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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
This was a rollicking and improbable adventure. A+ for atmosphere, C for realism.
Of course, you shouldn't expect a novel about a human fighting 15-foot four-limbed green-skinned aliens to be realistic.
Of course, you shouldn't expect a novel about a human fighting 15-foot four-limbed green-skinned aliens to be realistic.
Really I think I'd give it 3 stars, but I also feel I can't fault the writer for some of it as it was written so long ago. Nowadays writers do not constantly remind the reader that they are reading a book, or condescend to them by over-explaining something "you will recall that this and this took place". Those were my main gripes with the book, other than that, reading it for historical value is worthwhile in itself, I am pretty sure this is the first sci-fi book to take place on another planet. And the images that he manages to conjure up within the reader clearly show his creativity and vision. I have to imagine that he was a very rare person to have ideas like this back in 1912.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Not nearly as cheeseball as I expected. Not nearly as sexist as I expected. John Carter is actually a (mostly) decent guy. And this novel holds up well;I can see why it's a classic of the genre.
This story is a really great adventure! In some ways, it is a product of it's time (especially in relation to it's views on the fairer sex), but in some ways I can tell that it was very much ahead of its time (the humane treatment of animals). I liked it a lot!
Got just about half way through this one and finally gave up on it. Its was just too slow, and all a bit crazy. Loved the cover art, but unfortunately not a series I will be investing any more time into.
I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. Fantastic; I read it through in a sitting and enjoyed it from one end to the other. It was like he had some brilliant insight into how to push my happy buttons. Not something I'd read to increase my enlightenment or insight into life, but a good "lay down your troubles and be refreshed" kind of book.
3 stars by modern standards, but 4 stars based on its initial publication in 1912. A fun, quick read.