Customer Reviews

John Carter's Chronicles of Mars

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

 

 

I was really looking forward to exploring the early fantasy works of E. Rice Burroughs, having recently gone gaga over the collected fantastic works of R. E. Howard. How disappointed, then, I was to discover that this volume offered the most disgracefully inconvenient physical format I have ever seen in a book. The pages are the most peculiar size; the print is way too small; the margins are non-existent, meaning you must crack the book open with all your strength to discern the letters hiding toward the spine (not exactly conducive to relaxed bedtime reading); and there's nary an illustration to be found. What should be, say, a ten-page chapter resultantly occupies two huge overcrowded pages that you can scarcely get your hands around. The format, frankly, reminds me of a cheapo computer printout, lacking only the photo offset typeface. Foul! Bah! Woe! Fie! Seek Burroughs's works elsewhere: how could you possibly deduce a fair idea of anyone's works from this witches'-brew of a manifestation? Aargh!! (Aren't those nice words? I'm feeling especially playful.)

The book was a great deal larger than the old paperbacks of my youth, but just reading the first few pages of the first book took me back to the joy of reading these novels when I was a teen and then trading them with my friend Ted, as we would trade comics. Imagine trading BOOKS today.
Burroughs writes from another time, but paints a great picture of the savage world of Barsoom.

I would recommend it and the only loss was the cover art of the original paperbacks

Let me start by saying that I enjoy a good story as much as anybody. Further, this is not my first time with either Burroughs or John Carter.The stories are what they are,rollicking adventures aimed squarely at young adult males of the early 20th century. Not a lot of deep plot development,a fair amount of gadgets, a few monsters and literally non-stop action.The writing style is typical for the period;characters are fairly 2 dimensional, descriptions leave room for individual interpretation and logic is all but forgotten when it gets inconvenient. I first read these stories when I was in my late teens-early twenties;I must admit they were easier to take when I was younger and less critical. Still they are enjoyable, if somewhat predictable(chase the kidnappers, fight, chase the kidnappers some more, fight some more...you get the idea).
What's sort of new is the format. We have the first 5 Mars books in one volume, which is perhaps a bit much. After the third book, John Carter becomes almost a secondary character.I've always had the feeling that Burroughs would get bored with a book at about chapter 15;few of them are much longer than that, and many tend to wrap up with alarming speed at that point. And this is the first book I've ever read that has a disclaimer regarding violence, cultural attitudes and racial stereotyping.
In short, we have a good volume of classic science fantasy at a reasonable value. It's a good introduction for those who wish to experience a taste of Burroughs Mars, and a handy collection for those who've already been there...PS

I found the first book of this series hidden in a closet when I was ten. It woke me up to my own inner feelings of how a real man should be, how a real man should love, and how he should fight for every aspect of that love. Every book in the series is a short read but you must read them with your heart. Be standing next to Captain Jack Carter when he is risking life and limb for the love of Dejah Thoris. Feel his courage course through your own veins. Carter is an unstoppable character in a life changing set of books that are a treasure in my own life.

Good book strong fiction for it day. Easy to get involved in the story. Edgar Rice Burroughs was a very progressive thinker.