John Carter of Mars

A truly good book should be good regardless of its presentation, but it is always nice when a publisher re-releases a classic in a visually appealing format. The cover art on this new edition is beautiful and the size, print, and construction are very nice. The John Carter novels are an easy read anyway, but this new format makes them even easier to pick up and read. This edition is a nice update for modern readers of a classic that continues to thrill.

This is the fourth book in Edgar Rice Burroughs "Mars" series. John Carter only has a cameo in this book. The real star of the book is Carter's son, Carthoris, along with his lady love, Thuvia. It's a typical example of early 20th Century science fiction, although better written than the average sci-fi story. Thuvia gets kidnapped, Carthoris goes off to rescue her. Along the way, they discover another lost city of Mars (things like that happen a lot in these books). If you are interested in early science fiction, this is an entertaining example of the genre.

Mr. Edgar does not disappoint :)

The storyline continues where it ended in the first book, and John Carter takes you through a trip on more uncharted territory in Mars, diving headfirst on the red men's mythology and religious beliefs, uncovering "heaven's heaven" and fighting through all to get back to his beautiful Dejah Thoris - while introducing interesting new characters and whole new species of men/animals.

I love this series and would love to see a really well made tv show out of it!

I was disappointed to learn that Disney destroyed the story line. These books are great reads and I think Disney could of did a LOT more with John Carter, especially with the different colored people, the odd variety of vegetation, the MOONS! Mr. Burroughs goes onto great length to describe the people and environment, something that is sorely overlooked as a movie.

Ok so they did some of the John Carter collection for the movies . Like Tarzan these were serials and boy did Burroughs know how to drag out a story line . Yet unlike A curtain Thrown series today he doesn't kill off all your favorite characters just as you were beginning to love them. Some repetition, but great read for 9-13 years olds. And for a few of us old timers who saw the movies and just wanted to know what the books actually said.

The John Carter of Mars Series is incredibly written, and I'm loving every word of it. It is written in an old classic style of literature which I find very rewarding and satisying to read. The story is action-packed and may be a bit too full of battle scenes (which is not the typical type of read for me) but since it is so well written it does make you feel like you are right there beside JC as he battles some scary Martian. Above and beyond the sci fi setting this is really a love story. There are some of the most incredibly heart-wrenching professions of deep and abiding love as JC and his lady friend fall deeper and deeper into a love which no Martian may put asunder. If you fellas want to woo your ladies, borrow some of John Carter's lines. The descriptions of another planet provided by Burroughs enable you to easily picture this completely foreign setting. Imagine that more colors exist on Mars than those which appear in a rainbow on Earth. Some of the leaps are not fully explained - like how did he get there in the first place? - but with the intersting action which never rests, you don't care all that much. I wouldn't choose a sci fi book ever, but this one chose me.

At the conclusion of A Princess of Mars, Edgar Rice Burroughs's first chronicle of John Carter's Martian adventures, readers were left in the thrall of an irresistable cliffhanger. With the future of all life on Barsoom at stake, John Carter risked everything to help repair the planet's failing atmosphere plant -- and in doing so found himself unceremoniously sent back to Earth. With the future of his wife, Dejah Thoris, and their unborn child far from secure, Carter spends the next decade waiting and hoping for a way back to his new homeland to learn their fate. When Carter's fondest wish is finally granted and he is returned to Barsoom, his simple desire to be reunited with his lost love is easier sad than done. Upon his return to Mars, Carter finds himself in the Valley Dor, the final destination of the voluntary pilgrimage all Martians take down the River Iss, from which they can never return, in order to fulfill the tenets of their faith. But the renowned valley is anything but a peaceful spiritual haven. And Carter discovers that in order rejoin his family he must overcome centuries of belief and a false religious power determined to maintain its stranglehold on the Red Planet.

When Burroughs first introduced his vision of Mars to readers, the landscape and peoples Carter encountered were a fairly straightforward translation of the tenets of the American western placed within the parameters of a new frontier. There are the nomadic Tharks and the various tribes of warlike red men populating the desolate Martian landscape. But when Burroughs returned Carter to Mars for a second set of adventures (first serialized in 1913), he took the opportunity to gloriously expand on the world he'd created, introducing new landscapes and peoples for Carter to encounter. En route to the Martian "paradise" Carter battles fearsome Plant Men who are joined by an old foe -- the vicious white apes. Those creatures are controlled by the Holy Therns, the pasty-skinned, bald gatekeepers of Issus worship, a cult of cannibals drunk on power, willing to do anything to maintain their faithful following. And finally there are the fearsome Black Pirates of Barsoom, the self-proclaimed First Born tribe whose hidden seat of power Carter vows to destroy in order to free Mars from the power-mad perpetuation of a false faith.

