really enjoyed this novel despite its obvious flaws. After all what else do we have of a book when finished except the impression it left upon our emotions. I can see why this work is a classic of pulp science fiction. I enjoyed reading a work which inspired some of my all time favourites in the entire universe of science fiction. Yet despite inspiring those works this is something different and unique. I must admit that the book has not aged well when compared to other classic works published...more I really enjoyed this novel despite its obvious flaws. After all what else do we have of a book when finished except the impression it left upon our emotions. I can see why this work is a classic of pulp science fiction. I enjoyed reading a work which inspired some of my all time favourites in the entire universe of science fiction. Yet despite inspiring those works this is something different and unique. I must admit that the book has not aged well when compared to other classic works published in the similar era yet I still looked past the style and tone to the story and found it worth enjoying.

Perhaps the idea of there being another world on Mars with various alien races, lots of warfare and deadly creatures was appealing to me. I haven't read anything quite the same. Of course many books are similar. But this is different. A mix of the old and the new, a forerunner of other powerful fictional tales.

Of course there are several things which prove unappealing about the work. The fact that Burroughs rushes from one event to the next without building up the plot for one. The archaic use of language which may again prove a barrier to others. However when it came to the punch I was able to overlook these aspects because I saw that what Burroughs had achieved what he set out to do. He wasn't writing an epic or a classic, even though it may have become so. He was creating an action adventure story full of fun, pace and energy. And I believe he really achieved what he set out to perform.

It is the fact that A Princess of Mars is no pretentious work that led to me enjoying it so much in the end. Because when I read a book I like to see what I think the author intends with their work and then compare that to what I see them as having achieved. Here Burroughs forms a world which is an adventure to read about, a world not intended to be defined to Tolkienesque proportion but rather enjoyed as a story. He doesn't set out to write a grand philosophical treatise on love and life (at least I hope that's not what he intended) but rather a nice pure piece of sci-fi escapism. And I as a sci-fi lover respected that.(less)

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Mar 05, 2012 Ron rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, science-fiction, gutenberg

A surprisingly good read. Solidly space opera.

As an adventure, it works just fine.

Others have documented Burroughs' shoddy research, but cut the guy some slack--he lived before the invention of modern physics. That said, he commits several gaffs which are perplexing for their crudeness. For example, after he identifies Mars' year as twice as long as an Earth year, he has his hero staying on Mars ten years and returning to Earth with only ten years elapsed. He doesn't even try to explain how John...more

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May 04, 2012 Melissa Proffitt rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, science-fiction, action-adventure, classics

I couldn't believe how much I liked this book. I thought it would be your typical early-20th-century Anglocentric sexist thinly-veiled allegory of Western cultural dominance. Then I got over myself. Like H. Rider Haggard (a near-contemporary of Burroughs, and probably a more direct influence on the Barsoom novels than Jules Verne or H.G. Wells) Edgar Rice Burroughs has some attitudes that modern readers find uncomfortable, but in the context of his time, he's a remarkably liberal thinker.

John C...more I couldn't believe how much I liked this book. I thought it would be your typical early-20th-century Anglocentric sexist thinly-veiled allegory of Western cultural dominance. Then I got over myself. Like H. Rider Haggard (a near-contemporary of Burroughs, and probably a more direct influence on the Barsoom novels than Jules Verne or H.G. Wells) Edgar Rice Burroughs has some attitudes that modern readers find uncomfortable, but in the context of his time, he's a remarkably liberal thinker.

John Carter is strong but generous of spirit, a powerful warrior but respectful of women, a staunch defender of what he believes to be right, and completely aware of his weaknesses instead of pretending they don't exist. I think his personality is best defined by how he becomes a "chieftain" among the green Martians totally by accident. Among the Martians, status is gained by killing other warriors, usually only for that purpose; John Carter kills to defend himself and then others, completely unaware of how green Martian society works, but doesn't change his behavior once he learns the truth--even though gaining status would help both him and Dejah Thoris, the titular princess. His falling in love with her is so sweet--there's something very touching about a strong man who's completely at a loss before the woman he loves.

