Burroughs is the next step after Jules Verne and H. G. Wells. Look for some parallel names that have been adapted in Star Wars. Warriors are called jed; their leader jeddak (jeddi). The great beast of Barsoom is the banth (bantha) the great Barsoomian lion. You will also encounter the Sith, a huge creature part wasp, part scorpion. The hero, John Carter, dies at the onset of the first book to be mysteriously reincarnated on Mars (called Barsoom by the Martians) alternating for ten-year periods. Look for vivid descriptions of wield aliens and creatures of Mars as well a sketchy technological advancement. On land they move around on beasts (called thoats) but also have large number of airframesreferred to as ships and thus have navies, not air forces (again Star Wars)ranging from battle ships to one-person fliers (These seem to be merely open-air platforms: no cabin whatsoever). In spite of this, most fightingand there is a wealth of itis done with long-swords (the early Star Wars light sabers). The butchery seems to have no end; it is the major vocation and pastime.

Another another on old Barsoom; another another reason to abduct another princess (or two). Here is a new hero of Helium fighting to rescue a beauty who has been abducted by the Jeddak of yet another kingdom: a Hector whisking off the fair Helen to Troy. Along the way he uncovers for the reader at least four new kingdoms. He is nearly a one-man army, has an invisible flyer, and mimics H.G. Wells Invisible Man. Of course, in the end, he not only reunites a father and daughter, but wins yet another princess.

Share/Like this Review?

Just as I remembered reading this book when I was a teenager. Burroughs style came back to me with the first page and continued to enthrall me. His descriptions of people, places, animals and customs are colorful and extraordinary in that they all came out of his own imagination. If you are a Burroughs fan, you need to include this one in your library.

Share/Like this Review?