I find Burroughs's treatment of organized religion particularly fascinating here. I did some cursory online reading and it doesn't seem as as though Burroughs was anti-faith. Rather, that he was highly concerned with the potential for exploitation of the faithful stemming from any organized religion. As such, Carter's single-minded assault on centuries of faith is extraordinarily thorough, and sets up nicely endless possibilities for conflict to come in subsequent volumes of the series. Carter as a fighting man is the epitome of straightforward action and belief, and as such is perhaps the embodiment of Burroughs's ideal argument in favor of the virtues of the "everyman."

Unfortunately much of the old-fashioned romance found within A Princess of Mars is distinctly one-sided here as Dejah is off-screen for most of the novel. But the charm of Carter's inherent nobility and chivalry are perhaps only magnified by Dejah's absence as thoughts of her are never far from his heart (seriously, he could make me swoon). Thuvia, a Martian prisoner Carter frees from the Therns is the principle female presence in this story. And while she falls in love with Carter (as expected), even though he doesn't give her a second look (could he be more perfect?), she is as honorable and moral as Dejah in the previous book and refreshingly capable of assisting in her escape from the Thern captors. Burroughs's women may be idealized, but he gives readers a bit more than "just" a fainting damsel in distress than one might expect from classic pulp fiction.

Much like its predecessor, The Gods of Mars is a rollicking, fast-paced, old-fashioned adventure novel that is every bit as fun and entertaining -- perhaps even morseo -- than Carter's first Martian outing. This book is a page-turner of the first order that has deepened my appreciation of Burroughs's work as a science fiction pioneer and made me even more of a John Carter fangirl. Filled with characters I've grown to love, this is a world that I adore getting lost in, leaving me eager to dive into the next installment.

Some of the best Sci-Fi stories ever written, you can definitely see where other writers where inspired by these stories. This is a genuine find at this price for all 5 novel in a hardcover with a dust jacket.

Formulaic second and third. i loved discovering the people and customs of Barsoom throughout these books, but grew increasingly weary of the flowery descriptions of John Carter' s 'superhuman' heroism and fighting prowess. definitely not impressed by the countless coincidences that saved him from certain doom or directed him down the right path at the right time. 

In short, the author has a great imagination but is frequently lazy in the storytelling.

Chessmen follows the adventure of John Carter's daughter, Tara of Helium. Though she has a bit more of an independent spirit than the rest of the women in the previous books she is still the "damsel in distress" to be rescued and protected. A product of time period the book was written. Nonetheless the story is a swashbuckling adventure and worth reading as the next installment in the series and I look forward to reading more.

This is the fourth book in the John Carter/Barsoom series written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. In this story, the son of the Warlord of Mars, Carthoris of Helium, searches for and finds the Princess of Ptarth, Thuvia. As if it is not enough to fight strange creatures, the reader is also introduced to several new characters.

This story continues the fighting adventure and fantasy of the series. Although John Carter is not a prominent character throughout this book, Dejah Thoris and John Carter's son is. Since Carthoris has inherited much of the speed, strength, and intelligence of the earth man, the story loses none of its excitement.

In my humble opinion, this book loses none of the excitement we saw in the first three books. I like the fantasy the author has created, and this volume adds to that. We are once again introduced to new areas of Barsoom, and new species and cultures. How wonderful to be able to find new life forms when traveling across your own planet. For all the advancement we see on Barsoom, we find the people are sometimes less informed than the average earth man.

I am still amazed by the fact that the author had such an active imagination at the time he wrote this series. While rockets and airplanes were not yet usable, he puts us on a planet in the solar system with airplanes and lighter than air land vehicles. His explanations for life on Barsoom is almost plausible. Yet, his ability to show us how to have peace amongst tribes that have always warred could be an example even today. Is peace possible, in the midst of fighting and horrific weapons? I do not have the answer, but perhaps it is something else to think about while reading these fantastic books.

No problems downloading this book, it reads easy, but the book itself is sluggish. I'm a huge ERB fan, grew up on his Tarzan series, but John Carter is a slow moving drudgery with way too many characters (and alien names) to be able to keep up with the plot. Unfortunately, you have to read the book to understand the movie, though, because there is so much missing in the story line.

