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silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This series continues to be authentically pulp adventure--over the top, but a lot of fun. Interesting to see the focus shift to John Carter's son, as John Carter's story arc finally fully resolved in the previous book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Violence and Sexual assault
jgkeely's review against another edition
2.0
Burroughs is at his best when he combines the impetus of pulp adventures with the unselfconsciously far flung. When he gets too tied down to an idea or progression, it tends to hinder his imagination somewhat.
The alien setting of the Mars books then proves a great boon to Burroughs, since it is unfettered by much need for suspension of disbelief. The series has its highs, but it also has lows, like this book.
In it, he explores many of the same things he has in the previous books, casting John Carter's son in his father's image, and giving him the same class of adventure. He fights an endless succession of monsters and soldiers, rescuing a standoffish princess, navigating war and politics, facing a sex-starved sadist, befriending a noble local warrior, and uncovering an ancient, mysterious culture.
Unfortunately, the story doesn't have quite the same punch the second time through, even if there is some enjoyable variance in the details. Carter had more character than his son, and Burroughs once again gets in the same trouble he did in Tarzan: trying to explain the main character's unusual powers.
John Carter was a mighty warrior on Mars because its lower gravity gave him the ability to leap further, hit harder, and carry more. Why his son has the same powers, Burroughs seems less sure, suggesting that Earthlings are merely mightier, despite the fact that all the creatures on Mars are huge and massively muscled.
Just as in Tarzan, his notion that 'blood will out' is poorly contrived, even by the scientific notions of the time. This book is a romp, but lacks the verve of the first book and the bizarre pseudospiritual metaphysics of the second.
The alien setting of the Mars books then proves a great boon to Burroughs, since it is unfettered by much need for suspension of disbelief. The series has its highs, but it also has lows, like this book.
In it, he explores many of the same things he has in the previous books, casting John Carter's son in his father's image, and giving him the same class of adventure. He fights an endless succession of monsters and soldiers, rescuing a standoffish princess, navigating war and politics, facing a sex-starved sadist, befriending a noble local warrior, and uncovering an ancient, mysterious culture.
Unfortunately, the story doesn't have quite the same punch the second time through, even if there is some enjoyable variance in the details. Carter had more character than his son, and Burroughs once again gets in the same trouble he did in Tarzan: trying to explain the main character's unusual powers.
John Carter was a mighty warrior on Mars because its lower gravity gave him the ability to leap further, hit harder, and carry more. Why his son has the same powers, Burroughs seems less sure, suggesting that Earthlings are merely mightier, despite the fact that all the creatures on Mars are huge and massively muscled.
Just as in Tarzan, his notion that 'blood will out' is poorly contrived, even by the scientific notions of the time. This book is a romp, but lacks the verve of the first book and the bizarre pseudospiritual metaphysics of the second.
stevenk's review against another edition
3.0
This book doesn't star John Carter, Virginian, Civil War veteran, and now Warlord of Mars, but his son Carthoris. Carthoris just isn't as interesting a protagonist, we don't really know his place in Barsoom, and for that matter Thuvia's either so the tension just wasn't there for me. The lost city of Lothar was just too easy to find and escape from and it's inhabitants weren't that interesting. I glad I read it because overall I enjoy the literary world of Barsoom but I'd rate this book in the series a 2.5 if Goodreads allowed.
christinethompson's review against another edition
3.0
Eventually you realize that Burroughs is writing the same plot over and over. That's why I put long spaces between these books.
michaelstearns's review against another edition
4.0
This was the fourth volume in the box set I bought in the summer of 1979. I don't recall much, just that John Carter was not the hero, and that this was a disappointment. But not such a great letdown that I didn't read the next seven entries.
tolkientalker's review against another edition
3.0
I was half expecting to utterly loathe this book after some of the reviews I heard from my friends. And most of them are quite understandable for the main reasons:
a: Thuvia is kidnapped (surprise surprise...Deja Thoris anyone? Deja Thoris? Bueller?)
b: Thuvia spurns pretty much Cathorsis after already being betrothed to someone else(surprise surprise--*cough* Deja Thoris)
c: Thuvia looses a lot of her kick butt character that she seemed to have in the Gods of Mars and Warlord of Mars. I mean seriously, the woman can tame banths (which is evident in this book) and she shot a Thurn point blank in a previous book (not evident) and she had a fighting spirit when she wrestled away weapons--that is also evident. Instead? "Oh! Lemme get kidnapped! I'll just stand right here"
Ok, so I am being a little too harsh but I was still sorely disappointed that the character digressed a bit from Burroughs' two prior novels.