Burroughs's world building is at times inconsistent, but since this novel was originally published serially, it's not surprising that he changed his mind about stuff between issues. It was incredibly easy to lose myself in the story, and the only thing I couldn't quite believe was that John Carter was able to control his physical urges even though he and Dejah Thoris were naked the whole time. Seriously? I could buy Dejah Thoris being unaffected on the grounds that it's how her people live, but a red-blooded Virginia boy? Who came from a time when women showed almost no skin below the neckline? Maybe that makes Burroughs even more of a liberal thinker than I thought.(less)

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Mar 24, 2012 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own

I've honestly been meaning to pick up Burrough's Barsoon series ever since I first read Tarzan a few years ago and was told that he'd written this sci-fi adventure series set on Mars. While I don't read a ton of contemporary science fiction novels, I find myself drawn to early sci-fi (though I still haven't read a ton of the pioneering novels like this one). Once I heard the movie was coming out, I decided it was high time to jump into these books.

I was surprised to learn that Princess of Mars...more I've honestly been meaning to pick up Burrough's Barsoon series ever since I first read Tarzan a few years ago and was told that he'd written this sci-fi adventure series set on Mars. While I don't read a ton of contemporary science fiction novels, I find myself drawn to early sci-fi (though I still haven't read a ton of the pioneering novels like this one). Once I heard the movie was coming out, I decided it was high time to jump into these books.

I was surprised to learn that Princess of Mars is the first book in an ELEVEN book series. I admit that it was written in the time when the public seemed to just eat up adventure novels like this, but I was still intrigued by the longevity of the series.

The writing definitely has that early 20th century feel to it. The language is elegant and thoughtful as opposed to just being thrown on the page to feel a pop-culture need for yet another blast 'em up space adventure. The main part of the story begins in the Arizona desert and involves John Carter doing a little prospecting with a friend and then being chased by warlike Indians. The plot and adventure felt very reminiscent of other adventure novels I'd read from the late-19th and early-20th century. The narration style, the descriptions, etc. All very familiarly well crafted and vibrant.

After a bit of excitement on Earth we are taken, almost literally, in the blink of an eye to Mars. Burroughs doesn't get into the science of how John Carter is transported to the planet nor does he initially say anything about how he's able to breathe and survive in the differing atmosphere.

Rather than focusing on the hard science, we are taken into an exploration of the softer science. John Carter discovers an incubator…his first glimpse into the Martian culture. He then meets and interacts with a variety of alien races. There is definitely some focus on the science of John's physiological differences (and the way gravity works differently on his body on Mars than on Earth) but the core exploration seems to be one of cultures, of relationships, of 'humanity.'

There are most definitely adventure scenes in this novel and they are quite fun. Some of the action and adventure comes from misunderstandings and the warlike nature of some of the Martian races, but a large part of the motivation is based on the romantic affectations of John Carter towards the Princess of Mars, a "red Martian" named Dejah Thoris.

For John, it was love at first sight with Dejah, but I loved the way he had to work hard to understand her and get her to reciprocate his feelings. I loved the way Burroughs focused on the difficulties of the "courtship" not only because John and Dejah were of different races…but also just because of the nature of interactions and misunderstandings between men and women generally. While certainly not an in-depth psychological reading, it was fun to see the male and female psyches come into play.

I found myself really engaged in the story. The book jumped very rapidly from one action sequence to another and from one part of Mars to another. Over the course of a very few pages we are bounced over the expanse of Mars and get to know two major "human-like" races along with the various tribes and sub-groups of each of these. We are given a glimpse into a very imaginative and fun new culture with strange new creatures and technologies. With the fast paced nature of the narrative, I sometimes wished for a little more character/plot development but by the same token, I felt like the fast pace actually helped develop some of these elements in a way far more effective and interesting.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to checking out others in the Barsoom series. I haven't yet seen the movie though I have seen it getting fairly unfavorable reviews. I still want to see the film to see if perhaps a knowledge of the book will make it a better experience than the reviews suggest. Regardless of the quality of the movie, I can definitely recommend this book to most readers.

