Mars (Barsoom) Series

Edgar Rice Burroughs started writing his Martian adventures in 1911. Even though science claims there is no life on Mars his stories remain vibrant and timeless tales, because Burroughs knew the appeal and power of the Martian myth. Writers like Ray Bradbury and scientists like Carl Sagan have acknowledged that Burroughs' Martian tales were the wellspring from which their own careers arose.

With his opening trilogy, considered one of the landmarks of science fiction, Burroughs created a vast and sweeping epic. Captain John Carter of the Confederate Army is whisked to Mars (Barsoom) and discovers a dying world of dry ocean beds where giant four-armed barbarians rule, of crumbling cities home to an advanced but decaying civilization, a world of strange beasts and savage combat, a world where love, honor and loyalty become the stuff of adventure.

In eleven books Burroughs takes the reader all around the Red Planet (and even to Jupiter), while the action and excitement never let up. Take a trip down the sacred River Iss to the Valley Dor at Barsoom's south pole, but be warned you might wind up the meal for a flesh-eating plant man! Visit the city of Manator, where the citizens play chess with live pieces to the death. Pay your respects to Ras Thavas, the Master Mind of Mars, who will be happy to transplant your brain into the body of your choice or maybe into the body of a giant ape. Rescue princesses from impenetrable fortresses, gallop across the sea bottoms of Barsoom astride your eight-legged thoat, or race through the thin air of Mars aboard your anti-gravity flier. 

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 1) A Princess of Mars

Suddenly projected to Mars, Captain John Carter of the Confederate Army found himself captive of the savage green men of Thark. With him was Dejah Thoris, lovely Princess of Helium. And between them and rescue lay a thousand miles of deadly enemies and unknown dangers. A Princess of Mars was originally published as "The Moon of Mars" under the pseudonym Norman Bean in All-Story Magazine as a six-part serial, February through July 1912.

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First published in 1912 by "The All Story Magazine" in 6 issues.

First Book Edition by A.C. McClurg & Co., October 10, 1917. Frank Schoonover did the cover and five interior illustrations.

We followed closely this first edition and added a map of Barsoom and five extra illustrations, one by Fortunino Matania and four by Frank Frazetta from the 1970 Doubleday edition.

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2) Gods of Mars
After the long exile on Earth, John Carter finally returned to his beloved Mars. But beautiful Dejah Thoris, the woman he loved, had vanished. Now he was trapped in the legendary Eden of Mars, an Eden from which none ever escaped alive.

Three monstrous white apes sprang into the arena. On her throne, Issus, the living goddess of the First Born, leaned forward in keen anticipation. At length the apes spied the huddled knot of terror-stricken maidens and, with demoniacal shrieks of bestial frenzy, charged upon them. A wave of mad fury surged over me. A single blow sent my guard unconscious to the ground. Snatching up his long- sword, I leaped into the arena. The sword whirled and a great ape sprawled headless at the feet of the fainting girls. The other apes were upon me -- now but my act had heartened the prisoners, and the cages vomited forth their inmates hot with the lust to kill- doomed men dedicated to revenge upon Issus! But against each of us were a thousand warriors of the First Born.

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First published in 1913 by "The All Story Magazine" from January through May.

First Book Edition by A.C. McClurg & Co.: September 28, 1918; 348 pages. 1st Ed. Print Run: 10,000 copies. Total McClurg: 149,000 copies. Frank E. Schoonover, cover, repeated as sepia frontispiece.

We followed the structure of the first McClurg edition with the addition of the three plates by Frank Frazetta, from the Doubleday edition, 6 plates by Thomas Yates, plus 3 drawings by Mike Hoffman and a map of Barsoom

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