As always, E. R. Burroughs always hits the spots on everything that I have read that he authored. I have finished all my rereads and will probably reread them again in a year or so. I always try to instill the joy of reading to my grandchildren but they think I am nuts to reread a book several times. They will learn the simpler ways of life again.

I thought I would try out some Edgar Rice Burroughs novels and this one was a real hit with me. The writing is so colorful and imaginative, it seemed I could imagine the whole thing. I was expecting something as simple as Tarzan, but this is much more challenging than that. Worth the read. Unfortunately I read the second part first, in a book with only that story, so be sure you have the whole series. Of course, I am rereading the whole thing to incorporate this into an order.

I read these in anticipation of the movie John Carter, and because it is classic science fiction. Of course the science part is long gone, back when these stories were written we had scant information on what Mars was really like, and this ain't it. Still fun to read, great romances, just remember these are 100 years ago plus stories.

Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote great books. He was far ahead of his time. The books are a pleasure to read and very interesting. He's able to spin a great tale without using foul language or had in sexual scenes. So those who are out there looking for that kind of reading material, don't bother to read these. If you want to read an exciting, adventure tale, all of his books are wonderful.

Burroughs, to our modern eyes, is a mixed bag. On the one hand, his stuff is blatant sensationalism, complete with purple prose, laughable melodrama, and cliched plots and characters. On the other, his work offers an astoundingly fresh creativity - even after all these years. His worldbuilding is beautiful and detailed and just plain fun. This may be pulp, but it's good pulp.

Thuvia, Maid of Mars & the Chessmen of Mars
(1922)
Carthoris, the son of john Carter and Dejah Thoris, is madly in love with Thuvia. This love was foreshadowed at the end of the previous novel. Unfortunately Thuvia is promised to Kulan Tith, Jeddak of Kaol. On Barsoom nothing can break an engagement between a man and woman except death, although the new suitor may not cause that death. Thus it is that Thuvia will have none of him. This situation leaves Carthoris in a predicament.
As Thuvia suffers the common Burroughsian heroine's fate of being kidnapped and in need of rescue, Carthoris' goal is abetted by circumstances. Thus he sets out to find the love of his life. His craft is sabotaged and he finds himself deep in the undiscovered south of Barsoom, in the ruins of ancient Aanthor. Thuvia's kidnappers, the Dusar, have taken her there as well, and Carthoris is just in time to spot Thuvia and her kidnappers under assault by a green man of the hordes of Torquas. Carthoris leaps to her rescue in the style of his father.
The rescue takes Carthoris and his love to ancient Lothar, home of an ancient fair-skinned human race gifted with the ability to create lifelike phantasms from pure thought. They use large numbers of phantom bowmen paired with Banths (Barsoomian lions) to defend themselves from the hordes of Torquas.
The kidnapping of Thuvia is done in such a way that Carthoris is blamed. This ignites a war between the red nations of Barsoom. Carthoris must try to be back in time with Thuvia to stop the war from breaking loose. Carthoris wonders if his love will ever be requited by the promised Thuvia.
Burroughs began writing Thuvia, Maid of Mars, in April 1914, at the time describing it as a 'Carthoris' story. After a break in California, he had begun a furious writing schedule, including other works as well as what was to become Thuvia, Maid of Mars. A new editor, Robert H. Davis, had replaced Newell Metcalf, the previous editor of All-Story Magazine (which had published Burrough's previous Barsoom novels), at the now amalgamated All-story Cavalier Weekly. Davis wrote to Burroughs on June 12, 1914 after reading previous fiction (including Tarzan), suggesting ideas and suggesting a meeting.[2] Burroughs finished the story on June 20, 1914.[3] Burroughs reached New York on June 23, and several days later mailed the finished typescript of what was still entitled "Carthoris", describing it as "another Martian story" he wished "to sell for use in All-Story Cavalier Weekly".
Publication
The finished story was first published in All-Story Weekly as a serial in three parts on April 8, 15, and 22, 1916. It was later published as a complete novel by A. C. McClurg in October, 1920.
Major characters
* Carthoris: Son of John Carter and Dejah Thoris who inherits his father's superior strength and ability with a sword. A minor character in The Gods of Mars. A principal character in Thuvia, Maid of Mars and love interest of Thuvia.
* Thuvia of Ptarth: A Princess of Ptarth. She first appears in The Gods of Mars, among a group of Red Martians rescued by John Carter from the nefarious Therns who maintain the illusion of the Martian 'Heaven' in the Valley of Dor. She is later imprisoned with John Carter's wife Dejah Thoris, in a temple prison which can only be opened once per year and remains by her side for much of the novel and the sequel The Warlord of Mars. Like many of Burroughs Martian heroines, she is tough, courageous, and proud and strongly identifies with her aristocratic position in Martian society. Also typically, she is abducted by evildoers (her rescue providing primary motivation for the plot of Thuvia, Maid of Mars) who wish to use her for political gain -- in this case by Astok, Prince of Dasur, who blames the kidnapping on Cathoris.
* Kar Komak: A Lotharian bowman, with a noble and chivalrous personality (unlike the majority of the remaining Lotharians). While initially one of the phantoms projected by the Lotharians to fight off the Green Martian attacks on Lothar, he assumes a corporeal form after Carthoris and Thuvia leave Lothar, and turns out to have been a real Lotharian from the distant past. He joins the pair, fighting in the battles that follow. He is also able to create his own phantom bowmen to assist in combat.