****
4 out of 5 stars(less)

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Jul 15, 2008 Werner rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of action-oriented science-fiction

Shelves: science-fiction, classics

It can be said at the outset that Burroughs was not a very deep nor a very disciplined writer. His disdain for research often shows in his work, and it does here; and in his science fiction (he would write voluminously in this genre --this novel sparked a series, and he produced two other popular sci-fi series as well) consistent and well-thought world building wasn't his strength. For instance, his Martian children incubate in eggs and hatch only when they're able to eat solid food --but his Ma...more It can be said at the outset that Burroughs was not a very deep nor a very disciplined writer. His disdain for research often shows in his work, and it does here; and in his science fiction (he would write voluminously in this genre --this novel sparked a series, and he produced two other popular sci-fi series as well) consistent and well-thought world building wasn't his strength. For instance, his Martian children incubate in eggs and hatch only when they're able to eat solid food --but his Martian women have physiques like those of human women, busts and all. If there were ever a writer who overused coincidence in plotting, it would be Burroughs, and his plot developments and devices can strain credibility; science fiction writers of that day were quite taken with astral projection, but John Carter's ability to, in effect, simply will himself to the Red Planet, as a means of space travel, is definitely a stretch.

For all that, though, his work continues to fascinate readers. Partly, this is because of the enduring appeal of his theme of "primitivism" or "feralism," of which Tarzan, of course, is the archetypal example, but which constantly reappears in his work: the saga of a scion of modern high- tech, regimented civilization, transported to a primitive, dangerous world where he can be free to be his own boss, but must meet physical challenges in order to survive. And his heroes earn our respect, because they're not egoistic brutes who revel in a chance to be predators in a jungle; rather, John Carter and the others are instinctively moral men who model what Burrough's generation thought of as "masculine virtues" (which actually aren't gender-specific!) --courage, loyalty, a sense of honor, determination, generosity of spirit. (Of course, they're also larger-than-life heroes with strength, ingenuity, and competence.) This gives his work a dimension of meaning, both as an implicit criticism of a stultifying and constraining social order that tries to reduce us to cogs in a constantly smooth-running machine and as a positive endorsement of qualities we recognize as worth honoring and imitating, that still resonates with readers today, and I think always will. He's also a master of pacing, and of exciting adventure that can keep you turning the pages; and the broad canvas of his picture of Mars --an arid, dying world balkanized among a plethora of warring tribes and kingdoms, violently struggling for survival-- has an undeniable imaginative power that grips the reader.(less)

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Feb 25, 2012 Tracey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-text

Not sure how I've overlooked this for so long... you'd think when I went thru my Conan the Barbarian stage back in middle school, I would have stumbled across the Barsoom series as well. Decided I'd better check it out before seeing the John Carter movie coming out in a few weeks.

This novelette is a fun, quick read that definitely helped set the stage for both the fantasy and sci-fi genres. There's plenty of manly adventure, and the occasional bit of dry humour. Yeah, the character development...more

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Dec 02, 2011 Matthew Fox rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library

Edgar Rice Burroughs the father of Tarzan created a series of John Carter of Mars novels that are enjoyable to read on a few accounts. First there are about ten novels in the Martian Chronicles measuring in about 200 pages or less. So a quick read of some well written storytelling. Second is the language that is used is an excellent way to expand and strengthen ones vocabulary especially if you are looking for a more descriptive verbiage.

A Princess of Mars begins with one of the greatest introd...more

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Jan 05, 2010 Elijah Meeks rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Mars series of Burroughs are classic adventure novels and their setting on the dying Red Planet allows Burroughs to move away from the racialist dogma found in the Tarzan series. While falling into a classic paradigm of the great hero who overawes and out-competes the "natives", it contains such moments of great humanity, even for people who have four arms and tusks, that I always find it uplifting. The style of Burroughs' adventure writing has always appealed to me and his stories create a...more

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Matt "While falling into a classic paradigm of the great hero who overawes and out-competes the "natives"..."

One of the interesting things about Burroughs...more
Jan 05, 2010 05:34pm

Elijah Meeks I think you're absolutely right, Matt. John Carter especially, but also Tarzan, are mythical heroes (Though the Warlord of Mars seems to be something...more
Jan 05, 2010 06:05pm

Matt "I'm uncomfortable with it..."

I'm not. My first impression based on the choice of hero, an ex-Confederate officer of Virginia, was that John Carter wa...more "I'm uncomfortable with it..."

