Customer Reviews

Barsoom: Edgar Rice Burroughs and the Martian vision

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is Richard Lupoff's second nonfiction discussion of the work of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Unlike the previous book, Master of Adventure, Barsoom focuses, of course, almost strictly on Burroughs' Mars tales. Lupoff does much yeoman's work in bringing to us some detailed background and interesting analysis of Barsoom. Unfortunately as with his previous Burroughs study, Lupoff makes occasional errors--for instance, Ras Thavas did not build the spaceship John Carter took to Thuria--and rehashes his theory of Edwin Arnold's supposed inspiration of Barsoom. This time though, Lupoff is less vociferous and provides a bit more space to opposing theories. Despite these qualifications, Barsoom is a worthwhile read and should certainly be in the library of anyone enthralled, as I was, by Edgar Rice Burroughs' amazing vision of a world we can only wish to have been.