Edgar Rice Burroughs A Princess Of Mars was first published in 1912. We're talking a hundred years ago. The basis for the recent movie John Carter, it's full of swash-buckling action, a kick-ass princess who fights along with the soldiers, and the green, 15 foot tall, four-armed Martian Tharks.
John Carter, an American Civil War veteran is prospecting in Arizona, where he finds a mysterious cave which transports him to the planet Barsoom, which we call Mars. He is quickly found by the nomadic Tharks and taken into their community and into the friendship of a chief, Tars Tarkas. Soon the Princess of Helium, Dejah Thoris, falls in with the Tharks, telling of the rivalry between the people of Heluim and their enemy, the Zodanga. John Carter takes her away and they trek towards bringing peace to Helium. Will they arrive safely? Will there be a battle with the Zodanga? Will John become Prince of Helium?
There are many memorable characters besides John Carter. The Princess Dejah Thoris is a master swordswoman and ready to fight and lead her people. They are a good match and besides attraction, there is mutual respect and admiration. With all the names and higharchy, you might be thinking it's too complicated for enjoyable reading, but once you get to Barsoom, you are into the action and it the writing and characters flow naturally.
If you have seen the movie John Carter, there is a lot more to this novel that the movie didn't tell. For the film they incorporate themes, action and new ideas that weren't in the original book with the approval of the Burroughs estate. Reading this is like a fun new adventure with the same characters. Much more is made of the journey to Helium, and the back story of Tars Tarkas and Sola.
The young Tharks hatch from eggs and are raised communally, without parents. Sola comes to realize she does have parents and the struggle they went through to keep her egg safe and apart from the clan.
A fantastic, rollicking book, filled with romance and action. It's interesting to think back to readers 100 years ago, as the book is episodic and goes from a western to a swashbuckling Martian battle, to the romance with Dejah Thoris, back to the 1870's and ....
The story continues after they reach Helium, and on into the sequels The Gods of Mars and The Warlord Of Mars. If you haven't seen John Carter, you'll enjoy it! I accept the film criticisms that it was a little complicated for casual viewers, but good science fiction often raises more questions than it flatly answers and asks you to think a little harder and dig a little deeper. When I recall the characters, I can see much more to them than the movie delivered, intriguing me to read more Mars books, and watch John Carter over again. There is always more to see and discover. Unlike a film like Star Wars, which became more political and added more story each film, it seemed they put everything they had into John Carter, and maybe that was a little much for the first film.
The book is highly recommended as is the film!
1912 / Paperback / 160 pages
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