Armor on Mars

Part of an ongoing conversation and love-fest of all things Barsoomian.

Sean M. Brooks writes a question that often returns to puzzle readers of scientifiction and scientific romances. Why is it, that, the conditions that obtain on Barsoom…

Why aren’t these warriors wearing ARMOR and carrying at least bucklers when they fight practically all the time using only swords? … Wearing armor would give these warriors some protection from the blows of their enemies. I can easily imagine how John Carter, coming from a heavier gravity world like Earth, would find armor on Barsoom especially easy to wear. So, why don’t they? Are metals like iron and copper too rare and costly for most warriors? Even if that was the case, I would think at least jeddaks (emperors) could afford armor for themselves and a few picked soldiers.

Many scholars of Barsoomania have pondered this question with philosophical diligence.
Read more