Customer Reviews

John Carter of Mars - volume 1 - The Princess of Mars & The Gods of Mars (v. 1)

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

 

 

Leonaur Ltd. is publishing the definitive Edgar Rice Burroughs 21st century editions. These usually contain 2 books of the different ERB major series in order - thus far John Carter, Pellucidar, and Carson of Venus. In the future, possibly Tarzan!
These books are handsome and my rating is mainly based on this - the ERB fan knows best about the rest of it.
This first volume of Joh Carter of Mars contains 2/3 of the greatest science fiction/fantasy trilogy ever. What is nore remarkable is that these were published over 40 years before Tolkien's LOTR and over 50 before Tolkien became fashionable. "A Princess of Mars", "The Gods of Mars", and "The Warlord of Mars" are ERB's greatest work.
It is sad, in a way, that Tarzan obscures ERBs Mars novels for the general public. These books deserve to be beter known, and it is astonishing no movie or TV adaptation has ever been attempted (which might be a good thing, after all!). If only Steven Spielberg or Peter Jackson were interested!
Of course, genre and ERB aficionados have long know and cherised these great stories. I wonder how many others were first attracted to these by the magnificent Ballantine editions of the 1960s?
If you are a fan as am I, support Leonaur Ltd.'s efforts by buying these magnificent books.

I read the John Carter series for the first time when I was around 12. I have since gone back to the first three books at least a dozen times. I find their simplistic view of good and evil refreshing. There are few things as cool as John Carter and Tars Tarkus standing back to back at the foot of the Valley Dor fighting off thousands of white apes in the quest to save the Incomperable Dejah Thoras.

I still remember reading the passage when John first sees Dejah for my first time. Captured by huge 15 foor six limbed monsters (later to become friends), he looks up to see her in a window looking down at him, with a longing hope of rescue. Again, very cliche' and yet at the same time, really powerful.

In order to really appreciate this book, you have to have the next volume as well, as it includes book 3. In reality, books 1-3 of this series are actually one story, and it ends with an excellent bang. The rest of the series is OK, the Chessmen of Mars in particular is decent; but the first 3 books (living in the first 2 of this set), are the pinicle of sappy, romantic, old fashioned good guy saves girl literature. IMHO of course:)

I first discovered John Carter in paperback form in an old discount bookstore when I was 18 years old. I bought it for 1.50 or something like that. Am I glad I did. I could not put the book down. Fortunately the book store had the remaining volumes in the set (Del Rey) and I was able to purchase and read them all.

I am 40 now and happened upon these editions of Burrough's Mars saga so I purchased them all. I have read the first two volumes and the stories are as fun and magical as they were when I first read them. I give this edition only 4 stars because the publisher could have done much better than the same cover illustration on each volume. I give it 5 stars for the stories inside though.

If you have never read these stories before or perhaps read them long ago, I recommend reading them. They are wonderful fun.

Many studios have optioned the rights but the projects never went anywhere. Pixar now has the rights and I'd be suprised if they don't make a trilogy. It is reported to be a mix of live action and animation.

Great reprint of this great classic science fiction / fantasy series. Much appreciated. Looking forward to purchasing the remainder of the series when they are published.

The only comparable work is The Lord of the Rings. Harry Potter is a comic strip compared to this genuine and enduring series of Edgar Rice Burroughs.

I read the entire series as a young boy (about 13, 14 or so). I cannot express the wonder of reading this on a warm summer afternoon, and being carried away by tales of sword play and courage. Feminists who have secret dreams of castrating their young boys, head back to therapy and let these kids read about adventure and daring. When I think of kids reading Harry Potter (note the artwork on all the Harry Potter books makes it almost impossible to tell whether Harry is even a boy or a girl), I am truly saddened by the androgenous menu too many misguided women have in mind for little Bobby. And of course, we all know feminism dies at the first dark street corner in NYC, where suddenly a protector is needed (now tell the truth ladies. Oh c'mon! Remember when you were glad Cliff or Biff was along when suddenly everyone got out of the play house and seemed to vanish; and that big old street looked very dark indeed?)

This series will astound readers of any age. There is quite a test of time here that has been passed. These books were written not long after the turn of the century.

I hope all parents will let their boys dream on a long summer afternoon like I did, with my treasured collection of John Carter adventures. It made you want to be brave; it made you want to grow up and be a good man (oops...did I use the word 'man'?). It made you want to be a gentleman.

Basically, it made you want to be like John Carter.

Some fiction inspires in the best way.

My reading skills were high for my age, but I still learned a lot of new words and expanded my vocabulary. These books are so exciting, you may find your youngster actually picking up a dictionary.

These new volumes are very athoratative, in that they keep all the original names and spellings.

Joseph M. Vottis

I first read this series when I was an innocent 13 year old boy and was not wise to reality of life.Now some 40 years later I decided to read them again.Big mistake these books were designed for the young and innocent.This Heroine like all of Borroughes Heroines are the most desirable creatures on any world.Even though thy always spend most of the story in the clutches of the most vile creatures you can imagine.Thy are as safe as a baby in it's mothers arms.In reality thy would be repeatedly Raped and Sodomized through out the story.In these stories when the Hero comes to the rescue he finds his woman unscathed with her maidenhood still intact.In reality he would find a creature so dehumanized that he would no longer want her.I read a story once where the Hero came on a beautifull naked young girl tied to a tree.She told him of all the degrading acts that she had endured and implored him to cut her free.His response was:Boy'this just aint your day is it then he had his way with her too.Now this is more like real life.Read Burroughs when you are young and never revisite it just wont be the same.