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dmcke013's review against another edition
3.0
The fifth of Edgar Rice Burrough's Barsoom series of books, this is a return to form after the somewhat disappointing Thuvia, Maid of Mars
I think a large part of the reason for that is because (I have heard) that previous installment was written in installments, which shows throughout the story. I don't know if this one was or not, but it does seem to 'flow' better.
Like Thuvia, neither John Carter himself nor his son Carthoris are the central characters: rather, it is his daughter Tara who is one of the key characters. like the very first book(s), this is book-ended as Edgar Rice Burrough's recounting the tale told to him by John Carter, who only has a minor role in this story, both at the beginning and end.
There's no denying that it does follow the same plot arc as many of the previous books which, one could argue, might show a lack of imagination. However, if it's not broke, don't fix it!
I think a large part of the reason for that is because (I have heard) that previous installment was written in installments, which shows throughout the story. I don't know if this one was or not, but it does seem to 'flow' better.
Like Thuvia, neither John Carter himself nor his son Carthoris are the central characters: rather, it is his daughter Tara who is one of the key characters. like the very first book(s), this is book-ended as Edgar Rice Burrough's recounting the tale told to him by John Carter, who only has a minor role in this story, both at the beginning and end.
There's no denying that it does follow the same plot arc as many of the previous books which, one could argue, might show a lack of imagination. However, if it's not broke, don't fix it!
astalnar's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
samuel_kane_horrigan's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
blockonthenewkid's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Formulaic as expected.
Some fun sci-fi elements, and weird creepy aspects. The headless bodies controlled (and eaten) by spider heads, the taxidermied dead in the city. Burroughs almost venturing into horror with this one. More fun than most of the previous books, and a slightly stronger female character.
Some fun sci-fi elements, and weird creepy aspects. The headless bodies controlled (and eaten) by spider heads, the taxidermied dead in the city. Burroughs almost venturing into horror with this one. More fun than most of the previous books, and a slightly stronger female character.
rafial's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
callmecat's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as the previous, including the one with carthoras and thuvia, not just Deja and John. It was okay though.
kb_208's review against another edition
4.0
A pretty darn good one in the Mars series. I felt Thuvia, Maid of Mars was a little lacking, but this one makes up for that. This one, again, does not focus on John Carter, but rather his daughter Tara, which he suddenly has. She gets captured by the Kaldanes, which are spider-like creatures and can attach themselves to these headless human bodies, called rykors, and control them for their own use. She also gets captured by the Manatorians, which are the chess players; but they play using real people on a life-size board. It's good stuff.
mxmlln's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting culture in Manator for sure.
Will see if anyone is actually playing Martian chess (Jetan).
Will see if anyone is actually playing Martian chess (Jetan).
angelarenea's review against another edition
2.0
Ok, so I said in my last review (Thuvia, Maid of Mars) That I thought either book 3 or 4 was about rescuing a slave, but I think I was wrong and it was actually this one.
It starts out promising, (sort of) with Tara (John Carter's daughter) standing up for herself and saying that she does not want to be forced to marry someone she has not chosen, and before she wants to get married. However, instead of coming off like that, she came off spoiled and pouty, like she was being a silly girl throwing a temper tantrum and ruining off because she didn't get her own way. (Which of course means, since a woman has gone off on her own, she will inevitably need rescued /sigh) Needless to say we find and declare evil a new race, (who, actually I found interesting, despite a touch of their own slavery of kind, or perhaps not?) our main man lies about who is is, and WAM! That silly girl realizes she really does love him (and is written in a nice excuse to marry him and not her betrothed).
It starts out promising, (sort of) with Tara (John Carter's daughter) standing up for herself and saying that she does not want to be forced to marry someone she has not chosen, and before she wants to get married. However, instead of coming off like that, she came off spoiled and pouty, like she was being a silly girl throwing a temper tantrum and ruining off because she didn't get her own way. (Which of course means, since a woman has gone off on her own, she will inevitably need rescued /sigh) Needless to say we find and declare evil a new race, (who, actually I found interesting, despite a touch of their own slavery of kind, or perhaps not?) our main man lies about who is is, and WAM! That silly girl realizes she really does love him (and is written in a nice excuse to marry him and not her betrothed).
paperrhino's review against another edition
3.0
This fifth book in the Barsoon series is the last one that is in the public domain and therefore probably the last one I read for quite awhile. The book was true to its predecessors in almost every way. Once again almost insurmountable odds odds were overcome, lots and lot of people dies, two new civilizations were discovered, and the hero came out ahead in the end. However, The Chessmen of Mars does a better job with plot pacing, foreshadowing, and resolving plot points without resorting to my pet peeve, the deus ex machina.
Like the previous novel, this novel too does not follow John Carter as the main character but instead follows one of his children, this time a spoiled princess of a daughter. She gets caught in a storm and blown to unknown parts of Mars. All of here adventures revolve around her escapes from capture and fates worse than death on the journey back to Helium.
If you made it this far in the series there is no reason not to read this novel. I found it to be the second best over all, with Princess of Mars being the best.
Like the previous novel, this novel too does not follow John Carter as the main character but instead follows one of his children, this time a spoiled princess of a daughter. She gets caught in a storm and blown to unknown parts of Mars. All of here adventures revolve around her escapes from capture and fates worse than death on the journey back to Helium.
If you made it this far in the series there is no reason not to read this novel. I found it to be the second best over all, with Princess of Mars being the best.