The Chessmen of Mars is an Edgar Rice Burroughs science fiction novel, the fifth of his famous Barsoom series. Burroughs began writing it in January, 1921, and the finished story was first published in Argosy All-Story Weekly as a six-part serial in the issues for February 18 and 25 and March 4, 11, 18 and 25, 1922. It was later published as a complete novel by A. C. McClurg in November,1922
Plot summary
Tara meets Prince Gahan of Gathol, and is initially unimpressed, viewing him as something of a popinjay. Later she takes her flier into a storm and loses control of the craft, and the storm carries her to an unfamiliar region of Barsoom. After landing and fleeing from a pack of ferocious Banths (Martian lions), she is captured by the horrific Kaldanes, who resemble large heads with small, crab-like legs. The Kaldanes have bred a symbiotic race of headless human-like creatures called Rykors, which they can attach themselves to and ride like a horse. While imprisoned, Tara manages to win over one of the Kaldanes, Ghek, with her lovely singing voice.
Gahan, who has fallen in love with Tara, sets out to find her, only to find himself caught up in the same storm, and he falls overboard while attempting to rescue one of his crew. He stumbles upon Bantoom, realm of the Kaldanes, and manages to rescue Tara, and together with Ghek they flee in Tara's crippled flier. Tara doesn't recognize Gahan as the prince she met earlier, as he is worn from his ordeals and no longer dressed in his fancy clothes. In light of her earlier reaction to him, Gahan decides to keep his identity secret, and identifies himself instead as a Panthan (warrior) called Turan.
* The three of them manage to reach the isolated city of Manator. Gahan ventures into the city seeking food and water, but is tricked and taken prisoner by the inhabitants. Tara and Ghek are also captured. In Manator, captives are forced to a fight to the death in the arena, in a modified version of Jetan, a popular Barsoomian board game resembling Chess; the living version uses people as the game pieces on a life-sized board, with each taking of a piece be their escape from the valley of the Kaldanes

Major characters
* Gahan of Gathol: A prince of the Martian kingdom of Gathol who falls in love with Tara of Helium and is initially spurned by her when revealing his feelings. He later disguises himself as Turan, a mercenary, after rescuing her from the valley of the Kaldanes, revealing his true identity at the conclusion of the tale, by which time Tara has fallen in love with his assumed identity.
* Tara of Helium: A Princess of Helium, daughter of John Carter and Dejah Thoris.
* Ghek: A Kaldane, unusual among his kind in his ability to appreciate emotion, dissatisfied with Kaldane society who is charmed by Tara's singing, and joins Gahan of Gathol and Tara of Helium in

