Otis Adelbert Kline cloned Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Mars novels and produced Swordsman of Mars and Outlaws of Mars. Two Earthmen are sent to Mars through a telepathic mind swap. In Swordsman of Mars our hero is Harry Thorne, a young man from a wealthy family who has been falsely compromised. Thorne agrees to the incredible experiment and finds himself thrust into a dangerous political battle with the second, evil, Earthman. In Outlaws of Mars an American soldier, Jerry Morgan, agrees to be transported to the Red Planet. Morgan arrives on Mars and is instantly embroiled in a civil war. Both books are based on Burroughs’ John Carter novels. Readers who love the action in Burroughs’ Mars novels will find plenty to like in these two imitations.
Probably the best of the ERB emulators. MAZA OF THE MOON is my favorite, the not-so-missing link between John Carter and Flash Gordon. The Avalon and Ace editions of SWORDSMAN and OUTLAWS were edited to get into the Mars action faster. Paizo advertised their edition of SWORDSMAN as unedited, but that was not strictly the case, although Paizo did restore the text in the opening section of the book that Avalon and Ace had excised.
You’re right, Fred. The Planet Stories edition restores some of the missing material.
I read these to many years ago. It would be nice to revisit. I don’t do that sort of thing often because there’s too much stuff out there, both old and new, I’d like to get a chance at. The eternal plight of the reader.
I started out reviewing the Michael Moorcock Kane of Mars pastiches and that naturally led me to reread Otis Adelbert Kline’s Mars novels, Randy. Great fun!
I have both of these, but like so very many other things here, have not gotten to them yet. Love those covers!
The covers capture the essence of these adventure novels, Rick. Like you, I had these Planet Stories editions around for a couple of years. I felt it was time to reread them.
I suspect I might like the intros even better than the stories…
Both Michael Moorcock and Joe R. Lansdale wrote very appreciative Introductions to these books, Todd. They’re fans of Burroughs’ Mars novels, but appreciate Kline’s efforts, too.
Ray Cummings’ Tama of the Light Country and Tama, Princess of Mercury are also worth a look, if you’re keen on this sort of thing.
Thanks for the suggestions, Bill! I’ve enjoyed all the Ray Cummings books I’ve read. I haven’t read the Tama books, but they sound great.