Dawn
ENGL 3850-02N
Sci-Fi Lit
Dr. Coats
20 February, 1997
A Princess of Mars
This is the first book in science fiction that I have literally eaten alive. It went by so fast my head was spinning! I almost didn't read it because of the cover: a scantily clad man hoisting a very scantily clad woman (you can't even call her very scantily clad, she was wearing next to nothing!) and green martians surrounding them, one dead in the foreground. My first thought was, oh boy, big strong man rescues helpless beautiful women from mean green martians - definitely not my cup of tea. However, because I like science fiction and my professor, I decided to read it.
Imagine my amazement when I realized that this was a good book after all! In fact, the best one I have read in this class so far! There were so many memorable scenes, its hard to pick just one. I laughed out loud when John Carter was snubbed by Dejah Thoris, all because he didn't say anything when he first saw her! He was so shocked and crushed! I admired him for eventually winning her love - I mean he had to chase her all over Mars! I also adored Woola, he reminded me of my dog Angel at home. He was so brave, protecting John Carter from those white apes! I thought, man, what a loyal animal, just like my dog who will fight dogs three times the size of her (she's part beagle and part dachsund).
Edgar Rice Burroughs vision of Mars is one that I liked. I thought it was interesting that the inhabitants depended on an oxygen factory to survive - could they have perhaps relocated to Mars from a different planet? What was really scary was the Martians - about fifteen feet tall and ferocious! I felt shivers go down my spine when I read that to these people, pain was a source of entertainment! Overall, a good representation of a fearsome red planet - I know I wouldn't want to visit it!
A great book - I recommend it to everyone. It is a book that scifi fans and nonfans should treasure. E. R. Burroughs at his very best!