The Chessmen of Mars is an Edgar Rice Burroughs science fiction novel, the fifth of his famous Barsoom series. Burroughs began writing it in January, 1921, and the finished story was first published in Argosy All-Story Weekly as a six-part serial in the issues for February 18 and 25 and March 4, 11, 18 and 25, 1922. It was later published as a complete novel by A. C. McClurg in November,1922
Plot summary
Tara meets Prince Gahan of Gathol, and is initially unimpressed, viewing him as something of a popinjay. Later she takes her flier into a storm and loses control of the craft, and the storm carries her to an unfamiliar region of Barsoom. After landing and fleeing from a pack of ferocious Banths (Martian lions), she is captured by the horrific Kaldanes, who resemble large heads with small, crab-like legs. The Kaldanes have bred a symbiotic race of headless human-like creatures called Rykors, which they can attach themselves to and ride like a horse. While imprisoned, Tara manages to win over one of the Kaldanes, Ghek, with her lovely singing voice.
Gahan, who has fallen in love with Tara, sets out to find her, only to find himself caught up in the same storm, and he falls overboard while attempting to rescue one of his crew. He stumbles upon Bantoom, realm of the Kaldanes, and manages to rescue Tara, and together with Ghek they flee in Tara's crippled flier. Tara doesn't recognize Gahan as the prince she met earlier, as he is worn from his ordeals and no longer dressed in his fancy clothes. In light of her earlier reaction to him, Gahan decides to keep his identity secret, and identifies himself instead as a Panthan (warrior) called Turan.
* The three of them manage to reach the isolated city of Manator. Gahan ventures into the city seeking food and water, but is tricked and taken prisoner by the inhabitants. Tara and Ghek are also captured. In Manator, captives are forced to a fight to the death in the arena, in a modified version of Jetan, a popular Barsoomian board game resembling Chess; the living version uses people as the game pieces on a life-sized board, with each taking of a piece be their escape from the valley of the Kaldanes

Major characters
* Gahan of Gathol: A prince of the Martian kingdom of Gathol who falls in love with Tara of Helium and is initially spurned by her when revealing his feelings. He later disguises himself as Turan, a mercenary, after rescuing her from the valley of the Kaldanes, revealing his true identity at the conclusion of the tale, by which time Tara has fallen in love with his assumed identity.
* Tara of Helium: A Princess of Helium, daughter of John Carter and Dejah Thoris.
* Ghek: A Kaldane, unusual among his kind in his ability to appreciate emotion, dissatisfied with Kaldane society who is charmed by Tara's singing, and joins Gahan of Gathol and Tara of Helium in

I recommend this book to those who like Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom novels

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The Chessmen of Mars is an Edgar Rice Burroughs science fiction novel, the fifth of his famous Barsoom series. Burroughs began writing it in January, 1921, and the finished story was first published in Argosy All-Story Weekly as a six-part serial in the issues for February 18 and 25 and March 4, 11, 18 and 25, 1922. It was later published as a complete novel by A. C. McClurg in November,1922
Plot summary
Tara meets Prince Gahan of Gathol, and is initially unimpressed, viewing him as something of a popinjay. Later she takes her flier into a storm and loses control of the craft, and the storm carries her to an unfamiliar region of Barsoom. After landing and fleeing from a pack of ferocious Banths (Martian lions), she is captured by the horrific Kaldanes, who resemble large heads with small, crab-like legs. The Kaldanes have bred a symbiotic race of headless human-like creatures called Rykors, which they can attach themselves to and ride like a horse. While imprisoned, Tara manages to win over one of the Kaldanes, Ghek, with her lovely singing voice.
Gahan, who has fallen in love with Tara, sets out to find her, only to find himself caught up in the same storm, and he falls overboard while attempting to rescue one of his crew. He stumbles upon Bantoom, realm of the Kaldanes, and manages to rescue Tara, and together with Ghek they flee in Tara's crippled flier. Tara doesn't recognize Gahan as the prince she met earlier, as he is worn from his ordeals and no longer dressed in his fancy clothes. In light of her earlier reaction to him, Gahan decides to keep his identity secret, and identifies himself instead as a Panthan (warrior) called Turan.
* The three of them manage to reach the isolated city of Manator. Gahan ventures into the city seeking food and water, but is tricked and taken prisoner by the inhabitants. Tara and Ghek are also captured. In Manator, captives are forced to a fight to the death in the arena, in a modified version of Jetan, a popular Barsoomian board game resembling Chess; the living version uses people as the game pieces on a life-sized board, with each taking of a piece be their escape from the valley of the Kaldanes