I'm not. My first impression based on the choice of hero, an ex-Confederate officer of Virginia, was that John Carter was a 'Mary Sue', and the ERB was himself a Virginian of landed Southern slave owning family. If this was the case, I think you could be a little bit forgiven for thinking that ERB is writing a simple tale of racial supremacy and not looking at the text closely. But in fact, ERB is a member of a prominent abolutionist family and his father was a Union officer. And I think that forces us to at the text a little closer. I see John Carter, quintessential Virgianian, as deliberately chosen to be a subversive vehicle for a message - indeed a whole bundle of themes - that was in his day far from politically correct.

It's been a while since I read through the Tarzan books, but I think you do even those a bit of a disservice if you think ERB presents the black African as a true unredeemable savage (Chief Muviro, for example). Heck, ERB doesn't even present the animals as being unredeemably animalistic, and by the time you get very far into the series it becomes clear that if there is one group of people ERB does think are unredeemable savages it is the Germans. Tarzan kills alot of 'Huns'.

I'll be honest about what I get uncomfortable about. I get uncomfortable when people are uncomfortable with say the story of a White man going to Mars and overawing the natives, but who would praise the same story if a Black man had been the protagonist? Aren't they the same story? Likewise, I get uncomfortable when people are uncomfortable with the story of a White man going to Mars and overawed the natives, but who would not feel disturbed if a alien man - white or whatever - came to Earth and overawed the natives. Isn't it the same story? Does it change so much if we make this protagonist look or not look like 'us', whoever 'we' are? Must we identify with the character who looks like 'us'? If so, I'm doomed, because there isn't a redeemable Holy Thern in the entire story. The 'blond' white guys are the only race in the whole series that lack any sort of virtue or heroic representative. The 'black' hero at least is able to overcome his ingrained cultural racism.(less)
Jan 05, 2010 09:13pm

Jan 06, 2010 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi, adventure

John Carter, a soldier from Virginia, is transported to Mars, where he has swashbuckling adventures that involve rayguns, airships, many-limbed aliens, and a charismatic princess. All you really need to know about this book is that it and it's first two sequels (at minimum) are required reading for any genre fan with the slightest level of tolerance for pulp adventure. A big screen version will be out in 2012, and we all know that you read the book before you see the movie.

It's pretty impossible...more

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Sep 24, 2008 Jon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: classics, ebooks, fiction, science-fiction, read-in-my-40s

Read this as an ebook from the Project Gutenberg edition of this novel - http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/62

Very enjoyable via my BlackBerry on my morning commute and before bed.

I was amazed at how well this novel appealed to me. For a science fiction novel published in 1912 (actually as a six-part serial in a magazine that year), it has stood the test of time quite well. Granted what we know of Mars makes much of the story ludicrous if you look at it strictly from a factual point of view. But if...more

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Jim I LOVED this series as a kid, however I think you might be overloaded reading the entire Barsoom series. They're all quick reads, but it isn't really...more
Sep 11, 2008 03:19am

Jon Thank you very much for the ERB insights. I've never read any of his work and I'm enjoying this light read as an ebook. Basically, that's the only rea...more
Sep 11, 2008 04:15am

Jim You can actually read a book on a Blackberry? More power to you. I have read some lengthy emails (I had one at my last job, none now, thank goodness.)...more
Sep 11, 2008 07:17am

Jun 25, 2008 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Lovers of sci-fi, fantasy, or comic books. Boys. Girls who like boys.

Shelves: science-fiction, fantasy

'A Princess of Mars' is the first of Edgar Rice Burroughs 'Barsoom' books, set on a mythical Mars, and the first introduction of the character of John Carter, 'Warlord of Mars', 'the greatest Swordsman of two worlds', and something a demigod of war himself. It is a giant in the history of science fiction, fantasy, and modern superhero stories, and a rollicking good adventure story filled with wonder and imagination. Modern 'Swords and Sorcery' and 'Space Opera' are both deeply indebted to this w...more 'A Princess of Mars' is the first of Edgar Rice Burroughs 'Barsoom' books, set on a mythical Mars, and the first introduction of the character of John Carter, 'Warlord of Mars', 'the greatest Swordsman of two worlds', and something a demigod of war himself. It is a giant in the history of science fiction, fantasy, and modern superhero stories, and a rollicking good adventure story filled with wonder and imagination. Modern 'Swords and Sorcery' and 'Space Opera' are both deeply indebted to this work.

