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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Update: 4/29/22
I thought I read this before but I remembered nothing about it. My feelings on the book are about the same. I enjoyed the world-building, and was impressed by the respect that Burroughs as a writer showed to the more "savage" green Martians. Yes, they were more brutal, but they were still educated and honorable in their own way. They weren't depicted as ignorant or monstrous, and I really appreciated that.
03/26/13
So I admit I didn't know at first that Burroughs even wrote a sci-fi novel. I only ever knew him as the Tarzan guy, so when I first heard about this book I was surprised. The surprise turned to curiosity and I picked it up. I also want to mention I haven't read Tarzan yet, so this is my first exposure to Burroughs as a writer.
I think the world-building was probably the best thing about this novel. Mars felt like a very real world to me, with distinct and individual characters. The different Martians all had their own sets of beliefs and values, and stayed true to them even after encountering John Carter. I also love how Carter transformed throughout the novel, and how the Martians responded to him each time he changed.
The romance was a good touch but I'm glad it wasn't the central focus. Certainly a lot of the latter half was motivated by it, but there was also Carter interacting with the other characters and learning his way in the strange world. It's a classic story of a hero coming into his own.
It's possible this is just my interpretation of things, but I almost questioned whether Carter's entire trip to Mars wasn't some out-of-body experience or a state of delirium. I'm not sure if this is what the author intended but it certainly left me wondering. Either way it was an incredible journey both for Carter and for myself as a reader.
I thought I read this before but I remembered nothing about it. My feelings on the book are about the same. I enjoyed the world-building, and was impressed by the respect that Burroughs as a writer showed to the more "savage" green Martians. Yes, they were more brutal, but they were still educated and honorable in their own way. They weren't depicted as ignorant or monstrous, and I really appreciated that.
03/26/13
So I admit I didn't know at first that Burroughs even wrote a sci-fi novel. I only ever knew him as the Tarzan guy, so when I first heard about this book I was surprised. The surprise turned to curiosity and I picked it up. I also want to mention I haven't read Tarzan yet, so this is my first exposure to Burroughs as a writer.
I think the world-building was probably the best thing about this novel. Mars felt like a very real world to me, with distinct and individual characters. The different Martians all had their own sets of beliefs and values, and stayed true to them even after encountering John Carter. I also love how Carter transformed throughout the novel, and how the Martians responded to him each time he changed.
The romance was a good touch but I'm glad it wasn't the central focus. Certainly a lot of the latter half was motivated by it, but there was also Carter interacting with the other characters and learning his way in the strange world. It's a classic story of a hero coming into his own.
It's possible this is just my interpretation of things, but I almost questioned whether Carter's entire trip to Mars wasn't some out-of-body experience or a state of delirium. I'm not sure if this is what the author intended but it certainly left me wondering. Either way it was an incredible journey both for Carter and for myself as a reader.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
adventurous
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While struggling to think of what to read after Red Rising, I decided to continue on a Martian thematic track with this book. I've never read any Edgar Rice Burroughs before, but I am an adamant defender of the John Carter movie (don't get me started on how UNBELIEVABLY PSYCHED I got about its minimalist title-card trailer, and how I think it deserved better than the reception it got, and how I want to read John Carter and the Gods of Hollywood to find out more about the marketing campaign that shot it in the foot--).
Anyway. Back on topic.
In a nutshell, this book is about a Confederate soldier who is inexplicably transported to Mars, where the planet's lower gravity makes him superhumanly strong, and he has Adventures amongst alien tribes and societies and tries to save a princess. And it was a delight. Just, so much fun and a swashbuckling, rip-roaring read, featuring bravado and derring-do and a noble Virginian gentleman hero with, essentially, superpowers, who falls in insta!love with the inhumanly gorgeous princess heroine because why not? (She lays eggs. I really have way too many questions about their biology and how they're able to have sex/reproduce.) John Carter himself is also a surprisingly hilarious narrator in his sociological commentary on his Martian findings, and all dry and arch at times. For example:
Also:
The story is also built around some interesting conceits, like John telling the story from the future (with dramatic foreshadowing and all), and the frame narrative of this being his manuscript -- there's at least one aside by an editor, which is the sort of layered narrative technique that I love.
I almost can't believe A Princess of Mars was written in 1917. It was hugely influential on science fiction and I can absolutely see why. There's awesome worldbuilding and imagination, wry humour, and it's just a total blast to read. (Just don't come here for super fleshed-out characters or subtlety, because it is all HEROICS AND FALLING INTO EACH OTHERS' ARMS.) Since Mars is a dying world with societies driven to barbarism and decline due to scarcity, there's also some environmentalism themes here? Maybe???
I might continue with the sequels, since all of the Barsoom books are available for free online. And I am definitely going to rewatch the movie, no regrets.
Also, John has a huge murderous Martian dog named Woola who loves him and saves his life over and over, and there are interesting alien minor characters with backstory and revenge arcs of their own, so just like, this book is the best.
(I also love that it's sci fi to the max, yet I get to file it under "historical" rather than "futuristic".)
Anyway. Back on topic.
In a nutshell, this book is about a Confederate soldier who is inexplicably transported to Mars, where the planet's lower gravity makes him superhumanly strong, and he has Adventures amongst alien tribes and societies and tries to save a princess. And it was a delight. Just, so much fun and a swashbuckling, rip-roaring read, featuring bravado and derring-do and a noble Virginian gentleman hero with, essentially, superpowers, who falls in insta!love with the inhumanly gorgeous princess heroine because why not? (She lays eggs. I really have way too many questions about their biology and how they're able to have sex/reproduce.) John Carter himself is also a surprisingly hilarious narrator in his sociological commentary on his Martian findings, and all dry and arch at times. For example:
Scarcely had the blow descended when I was confronted with a new danger. The ape's mate, recovered from its first shock of terror, had returned to the scene of the encounter by way of the interior of the building. I glimpsed him just before he reached the doorway and the sight of him, now roaring as he perceived his lifeless fellow stretched upon the floor, and frothing at the mouth, in the extremity of his rage, filled me, I must confess, with dire forebodings.
Also:
In one respect at least the Martians are a happy people; they have no lawyers.
The story is also built around some interesting conceits, like John telling the story from the future (with dramatic foreshadowing and all), and the frame narrative of this being his manuscript -- there's at least one aside by an editor, which is the sort of layered narrative technique that I love.
I almost can't believe A Princess of Mars was written in 1917. It was hugely influential on science fiction and I can absolutely see why. There's awesome worldbuilding and imagination, wry humour, and it's just a total blast to read. (Just don't come here for super fleshed-out characters or subtlety, because it is all HEROICS AND FALLING INTO EACH OTHERS' ARMS.) Since Mars is a dying world with societies driven to barbarism and decline due to scarcity, there's also some environmentalism themes here? Maybe???
I might continue with the sequels, since all of the Barsoom books are available for free online. And I am definitely going to rewatch the movie, no regrets.
Also, John has a huge murderous Martian dog named Woola who loves him and saves his life over and over, and there are interesting alien minor characters with backstory and revenge arcs of their own, so just like, this book is the best.
(I also love that it's sci fi to the max, yet I get to file it under "historical" rather than "futuristic".)
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was fine, it felt like pretty classic old sci-fi, which it was. Definitely on the end of “fun space story!” rather than any sort of commentary or thoughtfulness about society or the world or whatever. QUITE male dominated and fairly patriarchal but far from the worst of that kind of thing that I’ve read. Mostly just not my kind of thing.
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced