It’s hard to believe A Princess of Mars is a hundred years old. Published in 1912, A Princess of Mars launched Edgar Rice Burroughs’ writing career. Civil War veteran, John Carter, is transported to Mars where Carter’s strength and agility makes him a favorite of the Martian tribes. In the run-up to today’s opening of the movie version of A Princess of Mars I decided to reread Burroughs’ iconic text. Sure there’s some dated language, but Burroughs knows how to tell a gripping tale of adventure. I can’t wait to see John Carter! I’ll post a movie review of it tomorrow.
With JOHN CARTER soon to be filling the seats of movie theaters and raking in the dough copies of the Mars series are flying off the shelves of used bookstores out here. Darn it! I have nearly all the Mars books but never read the first one because the Venus books appealed to me more and I kept all of those. (Don’t ask.) Anyway, I can’t find one cheap paperback of any Burroughs’ Mars book in the Chicago used bookstores that usually never fail me when I get a craving like this. Guess eBay will soon be flooded with them.
Edgar Rice Burroughs books used to show up frequently in used book stores (most of ours have closed), library book sales, and garage sales, John. Sadly, ERB books don’t show up at all anymore. Barnes & Noble started reprinting the Mars series in nice omnibus volumes, but that project stopped.
I’m eagerly awaiting the film like everyone else. Maybe over optimistically I have a good feeling based on the long clip I posted a few days ago.
And, after some long thought, I bought the movie tie-in novel. For some reason, they did a novelization of the script(that does give me a bad feeling. But it does also include Burroughs’ A PRINCESS OF MARS, albeit after the novelization.
I don’t want to tip my hand, Randy, but the screen-writers of JOHN CARTER made some changes to A PRINCESS OF MARS. Nothing that should bother true fans of the Mars series.
I have the Nelson Doubleday hardcover with the classic Frazetta cover, and also an older omnibus set of the Mars books published by Dover. I’ve been meaning to re-read them, or at least the first couple of Mars books, for some time, but have too much else on my plate.
As to the film, I have absolutely no expectations of it being faithful in any way to Burroughs. I’m guessing it will just be a special-effects extravaganza designed to sell tickets (of course) and lead to a follow-up. I’m not even sure if I’ll go see it at on the big screen. Maybe. I’ll wait for reviews. I’ll admit the trailers have made it look like fun.
JOHN CARTER is fun, Rick. I just returned from seeing the movie. My review will be up on this blog tomorrow.
I’m re-reading A Princess of Mars. Couldn’t help but want to pick it up after the movie yesterday.
JOHN CARTER pretty much followed A PRINCESS OF MARS, Carl. The only big difference was the appearance of the Tharns.
That is pretty much what I thought, but I am enjoying re-reading the book. Can’t wait to see the film again tonight.
You’re smart to see JOHN CARTER again before March Madness erupts, Carl. I’ll be rooting for Marquette again.