Product Description

The first published book by the creator of Tarzan of the Apes

Two years before Edgar Rice Burroughs became a worldwide celebrity with the publication of Tarzan of the Apes and its twenty-two sequels, which together have sold more than 30 million copies, he published A Princess of Mars. A futuristic sci-fi fantasy romance, A Princess of Mars tells the story of John Carter, a Civil War veteran who inexplicably finds himself held prisoner on the planet Mars by the Green Men of Thark. Together with Dejah Thoris, the princess of another clan on Mars, the unlikely pair must fight for their freedom and save the entire planet from destruction as the life-sustaining Atmosphere Factory slowly grinds to a halt.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #258206 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
Might it really be possible—in fact and not fancy—to venture with John Carter to the Kingdom of Helium on the planet Mars? -- Carl Sagan

Review
Might it really be possible—in fact and not fancy—to venture with John Carter to the Kingdom of Helium on the planet Mars? (Carl Sagan)

About the Author
Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950) was the author of more than sixty books, including the immensely popular Tarzan adventures.
John Seelye is the author of numerous books on American literature and has edited the Penguin Classics edition of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, among others.

Customer Reviews

First Step of Carter's Martian Career.
Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) was a prodigy of imagination. He started his writer career quite late; his first work was published in 1912. From that point on a ceaseless flow of imaginary worlds & heroes poured from his pen: John Carter of Mars, Carson Napier of Venus, David Innes and Abner Perry on Pellucidar at Earth's center and the most famous of them all Tarzan of the Apes.
As many reviewers of this and other ERB stories point out, do not expect "politically correct" tales, they are the product of a society still torn by racial prejudices.

"Princess of Mars" is an astounding piece of fantasy. First story of ERB to be published it contains the seeds of lots of sci-fi and Fantasy novels to come in the following years. Also we may detect some traits of Tarzan in John Carter character.
It's a pleasure to read so "fresh" adventures depicting a whole planet culture, ecology, interaction between different races, monsters, and inventions far ahead of ERB real world, as "rifles with explosive bullets guided by wireless sensors".

It amazes me how ERB can master in a rather short text (for our standards); a high paced action story. Even if this book is more than 90 years old, you will enjoy it from the first to the last page and possibly continue reading all Carter's series.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

A Princess of Barsoom
"I have never told this story nor shall mortal man see this manuscript until I have passed over for eternity. I know that the average human mind will not believe what it can not grasp......"

Written in 1912 this book is well written for its time and has intrigued countless generations of readers. I get the feeling that this story is being told over a campfire.

Captain Carter is telling the story form memory as an old man of his adventures here on earth and on the planet of Barsoom (Mars). There are encounters with many strain creatures, situations, and yes even a "Princess of Mars."

This is a part is a series by the writer that brought us "Tarzan." The intro to the book alone will capture your imagination.

So long as you ignore the introduction...
There's no question that "A Princess Of Mars"--the first in the eleven book series--is brilliant. In fact, the first three volumes of ERB's Mars are arguably the best. (By "Thuvia, Maid Of Mars" and "Chessmen Of Mars" the series starts to drag a little bit, but "Llana Of Gathol" and "Synthetic Men Of Mars" are superb!)

One piece of advice: Skip John Seelye's bitingly pretentious "introduction".

If this is your first ERB Mars experience, enjoy your sojourn on the Red Planet! Adventure and Romance await!

--Robert Carter