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meetmeinmalkovich's review against another edition
2.0
This was certainly not an ‘exciting’ read, as it was pretty much the same plot as the previous three, only instead of John Carter, it features his son Carthoris. He is in on the trail of Thuvia, Princess of Ptarth, who was kidnapped by his rival.
The tale might be the same but where the adventure leads him and the tribe which he discovers is what is intriguing. The Lotharians, who believe they are the last men upon of all Barsoom, are secluded in their valley home. What is unique is not their out-of-touch reality, but that they use their mind to manifest warriors that vanish into thin air when their duty is done, leaving a mess of blood behind them.
The tale might be the same but where the adventure leads him and the tribe which he discovers is what is intriguing. The Lotharians, who believe they are the last men upon of all Barsoom, are secluded in their valley home. What is unique is not their out-of-touch reality, but that they use their mind to manifest warriors that vanish into thin air when their duty is done, leaving a mess of blood behind them.
ptenopus's review against another edition
3.0
The book was A Princess of Mars: The Next Generation. Seriously, it was Deja Thoris and John Carter all over again, just with their son and not as well written. It was a quick read though and I'm a fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs as a whole. So, three stars it gets.
smiorganbaldhead's review against another edition
4.0
The main plot is pretty standard for ERB, but the Lotharians and their interesting philosophy and mental powers make this one stand out. I can see how this element might have influenced authors like Michael Moorcock and Roger Zelazny. I just wish my favorite Barsoom character, Tars Tarkas made an appearance in this one.
tacanderson's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
If you've read the first few books in the series, there's really no reason to keep reading. Even though this book doesn't feature John Carter, but focuses on his son, it's really just an excuse to recycle the same themes.
miocenemama's review against another edition
2.0
This was the typical John Carter story. There was plenty of risk and action and the extolling of the glory of battle. Thuvia is more capable than the usual heroine of these stories, but the story still belongs to the men. One of the things that I found most objectionable was the blase attitude the author has towards slaves and slavery. Even the heroes are slave owners and the lives of slaves seem to be of little consequence as demonstrated by how quickly and matter-of-factly Carthoris kills a slave that is simply in his way. I probably would not even bother reading these books if I hadn't already bought them. I understand that they should be interpreted in light of the time that they were written, but I don't think that excuses all of these attitudes
smoore05's review against another edition
3.0
A little bit of a change up as this does not actually pertain to John Carter at all, but actually is a story of his son. Burroughs has a way of writing that really pats the main character on the back and almost makes him the luckiest and most skilled person on the planet. The villains do not stand a chance against the Carter's and should probably just stop trying by now. Even with the pompous characters and the over inflated egos, I still find myself reading these books in moments of lull. Maybe it is because they are all free from the online library sources, or maybe it is because I secretly like over inflated egos? Whatever it is, this is the fourth John Carter book I have read, but sadly this is my least favorite of them all.
Possibly because John Carter is missing throughout the book? But his son is pretty much the same person right? I think it was more so because it was the love story again, the falling in love of the young Carter and his Princess, we played that game in the first book.
I think too, that maybe, just maybe, the fact that people where now creating armies with their minds may have gotten me. It seemed to come from left field and just be a by the way this kind of thing can happen on Mars as well. Plus of course they have to be evil, all of them have to be mindlessly estranged.
Plus I realize this is from early 1900's and that makes it understandable how it came to be, but it still is appalling to think, that just as far back as a hundred years ago slaves were still thought of as a viable subject and women were not equal even in the slightest. Here in Burroughs book we have Thuvia thinking clearly many times that she belongs to a man and must submit to him fully. Also, that she must shy into the man's protection from everything. It seems as if Mr. Young Carter will have himself another slave, just so happens this one is the woman he purportedly loves.
All in all, I read the book, I didn't throw it away in disgust or boredom, and that means it was decent enough. Nothing amazing, nothing worth reading twice, but I am sure I will someday read the fifth installment of this series, if nothing else because why not?
Possibly because John Carter is missing throughout the book? But his son is pretty much the same person right? I think it was more so because it was the love story again, the falling in love of the young Carter and his Princess, we played that game in the first book.
I think too, that maybe, just maybe, the fact that people where now creating armies with their minds may have gotten me. It seemed to come from left field and just be a by the way this kind of thing can happen on Mars as well. Plus of course they have to be evil, all of them have to be mindlessly estranged.
Plus I realize this is from early 1900's and that makes it understandable how it came to be, but it still is appalling to think, that just as far back as a hundred years ago slaves were still thought of as a viable subject and women were not equal even in the slightest. Here in Burroughs book we have Thuvia thinking clearly many times that she belongs to a man and must submit to him fully. Also, that she must shy into the man's protection from everything. It seems as if Mr. Young Carter will have himself another slave, just so happens this one is the woman he purportedly loves.
All in all, I read the book, I didn't throw it away in disgust or boredom, and that means it was decent enough. Nothing amazing, nothing worth reading twice, but I am sure I will someday read the fifth installment of this series, if nothing else because why not?
srreid's review against another edition
2.0
These are getting less good as they go on, just never got into the story of this one at all. Bit of kidnapping, some imaginary armies, not a great deal happening.
maggotqueen666's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
quoththegirl's review against another edition
2.0
After three books of John Carter chasing after and attempting to rescue the oft-kidnapped Dejah Thoris, Burroughs decided to mix it up this time: Carthoris (the son of John Carter and Dejah Thoris who sounds like he was named after a Livejournal community shipping the two characters) chases after and attempts to rescue the oft-kidnapped Thuvia instead. Burroughs is like, I've got one plot line, and by George I'm going to keep reusing it until someone physically stops me. We still have no explanation of why John Carter doesn't age, so I'm guessing we never get one. Burroughs had used the frame narrative at the start of book three but didn't conclude with it, and he totally abandons it altogether for this installment.
staatz's review against another edition
3.0
World War one era pulp sci-fi at it's best. Sexist and racist by today's standards but not so bad for a book written in 1916. I think it differs enough in some of it's themes to distinguish it from other books in the series as well (those silly European- I mean red men going to war for a silly reason)