At its heart, if you peal away all the lovely trappings, 'A Princess of Mars' is boy's literature written to instuct young boys in the ways of manhood. And, like the best boy's literature, it is both wonderfully orthodox and didactic and wonderfully subversive and thought provoking at the same time.

Much is made from certain self-important critics of Burroughs supposed racism or sexism or general unfitness to be intructing young boys. Certainly there is nothing at all politically correct in this tale fraught with violence and barbarism. Superficially, there might seem to be something politically correct for its time, and if this is so it was certainly written at a time when racism and chauvanism was politically correct. But dig a little, and you find that Burroughs is sneaking in well aimed criticism at the accepted standards of Burrough's time.

Among other things, his characters dress casually - indeed wear almost nothing at all - and Burroughs bemoans female dress that is confining - not just because it conceals the figure - but because it prevents women from being active. We get the idea he hates high heels, and that he would have loved women's atheletic shoes and modern standards of dress in general. He detests false modesty and prudishness. He detests unquestioning religious fervor. Burroughs detests race based snobbery, and his most noble characters openly assert that there is no apparant racial defect which is not do to want of culture rather than racial destiny. The characters of his story bear out these themes. Indeed, the character of John Carter is successful, not just because of his superior ability with the sword, but because of his heroic ability to see through the skin of his alien acquaintances and to accept and judge them on the basis of the content of their character. This skill, acquired in part because he is an earthman and thus not indoctrinated into the racial prejudices of the martians nor subject to them himself, serves him just as well as his sword or sidearm. Though white skinned himself, as the series progresses, John Carter's staunchest allies and most noble friends are black, yellow, red, and green and the one nation of people where he ultimately finds no one of virtue is the white martians. So, no, despite his reputation and at times its very political incorrect ways this is no simple tale of easily dismissable racism or chauvinism.

It is both interesting and entertaining, and while not every book that follows is of the same high standard of imagination, this one is well worth the small amount of time it will take you to race through its pages.(less)

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Mar 24, 2012 Tony rated it 4 of 5 stars

The bad news is I seem to be getting in the habit of reading books my Goodreads Friends do just so that I can answer their questions. More than not this means re-reading books I enjoyed much earlier, but that I don't remember the details about.

Just the other day I had look up an answer from Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, a book that I've already read three times. I had read that section of the book just fifteen minutes earlier, and I still couldn't answer it. I couldn't even find it after goi...more The bad news is I seem to be getting in the habit of reading books my Goodreads Friends do just so that I can answer their questions. More than not this means re-reading books I enjoyed much earlier, but that I don't remember the details about.

Just the other day I had look up an answer from Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, a book that I've already read three times. I had read that section of the book just fifteen minutes earlier, and I still couldn't answer it. I couldn't even find it after going back and looking.

The good news, however, is that I last read Edgar Rice Burroughs' A Princess of Mars (and the whole Barsoom Series) about fifty years ago in my early teen years. I forgot how much I really enjoyed this book, but I'm not getting any younger, and it's time I started reading some of the hundreds of books I have here that I haven't read at all yet - well, just as soon as I finish Re-reading A Confederacy of Dunces....

I hear the movie John Carter bombed. Of course it did! Who but us old science fiction fans ever heard of John Carter? He's not like Burroughs' Tarzan that is part of the national vocabulary. At least if it were called John Carter of Mars, it might have brought out the sci fi fans.

I expect to see the movie some time this week, so at least I'll have a recent memory of it. I'll edit this review after I've seen the movie.....

Addendum: 3/24/12 - I saw the John Carter movie on Thursday and was delighted by it. The end credits clim it was based on A Princess of Mars, one of eleven Barsoom novels and only some of them featuring John Carter, that I had read about fifty years ago. I re-read the first and have no intention of rereading the others. My only problem with the movie was that I think they might have taken some major subplots from some of the other Barsoom novels.

The movie did an excellent job of beginning with ERB and his "Uncle Jack" as in the book. This device was also used at the end of the movie and also had several additional John Carter flashbacks - his wife and child - which really helped.

Beyond that, much of the original plot was still there, and I thought they did a really wonderful job with costumes, sets, make-up, especially the Martian tattoos and the non-human Martians and animals. I was especially delighted that the Martian flying vessels were exactly the same as on the old paperback covers from my boyhood. Carter's pet, Woola, was also delightful - I know - I use that word too much.

