Is John Carter Of Mars A Good Novel To Start With?

I picked up 'A Princess of Mars' on a whim after hearing it was one of the granddaddies of sci-fi, and wow, it did not disappoint. The way Edgar Rice Burroughs throws you headfirst into Barsoom—his version of Mars—is just exhilarating. John Carter's adventures feel like a pulpy, old-school rollercoaster, complete with sword fights, alien cultures, and a romance that’s straight out of a classic adventure tale. The prose is dated, sure, but there’s a charm to its earnestness. It’s like listening to your granddad tell a wild story—you can’t help but get swept up. What really got me was the world-building. Burroughs didn’t just imagine Mars; he populated it. From the green Tharks to the red Martians, every faction feels distinct, and the politics are surprisingly nuanced for something written in 1912. If you’re into foundational works that inspired everything from 'Star Wars' to 'Avatar,' this is a must-read. Just go in expecting fun, not hard sci-fi.

Ever since I first cracked open 'A Princess of Mars', I was hooked by the sheer escapism of John Carter’s journey. The guy’s a Civil War veteran, disillusioned and exhausted by the brutality of Earth, and suddenly he’s whisked away to Barsoom—this wild, vibrant world where gravity’s different, colors are brighter, and he’s got superhuman strength. It’s not just about adventure; it’s a rebirth. Carter stumbles into that cave, gets mysteriously transported, and boom—he’s no longer a broken soldier but a hero among warring Martian tribes. The novel frames Mars as this blank slate where he can redefine himself, away from Earth’s scars. Plus, let’s be real, who wouldn’t trade post-war Reconstruction for sword fights with four-armed Tharks and a romance with Dejah Thoris? Burroughs paints Mars as this romanticized frontier, a place where Carter’s archaic Southern chivalry somehow fits. It’s fascinating how the story leans into the 'man out of time' trope before it was even a trope. The Martian setting lets Carter’s anachronistic ideals—honor, bravery, love-at-first-sight—feel heroic instead of outdated. And honestly, the sheer weirdness of Barsoom’s ecology (dying oceans, air factories, egg-laying humans) makes Earth seem dull by comparison. Carter doesn’t just go to Mars; he belongs there in a way he never did on Earth.

Think about his relationship with Dejah Thoris. It’s the emotional core of his entire existence on Barsoom. That relationship begins, develops, and faces its ultimate test across the first three books. If you skip 'A Princess of Mars', you miss the iconic, sweeping romance that defines his motivation for everything else he does. You can’t follow his arc without following their love story from its first spark.

I appreciate the internal timeline because it gives structure to a sprawling series. Without it, the ten-plus novels can feel like a blur of similar adventures. The chronological sequence provides a backbone—you see Carter's life unfold, his family grow, the world change. It transforms the series from a set of pulpy episodes into a loose, generational saga. That added depth makes the re-read more satisfying for me, even if it wasn't Burroughs' original design.

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.

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.

I stumbled upon this question while organizing my digital bookshelf, and it reminded me of how classic sci-fi like 'John Carter: Adventures on Mars' can be tricky to find. The original novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs are technically in the public domain since they were published before 1923, but the compilations or modern editions might still be copyrighted. Project Gutenberg is my go-to for free public domain works—I snagged 'A Princess of Mars' there years ago. That said, newer adaptations or audiobook versions often aren’t free. I’ve seen some shady sites offering dodgy PDFs, but I’d stick to legit sources. Librivox also has free audiobook readings by volunteers, which are hit-or-miss in quality but charmingly nostalgic. If you’re into pulp sci-fi, it’s worth digging through archive.org too—they sometimes have scanned originals with those gorgeous old illustrations.

John Carter's journey to Mars in 'A Princess of Mars' starts with a mix of chance and destiny, which feels like Edgar Rice Burroughs tossed him into the adventure almost whimsically. After fleeing Apache pursuers in an Arizona cave, he’s mysteriously transported to Barsoom (Mars) through some unexplained astral projection. But beyond the mechanics, it’s his character that really drives the why—he’s a Confederate veteran, a man out of place in post-war America, craving purpose and action. Barsoom gives him that: a world where his Earth-given strength and skills make him a legend. The Martian landscape isn’t just a setting; it’s a blank slate for Carter to redefine himself, away from the scars of war. What’s fascinating is how Mars reflects Carter’s inner restlessness. The planet’s dying civilizations, warring factions, and exotic customs mirror the chaos he left behind, but with higher stakes and grander rewards. And then there’s Dejah Thoris—love at first sight, sure, but also a catalyst. She’s not just a damsel; she’s the heart of a civilization he grows to fight for. Carter’s leap to Mars isn’t just escapism; it’s about finding a place where he can matter in a way Earth never allowed.

I picked up 'John Carter: The Movie Novelization' on a whim after rewatching the film, and honestly, it surprised me. The book expands on the world of Barsoom in ways the movie couldn’t—deeper lore about the Therns, more nuanced political struggles between the city-states, and even extra scenes with Dejah Thoris that flesh out her character beyond the warrior princess archetype. The prose isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s solid and captures the pulpy adventure vibe of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ original stories. If you’re a fan of the film or the Barsoom series, it’s a fun companion piece. That said, it’s not without flaws. Some passages feel rushed, like they were padding runtime to match the movie’s pacing. And while the action sequences translate well to text, the emotional beats sometimes fall flat compared to the visual spectacle of the film. Still, as someone who loves sci-fi swashbuckling, I enjoyed the extra worldbuilding—it made me wish Disney had greenlit a sequel.

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.