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A review by quadrille
A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
4.0
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".)