Which John Carter Of Mars Book Comes First In The Storyline?

Fans of the Barsoom series, help a new reader out. I know the timeline jumps around, but I’d like to dive into John Carter’s saga in the right narrative sequence.
2026-07-25 13:29:04
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3 Answers

KayleeLee
KayleeLee
Honest Reviewer Journalist
The first book is 'A Princess of Mars'. I recommend the Barnes & Noble collector's edition if you like nice physical copies. It has a great introduction that puts the series in context.

Reading it, you have to remember it's over a century old. Some of the social dynamics are cringe-worthy by modern standards. But the sense of adventure is timeless.

Carter's code of honor and the epic romance with Dejah Thoris drive the entire series, and it all starts in that first novel.
2026-07-26 19:48:58
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JunoWest
JunoWest
Contributor Nurse
Think of it like a TV series. 'A Princess of Mars' is the pilot episode. It introduces the main character, the love interest, the key allies, and the core conflict.

Subsequent books are like new seasons, expanding the world and raising the stakes. But you wouldn't start a show on season two. The pilot is essential for character motivations and establishing the rules.

The same logic applies here. Pilot episode first.
2026-07-30 19:10:47
3
BenVibes
BenVibes
Reply Helper Data Analyst
You know, a lot of people get tripped up because the publishing history has some quirks. Chronologically, the first story is absolutely 'A Princess of Mars'.

It was serialized as 'Under the Moons of Mars' before being published as a novel. Sometimes seeing the different titles confuses newcomers. Just grab that one.

The internal chronology of the series follows the order Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote them, with one minor exception later on. So, for the core John Carter experience, begin with the Princess.
2026-07-31 01:27:41
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What is the correct order to read the John Carter of Mars books?

4 Answers2026-07-25 12:44:16
It’s fascinating how these books inspired so much modern sci-fi and fantasy, from 'Star Wars' to 'Avatar'. Reading them in publication order is like watching the genre DNA unfold. You see tropes being invented in real time. That historical layer adds so much to the experience. A chronological read would obscure that evolution. You’d get a tidy story but miss the cultural context. For a student of genre history, publication order isn’t just correct; it’s essential.

How do the John Carter of Mars books connect in series order?

3 Answers2026-07-25 16:09:34
I remember being a kid and finding these in my library out of order. I read 'The Master Mind of Mars' first and was utterly confused but enthralled. Went back and started from the beginning, and it was like getting the missing pieces of a dream. That confusion was actually fun, but I got more out of it the second time, in order. The series is designed to be discovered layer by layer. The first book sets up the romance and wonder. The next ones deepen the mythology. The later ones expand the cast. Doing it right feels like being inducted into a secret club.

In what publication order were the John Carter of Mars books released?

6 Answers2026-07-25 06:08:29
Library archives are great for this. You can often find scanned copies of the original 'All-Story' magazines with the first serialized installments. That's the true first publication, before the books. It's a deep dive, but seeing the stories alongside ads for soap and cars from 1912 is a trip. The book order is a simplification of that messier, more exciting serial publication history. So when we talk about 'publication order', we usually mean books. But the truest order is the magazine release, which is almost the same but with multi-year gaps within a single story's publication.

What are some books like John Carter, A Princess of Mars?

4 Answers2026-01-08 16:59:27
If you loved the swashbuckling adventure and alien landscapes of 'A Princess of Mars', you’ve got to check out 'The Sword of Rhiannon' by Leigh Brackett. It’s got that same pulpy, high-energy vibe—think ancient Martian civilizations, rogue archaeologists, and cursed artifacts. Brackett’s writing is lush and vivid, almost like she painted the deserts of Mars with words. Another gem is 'The Moon Maid' by Edgar Rice Burroughs himself; it’s a wild ride through a hollow Earth with warring factions and a damsel in distress who’s way tougher than she looks. For something more modern but equally epic, 'The Barsoom Series' influence is all over S.M. Stirling’s 'In the Courts of the Crimson Kings'. It’s a love letter to Burroughs’ style but with deeper world-building and political intrigue. And if you’re into comics, 'Warlord of Mars' by Dynamite Entertainment expands John Carter’s universe with gorgeous art and even crazier plot twists. Honestly, diving into these feels like unearthing a treasure chest of forgotten pulp glory.

How many books are in the John Carter of Mars series?

4 Answers2025-12-24 12:30:22
Ever since I stumbled upon the John Carter of Mars series, I've been completely hooked. Edgar Rice Burroughs crafted this incredible world that blends science fiction and adventure in such a unique way. The series consists of 11 books in total, starting with 'A Princess of Mars' in 1912 and ending with 'John Carter of Mars' in 1964. It's wild to think how the story evolved over decades, with Burroughs returning to the characters even after long gaps. What fascinates me most is how each book builds on the last, yet they can stand alone too. I accidentally read 'The Gods of Mars' before the first book, and it still blew me away. The later entries, like 'Llana of Gathol,' feel slightly different in tone but keep that pulpy charm. It's a series I revisit every few years—always discovering something new.

Which John Carter book should I read first in the series?

4 Answers2026-07-25 09:31:16
I found an old, musty copy in my attic. The smell of aged paper added to the atmosphere. Cracking open 'A Princess of Mars' felt like uncovering a secret history of sci-fi. The physical experience of reading that specific edition made following the proper order feel like a ritual. I sought out the sequels in similar old editions to keep the feeling going. It became less about just the story and more about the artifact of the story. If you have the chance, finding a vintage paperback can make starting the series a special event.

Where do the John Carter of Mars books fit within the Barsoom series order?

3 Answers2026-07-25 10:48:58
The series order question comes up a lot in old-school sci-fi forums. It's nice to see new readers discovering these classics. The community usually points people to ERBlist.com for definitive info, but the short answer is always publication order.

Who wrote John Carter of Mars book series originally?

3 Answers2025-05-23 12:47:53
'John Carter of Mars' is one of those series that just sticks with you. The original author is Edgar Rice Burroughs, the same genius who created 'Tarzan'. He started the series back in 1912 with 'A Princess of Mars', and it's wild how fresh it still feels. Burroughs had this knack for blending sci-fi and fantasy before those genres were even properly defined. His writing transports you to Barsoom with such vivid detail, you can almost smell the Martian air. The guy was way ahead of his time, crafting a universe that inspired everything from 'Star Wars' to modern pulp adventures.

What is the correct reading order of the John Carter books?

5 Answers2026-07-25 12:49:54
The audiobook narrator for the first three, Gene Engene, is fantastic. He captures that old-school, melodramatic pulp tone perfectly. If you go the audio route, listen to those three in order, then you can switch to other narrators for the later books without missing a beat. The performance adds so much to the experience.

Which John Carter book in order first introduces Princess Dejah Thoris

6 Answers2026-07-25 14:39:23
Honestly, the way Burroughs writes her entrance is so dramatic. This ethereal, copper-skinned woman just appears among all these brutal, four-armed giants. It's iconic. That scene alone sold a million paperback copies. You can't talk about John Carter without talking about meeting Dejah Thoris in that first book. It's the core of the whole saga.
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