Major characters
* Gahan of Gathol: A prince of the Martian kingdom of Gathol who falls in love with Tara of Helium and is initially spurned by her when revealing his feelings. He later disguises himself as Turan, a mercenary, after rescuing her from the valley of the Kaldanes, revealing his true identity at the conclusion of the tale, by which time Tara has fallen in love with his assumed identity.
* Tara of Helium: A Princess of Helium, daughter of John Carter and Dejah Thoris.
* Ghek: A Kaldane, unusual among his kind in his ability to appreciate emotion, dissatisfied with Kaldane society who is charmed by Tara's singing, and joins Gahan of Gathol and Tara of Helium in The Chessmen of Mars is an Edgar Rice Burroughs science fiction novel, the fifth of his famous Barsoom series. Burroughs began writing it in January, 1921, and the finished story was first published in Argosy All-Story Weekly as a six-part serial in the issues for February 18 and 25 and March 4, 11, 18 and 25, 1922. It was later published as a complete novel by A. C. McClurg in November,1922
Plot summary
Tara meets Prince Gahan of Gathol, and is initially unimpressed, viewing him as something of a popinjay. Later she takes her flier into a storm and loses control of the craft, and the storm carries her to an unfamiliar region of Barsoom. After landing and fleeing from a pack of ferocious Banths (Martian lions), she is captured by the horrific Kaldanes, who resemble large heads with small, crab-like legs. The Kaldanes have bred a symbiotic race of headless human-like creatures called Rykors, which they can attach themselves to and ride like a horse. While imprisoned, Tara manages to win over one of the Kaldanes, Ghek, with her lovely singing voice.
Gahan, who has fallen in love with Tara, sets out to find her, only to find himself caught up in the same storm, and he falls overboard while attempting to rescue one of his crew. He stumbles upon Bantoom, realm of the Kaldanes, and manages to rescue Tara, and together with Ghek they flee in Tara's crippled flier. Tara doesn't recognize Gahan as the prince she met earlier, as he is worn from his ordeals and no longer dressed in his fancy clothes. In light of her earlier reaction to him, Gahan decides to keep his identity secret, and identifies himself instead as a Panthan (warrior) called Turan.
* The three of them manage to reach the isolated city of Manator. Gahan ventures into the city seeking food and water, but is tricked and taken prisoner by the inhabitants. Tara and Ghek are also captured. In Manator, captives are forced to a fight to the death in the arena, in a modified version of Jetan, a popular Barsoomian board game resembling Chess; the living version uses people as the game pieces on a life-sized board, with each taking of a piece be their escape from the valley of the Kaldanes

Major characters
* Gahan of Gathol: A prince of the Martian kingdom of Gathol who falls in love with Tara of Helium and is initially spurned by her when revealing his feelings. He later disguises himself as Turan, a mercenary, after rescuing her from the valley of the Kaldanes, revealing his true identity at the conclusion of the tale, by which time Tara has fallen in love with his assumed identity.
* Tara of Helium: A Princess of Helium, daughter of John Carter and Dejah Thoris.
* Ghek: A Kaldane, unusual among his kind in his ability to appreciate emotion, dissatisfied with Kaldane society who is charmed by Tara's singing, and joins Gahan of Gathol and Tara of Helium in

Gunner April, 2012

This little world that Burroughs built was one of my favorites as an early teen. Another just so happens to be his as well ... the Tarzan stories. These books were my first foray into science fiction, and they set a lasting impression on me. John Carter was my hero, as was John Greystoke (I think they were the same person ... similar looks, physical advantages, all kinds of parallels!). He was such a GOOD GUY, the bad guys had no chance ... ever. Add to that he makes friends where no one had before, gets the hottest chick on the planet, can jump like Spider-man - even his kid is Big and Bad - and why wouldn't one love him?

“Chessmen of Mars” is the fifth novel in the Barsoom series and was published in its full novel form in 1922, about a decade after the first Barsoom novel. In it, Burroughs focuses, as he did in the previous novel, not on John Carter, but on his descendants. The focus of the novel is on his daughter, Tara of Helium, and her paramour, Gahan of Gathol. Other than that, the novel follows in the same basic pattern as the earlier novels of this series with a tale of romance and chivalry set not among the knights and damsels of the middle ages, but on the dying planet of Mars. It is a terrific adventure book and a fun story to read.

Tara, at least in the beginning of the book, is a haughty princess with many suitors at the palace ball, sort of a Marie Antoinette or Scarlet O’Hara type of character with flowing gowns and romantic intrigue. The tale takes Tara out of her comfortable palace life to adventures in forgotten valleys and unknown lands where she encounters ancient people who know nothing of modern-day Martian civilization. First, her adventures take her to the Bantoomian Valley, where Burroughs has invented a unique people, whose heads and bodies are independent with the heads being intelligent and advanced and able to crawl about on little legs like spiders and the headless bodies are no better than the most brutish of animals. Burroughs invented such creatures nearly one hundred years ago and it is amazing how many books and creatures and inventions followed in his wake. What an imagination!

The second ancient civilization Tara and Gahan encounter is the ancient city of Manator, where the game of Jetan (which is similar in many respects to the Earthly game of chess) is played in an arena on a board with living and armed human pieces. When one piece enters another’s space, they fight to the death, making this an exciting and unusual game. There are many other interesting aspects to the ancient city, but the game of Jetan is, by far, the most intriguing and inventive.

Once again, as in the first four novels in this amazing series, Burroughs has invented a world in many ways like our own, but in many ways unlike it, a world peopled by unique creatures and ancient civilizations and, often, unexplored. It is a vast land, even though the planet is smaller, as the oceans have dried up and, therefore, there is more land. On this unique landscape, Burroughs plays out his stories of derring-do and chivalry as there is always a beautiful princess to rescue and a great and mighty swordsman to rescue her, often causing entire nations to rise in revolt against their despotic rulers.

Many writers followed in Burroughs’ wake, but none ever wrote tales so well.

Very enjoyable read. My sister suggested I try this one. She didn't know that it was part of a series (this is the 2nd book), so we both got more out of her suggestion than either of us expected. I like the author's style of writing and imaginative mind, and am looking forward now to read the 1st of the series, 'A Princess of Mars', and then the rest.

The usual doses of ERB action, adventure, and imagination are in abundance here, but, in all honesty, there isn't enough difference between father and son for me to get emotionally invested in the many trials and tribulations of Carthoris. Actually the only problem with this entry is the fact that the son of John Carter is just not that captivating of a protagonist. He just comes off as a poor imitation of an iconic legend. That doesn't mean I didn't love this book (cause I absolutely did!). I just wish it focused more on Thuvia - you know, the girl in the title. Now it's on to "The Chessmen of Mars", and the story of Tara of Helium.

Though cliche and cheesy with the chivalry the book series is actually very well written and kept me interested through at least 4 of the books, then it just got too repetitive, but 4 books in is still worth 5 stars.

I very much enjoyed the original John Carter of Mars trilogy, though it is not my usual fair. The Chessmen of Mars is also a great read, fast and exciting. The women get to shine a little more independently here, which I like. The creatures we meet in this book are actually a touch disturbing, but so creative. If you enjoy Burroughs you will enjoy this book.

I very much enjoyed the original John Carter of Mars trilogy, though it is not my usual fair. The Chessmen of Mars is also a great read, fast and exciting. The women get to shine a little more independently here, which I like. The creatures we meet in this book are actually a touch disturbing, but so creative. If you enjoy Burroughs you will enjoy this book.

The "Mars/Barsoom" series by Edgar Rice Burroughs, an American novelist who died more than 60 years ago, is prime scifi! Burroughs knows how to grab and hold the attention of his readers. Thrill-seekers who don't need the visual stimuli of a video will enjoy the twists and turns of the hero, an American gentleman. The love story is more realistic than many present-day romances. I was very pleasantly surprised!

The second book in the John Carter of Mars series is a fun, violent, and adventurous romp full of cunning villains and a larger than life hero. The language, and values, definitely shows its age, and some readers my be put off by that. This series is an important landmark in historical science fiction, however. If you enjoyed Princess of Mars, it's definitely worth the read.

Love these books. The story is great, wish they would have done better with the movie. Don't spend money on these though, they are public domain and there are lots of good free e-book copies out there. Some of them have the original art work too, which is cool. Going to try to make it through all of them, but GoT has me in its clutches right now.

I enjoyed the John Carter series. I kept in mind this was writing in the 1930's. I found that the author had a formula so that made the story line predictable however I did always want to know how the hero would solve the crisis.

My hubby was obsessed with getting all the Edgar Rice Burroughs books. SO I got him this set. He loved it and the book looked nice.
It was cheaper to get this than buy each individually.
It was a god price and arrived fast.
Thank you

Though the narrator is sometimes clueless, the novel is absolutely fantastic! I am pretty much a newbie in the sci-fi realm but this novel blew my mind! I would recommend this to anyone wanting to explore science fiction.

