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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Really just a regurgitation of the first book. Why are these novels classic again?
Maybe I'm crazy, or maybe I have questionable tastes in literature, but even with the antiquated language I really enjoyed this book. Ned's language is sometimes tedious but if you pay attention to the details he paints a vivid picture of the new regions of the world of Barsoom. The "just in the nick of time" action can seem predictable, but even though you know something will save JC and DJ, you never know what it will be. And now on to Thuvia's story!
Well, there's a lot of battles, but I guess I expected that from a book called "Warlord of Mars".
Kind of a bit over the top (but still fun), John Carter has quite an amazing stamina, especially for the rarefied Martian air. Fight after fight after fight, day after day, without stopping to eat and barely rest.
Well, lots of very obvious twists (maybe it was new at the time) and a lot of running down dark underground caves, tons of exposition (where he must explain new mechanics of Mars, known locally as Barsoom, only because the situation hasn't happened before in the story and thus he, John Carter, the protagonist, must introduce them to the audience) oh yes, and another secret race of Martians nobody happened to mention for 20 years, and always conveniently placed weapons.
Nobody locks up their armouries on Barsoom, and remember, they are all naked (except a harness with jewels and medals), except for some fur coats in the north.
Still trying to figure out where all the silk and fur is coming from; fur-bearing animals are rare on Barsoom and from the looks of this book, they definitely aren't hunting them for sustainability anymore.
Maybe next book will have some giant spiders that make all the silk or something.
Also the use of the subjunctive voice gets really tiring after a while, especially to introduce "twists".
Edit: Sources tell me, when he says "naked", he means "in a Victorian sense", which is nowhere nearly as interesting.
Kind of a bit over the top (but still fun), John Carter has quite an amazing stamina, especially for the rarefied Martian air. Fight after fight after fight, day after day, without stopping to eat and barely rest.
Well, lots of very obvious twists (maybe it was new at the time) and a lot of running down dark underground caves, tons of exposition (where he must explain new mechanics of Mars, known locally as Barsoom, only because the situation hasn't happened before in the story and thus he, John Carter, the protagonist, must introduce them to the audience) oh yes, and another secret race of Martians nobody happened to mention for 20 years, and always conveniently placed weapons.
Nobody locks up their armouries on Barsoom, and remember, they are all naked (except a harness with jewels and medals), except for some fur coats in the north.
Still trying to figure out where all the silk and fur is coming from; fur-bearing animals are rare on Barsoom and from the looks of this book, they definitely aren't hunting them for sustainability anymore.
Maybe next book will have some giant spiders that make all the silk or something.
Also the use of the subjunctive voice gets really tiring after a while, especially to introduce "twists".
Edit: Sources tell me, when he says "naked", he means "in a Victorian sense", which is nowhere nearly as interesting.
I really wanted to give it a three, but in the end it was a truly mediocre work. Its like he put all of his best into the second book and he couldn't ramp it up in the third. He was going for EPIC, but it just comes of as: John Carter finds his way into unknown place, John Carter overhears important info, John Carter get disguise, John Carter is discovered, John Carter kills a shit-ton of villain, alas the princess is in another castle... This happens THREE TIMES. Also, our hero comes off as a real childish idiot A LOT. I mean he's not the smartest tool in the shed, but getting pissy because your girlfriend doesn't recognize you when you have on a disguise from two stories away... yeah DUMB. I don't have a lot of good to say... it's just ugh... another trilogy ruined in the third act.
Libby/audio
Not as good as book 2. But still an interesting story.
Not as good as book 2. But still an interesting story.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I cannot believe they don’t recognize me!
The intellectual demands on the readers of early science fiction were minimal. There are no less than three episodes in ERB’s third Barsoom novel in which our hero John Carter has disguised himself in the look of a particular Martian race (different races/colors each time). In every instance he is shocked nobody recognizes him, and he grows puzzled when he tries to communicate with a friend and they do not see him, John Carter, but instead the disguise he just put on! He makes a hand gesture of love to Dejah Thoris, his wife, while disguised as a bearded yellow Martian, and she recoils! What gives? Utter perplexity. Oddly enough, moments later his arch-enemy and the man from whom the disguise is mean to hide easily sees through the façade and exposes Carter. This happens multiple times.
Naturally, he spends months traversing a dangerous series of tundras, cliff walls, jungles, caverns, across the planet and into uncharted territory of legend. He then capriciously decides to separate from his trusty animal companion. He instructs the pet to find his son on the other side of the planet, and to return with an army. He doesn’t say to return “just in the nick of time”, but this is understood.
Tiring (and tired) is the novel in which every new king figure is a lecherous, misogynistic, slave-driving double-crosser. Every leader of every new race puts our hero on trial, everyone wants to stab him in the back, all would like to force themselves sexually on his wife, and each is devoid of honor. In a way this type of novel is fun and familiar and consistent. And yet, yawn.
The intellectual demands on the readers of early science fiction were minimal. There are no less than three episodes in ERB’s third Barsoom novel in which our hero John Carter has disguised himself in the look of a particular Martian race (different races/colors each time). In every instance he is shocked nobody recognizes him, and he grows puzzled when he tries to communicate with a friend and they do not see him, John Carter, but instead the disguise he just put on! He makes a hand gesture of love to Dejah Thoris, his wife, while disguised as a bearded yellow Martian, and she recoils! What gives? Utter perplexity. Oddly enough, moments later his arch-enemy and the man from whom the disguise is mean to hide easily sees through the façade and exposes Carter. This happens multiple times.
Naturally, he spends months traversing a dangerous series of tundras, cliff walls, jungles, caverns, across the planet and into uncharted territory of legend. He then capriciously decides to separate from his trusty animal companion. He instructs the pet to find his son on the other side of the planet, and to return with an army. He doesn’t say to return “just in the nick of time”, but this is understood.
Tiring (and tired) is the novel in which every new king figure is a lecherous, misogynistic, slave-driving double-crosser. Every leader of every new race puts our hero on trial, everyone wants to stab him in the back, all would like to force themselves sexually on his wife, and each is devoid of honor. In a way this type of novel is fun and familiar and consistent. And yet, yawn.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No