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The Gods of Mars
The Gods of Mars
Beginning with John Carter's return to Barsoom (Mars) after a ten year hiatus -- separated from his wife Dejah Thoris, his unborn child, and the Red Martian people of the nation of Helium, whom he has adopted as his own -- John Carter materializes in the one place on Barsoom from which nobody is allowed to depart: the Valley Dor, the Barsoomian heaven.
Book Excerpt
sult of its peculiar method of feeding, which consists in cropping off the tender vegetation with its razorlike talons and sucking it up from its two mouths, which lie one in the palm of each hand, through its arm-like throats.
In addition to the features which I have already described, the beast was equipped with a massive tail about six feet in length, quite round where it joined the body, but tapering to a flat, thin blade toward the end, which trailed at right angles to the ground.
By far the most remarkable feature of this most remarkable creature, however, were the two tiny replicas of it, each about six inches in length, which dangled, one on either side, from its armpits. They were suspended by a small stem which seemed to grow from the exact tops of their heads to where it connected them with the body of the adult.
Whether they were the young, or merely portions of a composite creature, I did not know.
As I had been scrutinizing this weird monstrosity the balance of the he
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can only agree with the other reviewer it's an excellent story and i will read it again
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This is the second in Burrough's Barsoom series and it is excellent. It is, perhaps, not quite as excellent as A Princess of Mars. But it is excellent nonetheless. The same grand storytelling effortlessly mixes alien races, traditions, technologies and religions with John Carter's impeccable swordsmanship, sense of duty and honor.
As with its predecessor, one must read this book with an understanding of the prevailing prejudices at the time in which it was written. Some sentiments are fairly out of step with modern sensitivities.
However, the story is fast paced and well written. The adventure is enormous in scope as armies of nearly unfathomable size clash in a bloody schism between the old and new. John Carter finds himself not only a participant in but an architect of revolution on a planetary scale. All the while, the reader is left wondering whether Carter's personal struggles will result in victory.
Burroughs took some liberty with the passage of time in some portions of the story. These quantum shifts were noticeable but not jarring. And despite them this was a thoroughly enjoyable book which I devoured rapaciously. It was certainly a worthy successor to A Princess of Mars and I will certainly read it again.
As with its predecessor, one must read this book with an understanding of the prevailing prejudices at the time in which it was written. Some sentiments are fairly out of step with modern sensitivities.
However, the story is fast paced and well written. The adventure is enormous in scope as armies of nearly unfathomable size clash in a bloody schism between the old and new. John Carter finds himself not only a participant in but an architect of revolution on a planetary scale. All the while, the reader is left wondering whether Carter's personal struggles will result in victory.
Burroughs took some liberty with the passage of time in some portions of the story. These quantum shifts were noticeable but not jarring. And despite them this was a thoroughly enjoyable book which I devoured rapaciously. It was certainly a worthy successor to A Princess of Mars and I will certainly read it again.
04/22/2008
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