One thing that I did really enjoy, however, as ridiculous as it is that this theme seems to show up in every novel so far, is the introduction of a new "hidden" Barsoomian race. The Lotharians are pretty ingenious. And Burroughs kept the suspense pretty well. I won't give away spoilers, but I was like "huh, ok, that is pretty cool."
Thuvia, Maid of Mars is still worth a read simply for the fact that it's fun. Sure Burroughs can be repetitive with his ideas at times, but he knows how to weave an entertaining yarn.
a: Thuvia is kidnapped (surprise surprise...Deja Thoris anyone? Deja Thoris? Bueller?)
b: Thuvia spurns pretty much Cathorsis after already being betrothed to someone else(surprise surprise--*cough* Deja Thoris)
c: Thuvia looses a lot of her kick butt character that she seemed to have in the Gods of Mars and Warlord of Mars. I mean seriously, the woman can tame banths (which is evident in this book) and she shot a Thurn point blank in a previous book (not evident) and she had a fighting spirit when she wrestled away weapons--that is also evident. Instead? "Oh! Lemme get kidnapped! I'll just stand right here"
Ok, so I am being a little too harsh but I was still sorely disappointed that the character digressed a bit from Burroughs' two prior novels.
One thing that I did really enjoy, however, as ridiculous as it is that this theme seems to show up in every novel so far, is the introduction of a new "hidden" Barsoomian race. The Lotharians are pretty ingenious. And Burroughs kept the suspense pretty well. I won't give away spoilers, but I was like "huh, ok, that is pretty cool."
Thuvia, Maid of Mars is still worth a read simply for the fact that it's fun. Sure Burroughs can be repetitive with his ideas at times, but he knows how to weave an entertaining yarn.
brian's review against another edition
4.0
Another good book in the Mars series, focussing on John Carter's son.
The usual cliff hanger chapter endings and derring-do to get out of trouble that you've come to expect.
The usual cliff hanger chapter endings and derring-do to get out of trouble that you've come to expect.
elvenbookworm's review against another edition
2.0
Highly formulaic. I begin to see a pattern in these books. Carter's (or now his son, Carthoris) loved one is kidnapped by some cruel person. He pursues, despite being outgunned, outnumbered, and hopelessly behind. Via a series of improbable coincidences, our hero catches up, faces certain death as he dukes it out with the bad guy's army, and survives just to find that the villain has slipped away with his prize. Repeat ad nauseum. Sorry, Mario, Princess Peach is not in this castle. Our hero discovers yet another new race (a seemingly inexhaustible resource on Barsoom), and by luck manages to join up with the sole malcontent of the entire race. Said malcontent pledges life and limb to help him. More battling ensues; world war is imminent. Hero's heroic acts averts said war. Accolades all round, and the hero gets his girl.
They're all the same, so far, but I'm quite determined to keep reading the series until I reach the end, in hopes Burroughs will change it up a bit. But if we discover one more race- perhaps this one a bold purple or blue, just for variety- I think I'll throw in the towel. How on earth could Barsoom be so completely unexplored by its own inhabitants that Carter and Carthoris can't hardly go for a stroll without discovering entire lost civilizations? Wait, don't tell me- plot contrivances. :P
They're all the same, so far, but I'm quite determined to keep reading the series until I reach the end, in hopes Burroughs will change it up a bit. But if we discover one more race- perhaps this one a bold purple or blue, just for variety- I think I'll throw in the towel. How on earth could Barsoom be so completely unexplored by its own inhabitants that Carter and Carthoris can't hardly go for a stroll without discovering entire lost civilizations? Wait, don't tell me- plot contrivances. :P
feralbookwife's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars for those bowmen. Unexpected idealism/materialism debates are what I'm here for.
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