I read this after watching the Disney film and was not disappointed. Enjoyed it immensely a novel well ahead of it's time and gives the reader an even broader perspective of the main character "John Carter"
Having never read "Edgar Rice Burroughs" I never knew what I was missing. "SUPERB!"

While not great literature, these stories were relatively early science fiction at a time when a dying civilization on Mars with great canals was thought to be a possibility. Though a bit dated, they are still amsuing.

John Carter and Dejah Thoris' son Carthoris continues his father's heroic Martian adventures. Burroughs "Barsoom" (Mars) books are well-written heroic tales and the grandaddies of much of today's fantasy literature. Highly recommended for fantasy aficionados who want to know where the genre comes from.

My husband is reading this book. He is delighted. He is an advie sci-fi reader. This is not literary but so much fun it brngs out the little boy in him. He can't wait to tell me what is happening. The characters and vivid and the action ever forward moving. Much more in the book than the movie. A classic.

This collection is a great start for someone who wants to get into Edgar Rice Burrough's Barsoom Series. This first volume collects the first three books. I grabbed this so I could read A Princess of Mars before seeing the movie. After reading this, I became hooked. Highly recommended for fans of Pulpy Science Fiction!

A Edgar Rice Burroughs excellent piece of literary work. The story contained in it brings the story along in a natural, flowing way. You know exactly where you are, if you read the books in order. I wish he had written more on this series. I can only imagine where and what would happen next.

Really great imagery... The fact that in 1914 , Burroughs knew so much about gravity is amazing. John Carter is really an epic character. He is the total opposite of the usual earthling vs martian power struggle. Most times the earthling is depicted as the weaker creature but in this story, the earthling is kicking martian butt.

After watching the movie, recently, I was interested in reading the books upon which the movie was based. Apparently, there are several versions of the John Carter series floating around the store, as one might expect. From my experience in reading books from the time period (late 19th, early 20th century), I am almost certain that this is the original, unabridged, unedited version. If that is important to you, buy this product. I was happy to find out that the original John Carter, unlike his movie version, is not a narcissistic, self-absorbed rogue as portrayed in the movie. If you enjoy reading classic science fiction, not just for the story but for the quality of language used, I highly recommend this book, especially at 99 cents!

John Carter seeks to rescue his true love, princess Dejah Thoris. Burroughs "Barsoom" (Mars) books are well-written heroic tales and the grandaddies of much of today's fantasy literature. Highly recommended for fantasy aficionados who want to know where the genre comes from.

The book, published by Golgotha Press, but more importantly sold by the store, has the appearance of a poorly scanned and/or poorly photocopied facsimile that has been professionally bound. The font size is miniscule -- I would imagine too small for some people to read. The title page is slanted, as though the photocopier machine's feed were off. I will be speaking to the store about a refund and/or return.

Written in typical ERB style, The Gods of Mars delivers. Keep in mind that much of this series was originally serialized and that may explain the many cliffhangers. I loved these as a young teen and I am re-reading them now as a 50-something -- and enjoying them all over again.

John Carter and family continues their adventures on Mars. Burroughs "Barsoom" (Mars) books are well-written heroic tales and the grandaddies of much of today's fantasy literature. Highly recommended for fantasy aficionados who want to know where the genre comes from.

Still addicted to the adventure of John Connor I had to read the 2nd book, his action scenes are very descriptive and still gripping which is great but his princess just seems to be one of those women who cant stay out of trouble. Love the fantasy world and the play on religion and beliefs in them. The only reason this got 1 star less is because his 2nd book follows the same story style as the first and doesnt quite wow me as much as the first.

Ok, love the John Carter books. This one is about his son. Want to see the movie sequel now! Edgar Rice Burroughs was a talented writer. If you have read the original first novel, you will want to continue with the rest of the series.

I ciut my other world teeth on thse Burroughs books--75 years ago. I got them on kindle to see if they were still any good. They were not only any good,l they were better than I could have ever remenbered. This is the father of Sci-Fi. but goet the whole series.

I have read these books including the Tarzan series over and over. It is a good easy read. The women are always beautiful, the men slightly more perfect than a Greek God and the monsters evil and calculating. I can tell you if my life was so messed up where I was constantly kidnapped and forced to be a slave every year or so I do not think I could stand it!

Love Burroughs' stories!! Very exciting with enough detail to fuel the imagination, but not too much so as to slow down the story.
Needs to be Re-Edited!!! The number of spellcheck word substitutions really detracts from the joy of reading this copy.
Thus the four stars.