Most of the reviews gave it a "C" but my review would be at least an "A-."(less)

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Mar 26, 2012 Jacob Proffitt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi, fantasy

I read these first in the 7th grade. I remember seeking them out and being eager to get the next after finishing each. When I realized that I remember searching the school library for the books more than the books themselves, I figured it might be fun to give them a new look. Since at least the first couple are old enough to be in the public domain (because Disney can't profit from them and bribe congress into extending copyright another couple decades), I picked up a copy at project Gutenberg.

A...more I read these first in the 7th grade. I remember seeking them out and being eager to get the next after finishing each. When I realized that I remember searching the school library for the books more than the books themselves, I figured it might be fun to give them a new look. Since at least the first couple are old enough to be in the public domain (because Disney can't profit from them and bribe congress into extending copyright another couple decades), I picked up a copy at project Gutenberg.

And surprisingly, neither the age of the work nor my own, eh hem, maturity have diminished the sheer enjoyment of the story. Burroughs tells a ripping tale that never slows down enough to lose your interest. The pseudo-scientific/magical elements are mostly black-boxed enough that you really don't care that modern science makes the tale impossible. Who cares about the Mars rover when you have green-skinned, four-armed aliens coming at you with swords?!?

Yes, this is pulp fiction at heart. John Carter learns the language of Mars in a week. Dejah Thoris is present pretty much just to motivate John Carter into danger and derring-do. Tars Tarkas and Kantos Kan provide armed support when the action needs to be kicked up to the next level. And pretty much all the bad guys are irredeemably evil for no more reason than that's how they are.

But offsetting these sketchy elements is a depth of imagination that makes you want to ignore weaknesses in order to just enjoy the story. Burroughs creates not just creatures of dread and wonder, but societies and technologies that are both fun and interesting to explore. And I think that's the heart of the genius of these books. Burroughs enlists our inner sense of wonder to bypass our defenses and sell us his story. And he does it so gently that I can't resent him for it afterwards.

If you're willing to let go of your expectations of great literature, these books are a delight. If you're going to be all strict and stuff, you probably shouldn't bother. Parts of me wanted to rate this book a 3 because I liked it but recognize the weaknesses of its pulp-fiction heritage. Other parts wanted to rate it a 5 because I enjoyed it so much I really couldn't put it down. I compromised by giving it 4 stars for a great story that I can't recommend whole-heartedly.(less)

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May 23, 2012 Austin Storm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, read-2012

Epic. Violence & nudity and the first-person narrator constantly telling you how unconsciously noble and duty-bound he is. Very efficient storytelling - whole wars happen over the course of a few pages. And Woola! John Carter winning the hearts of the awesome beasties of Mars with a little kindness was my favorite moment.

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Jul 05, 2012 Megan Baxter rated it 3 of 5 stars

I came to this having enjoyed the terribly-named movie version much more than I had expected. Not deep, but pulpy fun. (Seriously, John Carter? "A Princess of Mars" was too girly? "John Carter of Mars" might have, what, given the impression it takes place on Mars?!?) I didn't know how much of the book had made it into the movie, but I was hoping for some of the same kind of pulpy fun from this.

And the book mostly delivered. At times, I was shocked how faithful the movie actually was - things I h...more I came to this having enjoyed the terribly-named movie version much more than I had expected. Not deep, but pulpy fun. (Seriously, John Carter? "A Princess of Mars" was too girly? "John Carter of Mars" might have, what, given the impression it takes place on Mars?!?) I didn't know how much of the book had made it into the movie, but I was hoping for some of the same kind of pulpy fun from this.

And the book mostly delivered. At times, I was shocked how faithful the movie actually was - things I had guessed had been added in had come directly from the book, including the prologue, and Woola. The Thark storyline was mostly unchanged. The big differences came from the war between Helium and Zodanga, and the guys secretly controlling the Zodangan empire, who do not appear in the book.

This is, of course, a book of its time, and heavily colonial in nature. Both "green" and "red" men on Mars fill the symbolic place of Natives (mostly the Thark, but still, sometimes the red people of Mars too. Dejah Thoris is, in a certain light, a stereotypical Indian princess.) John Carter arrives, and with his military prowess and code of honour, manages to save the civilization of Helium, on the verge of collapse, and civilize the barbarian Thark.

