A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs

A Princess of Mars

Books that were popular years ago are frequently disappointments, particularly when they're so influential in shaping genres. Too often, the books that follow them exploit all of their novelty, so coming in late to the story means we already have the aftertaste in our mouth from all the most delicious bits; there's nothing left that's noteworthy or original (or rather, original-seeming). A Princess of Mars, however, has aged particularly well; a fact which is evidenced by the film adaptation due for release in 2012. Perhaps Burroughs' Mars series was thoroughly exploited by the pulp sci-fi of the 20's and 30's and I just had the good fortune to miss out on all that - I don't know. I just know that after I finishing the story (it didn't take long - it's a short book and reads quickly) I had a hunger for all things Martian.

The story follows John Carter, a captain on the defeated side of the American side of the Civil War who goes out West to find a new fortune. Through methods not important, he finds himself transported from near-death on Earth to deathly danger on Mars (there known as "Barsoom"). John Carter is a man of courage, a man of no mean martial skill (no accidental concept-pun, that), and a man of honor, and through the force of these qualities (and the nifty feats his terran-trained muscles allow him to perform in Martian light gravity), he wins his fortune, along with the love of the most perfect woman of Barsoom.

What works: the story is raw, unashamed pulp adventure, and captures every bit of the daring, excitement, despair, and thrill of unbelievable escapes that you could hope for. John Carter is the archetypal adventure here - brave, earthy, honest, quick to rise to any challenge that stands in his way. In that sense it's the pinnacle of the genre. It reads quickly, and rarely gets bogged down in lists of actions that can frequently hamper action scenes. Our chest swells vicariously for Carter's courage, and even an abundance of superlatives thrown at Dejah Thoris, the titular princess of Mars, seem to work because Carter sounds so sincere. If he says she's the most beautiful creature to walk any planet, we believe him. What elevates the novel from simple pulp, though, is the way it paints Mars. There's a sense of deep, extensive history, a sense that the planet and its inhabitants are thoroughly "other", but within the context of their otherness there are both generalizations (just as we can apply to ourselves), and widely variant individuals. The green men of Mars never really feel like humans with an extra pair of arms. The descriptions of the planet fit the Mars we can easily imagine until science reminds us that along with the lack of atmosphere and water (Barsoom's atmosphere is artificial and continuously replenished, and the planet is as dry as any desert), there is indeed no large-scale life on Mars.

What doesn't work: While there are philosophical interludes, the pulp adventure of the story is it's primary - and nearly singular - note. If deeds of bravery and strength don't appeal to you and after the first few pages you don't think this book is your thing, you won't find any hidden redeeming qualities 100 pages in.

The Takeaway: I read the second book by accident before the first, but the third is certainly in my book queue. If you have a Kindle, you can download the books for free from Amazon. If you don't, a paperback collection of the first several paperbacks is relatively cheap. If adventure (think Indiana Jones hybridized with the Grail Quests of the knights of the Round Table) appeals to you, you will love this book.