Edgar Rice Burroughs
A Princess of Mars (1912)
Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Genre (and subgenre): Science Fiction/Adventure
Plot Summary:
John Clark, Virginia Gentleman, is transported to Mars while running from Apaches in Arizona. Finding himself amongst the Green Men of Mars, he endeavors to learn their language and their ways, becoming a chieftain while still a prisoner. When a fellow prisoner is brought to the tribe, a women of the Red Men of Mars species, he finds himself falling in love and making plans for the two of them to escape. When the escape doesn't go as planned, it is up to him to find his way back to his princess and ultimately, save Barsoom.
Geographical Setting: Mars
Time Period: Post-Martian Civil War
Series: Beginning of the John Carter of Mars series
Appeal Characteristics:
Pulp fiction, adventure story, aliens, post civil war era, southern gentlemen, plot driven, man from earth on another planet.
Read-alikes: Start by finishing out the John Carter of Mars series (next is The Gods of Mars, 1918) by Burroughs and the Venus series (first is Pirates of Venus, 1934, and features a similar storyline set on a different planet) by the same author. If you're interested in books about men from Earth having adventures on other planets also try the Green Star series by Lin Carter (first is Under a Green Star, 1972) and the Gor Chronicles by John Norman (start with Tarnsman of Gor, 1966, in which an earthman travels to another planet and becomes a reknowned warrior). Also in that vein is the Michael Kane of Mars series by Michael Moorcock, writing under the name Edward P. Bradbury, start with Warriors of Mars (1965) in which a man is flung through time and space to an alien world where he must fight to save the woman he loves. For more adventures in the unknown that stay a bit closer to home (as in on this planet) try A. (Abraham) Merritt's works. The Moon Pool (1919) is a good place to start.
Red Flags: Violence
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