A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs — Sci-Fi Book Review

Art by Frank E. Schoonover

Perhaps one of the most influential fiction stories of all time, Edgar Rice Burroughs' A Princess of Mars is a cornerstone for the science fiction genre. The John Carter stories have inspired classics such as Flash Gordon, Dune, and even Star Wars. This book the definition of sci-fi pulp—it has action, adventure, and a wondrous world just waiting to be explored.

A Princess of Mars marks the first entry of John Carter's adventures on Mars (known as Barsoom by its inhabitants). The concept of this story, while simple, is incredibly creative. It's about a man who, by pure happenstance, is transported to the planet Mars. Remember, this book was written in the early 1900s. The Wright brothers' first flight was less than a decade before Burroughs sat down to write his first draft, and the possibility of human space travel was barely even a dream. The concept of traveling to another planet was groundbreaking.

The story is told from the first person perspective of its hero, John Carter—a Civil War veteran who has found himself on this mysterious new planet. He is unrealistic in nearly every way possible. He is overtly competent, likable, and heroic without fear. Burroughs' famously wrote his characters for his own wish fulfillment, imagining himself in their shoes. Some might find this eye-rolling, with good reason (seriously, Edgar), but there is also something somewhat enjoyable about following an aspirational hero. Even if he is overpowered as all get out, I like John Carter. In addition, Tars Tarkas is one of my favorite science fiction figures of all time.

This book was written in 1912, and boy does it show. Has it aged well? Heck no. Burroughs' worldview was extremely flawed, and incredibly indicative of the time in which he was writing—particularly when it comes to race and gender. There are lines some so bad, they were hilarious—I could not help but laugh at how ridiculous they were. With all that being said, this book is still worth the read in 2025. Just be sure to read it with a grain of salt, as it is thoroughly a product of its time.

In terms of prose, nothing to write home about. As George R.R. Martin once put it in his anthology Old Mars: "Though never a great writer, Edgar Rice Burroughs was a master storyteller." As I previously mentioned, this is pulp through and through. Don't pick this story up to admire the craft, but rather to be transported on an adventure into a brand new world.

Burroughs managed to create a living, breathing planet with fascinating aliens, cultures, and animals—all well before numerous other authors were doing the same. The worldbuilding is incredible. The Tharks and the people of Helium will forever be ingrained in my mind as science fiction hallmarks.

A Princess of Mars is a classic sci-fi romp. While severely dated in many ways, it is well worth reading. If you like imaginative worldbuilding, memorable characters, and an exciting adventure, I highly recommend picking up this book and being transported to Barsoom.