While watching the movie, I thought it was a bit of overkill to make Dejah Thoris a brilliant scientist and a kickass sword fighter, but I ended up preferring that to the book, where she is there to be clad in thin wisps of material, and be regal when faced with barbarity. As I said, a product of its time. Dejah has immense dignity and pride, but that's about as much as we get of a character from her.

But all of these are general limitations of pulp as a genre, and within that, this book moves along quickly, and immersed me in the action. The world is exciting and filled with peril, and John Carter faces down more enemies than you could shake a stick at. Bravery is rewarded, and treachery punished. The ending notes are some of the strongest in the book, as they give more of a bittersweet ending than a heroic reward.(less)

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Feb 13, 2013 Wendy B rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi-fantasy

John Carter is awesome. I know this, because John Carter told me so. Everyone is impressed by John Carter. I know this, because John Carter said so. Dejah Thoris is beautiful. I know this, because John Carter said so. Dejah Thoris is incomparable. I know this, because John Carter told me so.

And for these reasons of awesome impressive incomparableness, these two fine specimens of Earthan and Martian perfection fell in love. The fact that they wear very little clothing may also have had something...more John Carter is awesome. I know this, because John Carter told me so. Everyone is impressed by John Carter. I know this, because John Carter said so. Dejah Thoris is beautiful. I know this, because John Carter said so. Dejah Thoris is incomparable. I know this, because John Carter told me so.

And for these reasons of awesome impressive incomparableness, these two fine specimens of Earthan and Martian perfection fell in love. The fact that they wear very little clothing may also have had something to do with their fated romance.

To be fair, this is pulp fiction and I assume the “story” told here is standard for the time and genre. Maybe if I read it back then, I’d appreciate it more. Maybe if read the comic version instead, I’d appreciate Dejah Thoris’ jewel covered pretty bits and John Carter’s manly manliness more. But I guess this style just doesn’t work for me, although I am currently tempted to rewrite all my favourite fandoms in pulp fiction style. Commander Shepard really is awesome and would look lovely in tiny pieces of metal and gemstones.

My husband and I watched the movie a few weeks ago and it wasn’t bad at all. Clearly it suffered from Disney’s poor marketing decision, but otherwise, it was a passable film and thankfully it did not follow the story it originated from too closely. I don’t think it would have translated very well in our times. Instead, they opted to make the story a bit more interesting and slightly less about John Carter being awesome and Dejah Thoris served greater purpose than trophy princess.

"John Carter, that most incomparable of manly men, not leader nor fighter nor lover compared him for that moment of being smitten, t'was not her eyes nor her personality that won John 'I'm Awesome' Carter's heart, nay, but solely the sight of her lithesome nudity.

How could such a man find himself lost for words? John 'God I'm Amazing Carter approached the lovely lady, 'Boo?' He murmured, before continuing boldy, 'Bees?'"
~Gratuitously paraphrased by Simon Field

(less)

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Aug 03, 2012 Regina Hunter rated it 3 of 5 stars

Clever idea for its time, but sooooo many errors. Good book thou, as I said before, even Dracula had errors and it was written by a critic!

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Mar 20, 2011 Bryan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, sf, fantasy

Transcript from the John Carter sessions
(from the files of Dr. Wm (Bill) Loney, Doctor of Psychiatry)

Carter: So where were we last time, doc?

Doctor: We were talking about representations of things that are ideals for you, and how they are expressed in imaginative fantasies.

Carter: What was that?

Doctor: (sighs) You were telling me about Barsoom and your adventures there.

Carter: Yeah... that's right. I traveled there, you know? It's Mars, actually.

Doctor: How did you know it was Mars?

Carter: There...more

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Oct 01, 2012 JBradford rated it 3 of 5 stars

I gave the date of reading as 09-30-12, but actually I read it again, some two or three months ago, and still further back, perhaps in 1944 or thereabouts, and maybe even again in the 1960s. The reason for that is that I saw the movie version, John Carter, some two months ago, and then watched it again, after purchasing the DVD, after the previous reading (on my Nook, no less), and then again yesterday evening. All this doubling came about because I was amazed, when I heard of the film , that an...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Natalie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi, classics, series

This is one of the very rare occasions where I like the movie much more than the book. Even though this was a short book, it took me forever to read, because I found it uninteresting. It was disappointing because I enjoyed Tarzan of the Apes so much.

