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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
3 stars by modern standards, but 4 stars based on its initial publication in 1912. A fun, quick read.
Wow. Coming into this book I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I had heard good things about it and based upon the movie it seemed like there was some promise. Not only did it deliver, but it completely blew me away. For a book that was written and originally published in 1912, this holds up remarkably well. The story, the adventure and even the technology are setup in such a way in this story that it could have easily been written a year ago.
Burroughs left much of the world explained in terms that were just enough to get you to understand that you were on Mars. Because of this, nothing in the story felt dated because of updated science. Airships, rifles, gliders, mounted riders. They are all things we see in modern genre and fantasy stories stories.
The writing here is also just superbly done. This is a pulp fiction novel so there is a certain cadence in the story progression that has to be expected, but adventure, romance, bravery. They are all there and the characters all come across as fairly genuine. I was surprised even at how strong a character Dejah Thoris was considering the time period this was written.
The only major fault of the book is really attributed to the time period in which it was written. The transportation of John Carter to Mars was weak, but in 1912 there was no such thing as a space ship and the concepts of simple airplane flight were only in their infancy.
This has founds it's way onto my favorite's bookshelf as a wonderful masterpiece that clearly has stoon the test of time. 100 years!!!!!!
Burroughs left much of the world explained in terms that were just enough to get you to understand that you were on Mars. Because of this, nothing in the story felt dated because of updated science. Airships, rifles, gliders, mounted riders. They are all things we see in modern genre and fantasy stories stories.
The writing here is also just superbly done. This is a pulp fiction novel so there is a certain cadence in the story progression that has to be expected, but adventure, romance, bravery. They are all there and the characters all come across as fairly genuine. I was surprised even at how strong a character Dejah Thoris was considering the time period this was written.
The only major fault of the book is really attributed to the time period in which it was written. The transportation of John Carter to Mars was weak, but in 1912 there was no such thing as a space ship and the concepts of simple airplane flight were only in their infancy.
This has founds it's way onto my favorite's bookshelf as a wonderful masterpiece that clearly has stoon the test of time. 100 years!!!!!!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Got a little bored of John Carter constantly telling us how awesome he is.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
This is...not a good book. It's not the worst book I've read, but John Carter is as Gary Stu as it gets, and when there's no stakes, I can't find any purchase in the characterization. Burroughs certainly had a lot of imagination, but he wasn't a very deft writer. Tars Tarkas and Sola are probably his most interesting characters, but Burroughs doesn't realize this, otherwise he would not have summed up what I thought was the most emotionally significant fight scene with one sentence. 23 words, dude. I also felt that the race politics were strange, but I'm not really invested enough to parse this out. Not nuanced, is about as much as I can muster.
the whole space-western thing is cool but the writing is not great, justice for Sola, and it's fine. it is cool that this is what inspired Avatar.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the first novel that I've actually finished under my own volition, and it was a fun one. All of the pulp sci-fi trappings are here: warring states between cold-blooded bug-eyed monsters, a machismo hero with a thirst for ass-kicking, and a scantily clad red-skinned damsel that's the prized jewel of this whole story.
The pacing is inconsistent and most of the characters are one-dimensional, but it's a humdinger of a plot with interesting set pieces and an impressive amount of imagination for its time, while also having a solid foundation in the scientific knowledge of Burrough's day.
The pacing is inconsistent and most of the characters are one-dimensional, but it's a humdinger of a plot with interesting set pieces and an impressive amount of imagination for its time, while also having a solid foundation in the scientific knowledge of Burrough's day.
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No