When I was about 1/3 of the way through, I saw the movie, and I enjoyed it immensely. It helped me visualize the world (which I had been struggling with) and it made me excited to finish. Of course, as soon as I started reading it again, I was insta...more

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Nov 28, 2011 Shedrick Pittman-Hassett rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This classic “pulp” adventure from the creator of Tarzan of the Apes is a lot of fun. John Carter, a Civil War veteran and treasure hunter, travels to Mars (what the locals call Barsoom) via astral projection. Here the Manly Man™ becomes a hero and chieftain amongst the strange Red and Green Martians while navigating their equally bizarre cultures. A tried and true plot that no one does quite like Burroughs. It helps that the world of Barsoom is interesting and obviously designed with its own hi...more

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Jan 21, 2009 Jacki rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Sci-Fi fans

Shelves: adult-fiction

Interesting first glimps for me into the Sci-Fi world. I think this quote sums up every chapter of the book:

"I realized that it was fight or die--with good chances of dying in any event--and so I struck the ground with drawn sword ready to defend myself as best I could." p. 195

The whole book was very over the top with "Daring" fight scenes that, while dangerous, never seriously injure our Protagonist. It's a fun and adventurous read if you don't want to think too hard. And don't expect too much...more

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Feb 07, 2008 Robert Saunders rated it 3 of 5 stars

These were considered "planetary romances" according to one source back when this series from the creator of Tarzan, Edgar Rice Burroughs, was written. This series of about 10 books started in 1912 and culminated around 1948. There's an odd mention of a book in 1964, but the other had been dead for 14 years by then. Plus there are a few shorts published in some pulp periodicals of the 1940s (where many of these stories appeared in years prior).

Today we call this stuff sci-fi, but it's quite diff...more

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Oct 14, 2007 Andrew rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: pulpsters

Shelves: fantastic, scientific, genre

I would actually recommend this book more than my three-star rating might suggest; it's a freewheeling, swashbuckling story about John Carter, an ex-Confederate officer magically transported to dying Mars, where his powerful Earth-muscles grant him extraordinary abilities. What's not to like?

In his travels, Carter lives with (and escapes from) the green men of Mars- hulking, four-armed barbarians who've lost all human affection (through evolution!)- and falls in love with the incomparable Dejah...more

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Aug 17, 2007 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: scifi-and-fantasy

I read this book in the sixth grade, and I remember it distinctly. I tore through most, if not all of the series, and loved them all at the time. Later my fondness for them was increased by the fact that Robert Heinlein had also clearly read and loved them as a boy, as he referenced them pretty heavily. I don't know what edition I originally read, but my wife recently brought home the Penguin Classics edition, and I decided to reread it to see how well it reads for my older self.

It held up remar...more

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May 21, 2012 Ross rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, yo-best-adapted-screenplay

Would recommend: verily!

First, get ready to have your mind blown: did you know the guy who wrote this INVENTED TARZAN? Who knew (probably many people). Anyway, A Princess of Mars is pretty much a must read if you like sci-fi at all. This guy was writing in 1917 and is a contemporary of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, and honestly, he is a lot more accessible than either of those guys. This was one of the first books EVER to be written about adventures on Mars!

The tone is awesome and adventurous and...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
need to read all 11?	22	112	Apr 06, 2013 10:47am
Book Talk: Princess of Mars	5	7	Feb 20, 2013 10:17am
Books2Movies Club: 2012/03 - John Carter	9	91	Feb 16, 2013 12:23pm
Excellent book	3	30	Oct 25, 2012 08:09am
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About Edgar Rice Burroughs

Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.

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Quotes from A Princess of Mars

“In one respect at least the Martians are a happy people, they have no lawyers.” — 27 people liked it

“Yes, I was a fool, but I was in love, and though I was suffering the greatest misery I had ever known I would not have had it otherwise for all the riches of Barsoom. Such is love, and such are lovers wherever love is known.” — 11 people liked it

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A Princess of Mars (Barsoom #1)

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