John Carter of Mars (collection)
Encyclopedia
John Carter of Mars is the eleventh and final book in the Barsoom
series by Edgar Rice Burroughs
. It is not actually a novel but rather a collection of two John Carter of Mars stories.
The first, "John Carter and the Giant of Mars", is a juvenile story penned by Burrough's son John "Jack" Coleman Burroughs, and claimed to have been revised by Burroughs. It was written for a Whitman
Big Little Book, illustrated by Jack Burroughs that was published in 1940 and then republished in Amazing Stories
the next year.
The second story, "Skeleton Men of Jupiter", was first published in Amazing Stories
in 1943. Intended as the first in a series of novelettes to be later collected in book form, in the fashion of Llana of Gathol
, it ends with the plot unresolved, and the intended sequels were never written. Several other writers have written pastiche endings for the story.
The first edition of John Carter of Mars (a title that Burroughs never actually used for any book in the Barsoom
series) was published in 1964 by Canaveral Press, fourteen years after Burrough's death.
series and is generally considered something of an afterthought. However, in the book Master of Adventure: The Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs
, Richard A. Lupoff
, the editor of the 1964 Canaveral Press edition of John Carter of Mars, writes that it is interesting for its contrast between "real" Burroughs ("Skeleton Men of Jupiter") and "ersatz" Burroughs ("John Carter and the Giant of Mars").
for this book has expired in Australia, and thus now resides in the public domain
there. The text is available via Project Gutenberg Australia
.
Barsoom
Barsoom is a fictional representation of the planet Mars created by American pulp fiction author Edgar Rice Burroughs, who wrote close to 100 action adventure stories in various genres in the first half of the 20th century, and is now best known as the creator of the character Tarzan...
series by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
. It is not actually a novel but rather a collection of two John Carter of Mars stories.
The first, "John Carter and the Giant of Mars", is a juvenile story penned by Burrough's son John "Jack" Coleman Burroughs, and claimed to have been revised by Burroughs. It was written for a Whitman
Western Publishing
Western Publishing, also known as Western Printing and Lithographing Company was a Racine, Wisconsin firm responsible for publishing the Little Golden Books. Western Publishing also produced children's books and family-related entertainment products as Golden Books Family Entertainment...
Big Little Book, illustrated by Jack Burroughs that was published in 1940 and then republished in Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories was an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction...
the next year.
The second story, "Skeleton Men of Jupiter", was first published in Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories was an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction...
in 1943. Intended as the first in a series of novelettes to be later collected in book form, in the fashion of Llana of Gathol
Llana of Gathol
Llana of Gathol is an Edgar Rice Burroughs science fiction novel, the tenth of his famous Barsoom series. It consists of four stories that were originally published in Amazing Stories in 1941 . The first collected edition of Llana of Gathol was published in 1948...
, it ends with the plot unresolved, and the intended sequels were never written. Several other writers have written pastiche endings for the story.
The first edition of John Carter of Mars (a title that Burroughs never actually used for any book in the Barsoom
Barsoom
Barsoom is a fictional representation of the planet Mars created by American pulp fiction author Edgar Rice Burroughs, who wrote close to 100 action adventure stories in various genres in the first half of the 20th century, and is now best known as the creator of the character Tarzan...
series) was published in 1964 by Canaveral Press, fourteen years after Burrough's death.
Reception
This book is not highly regarded by fans of the BarsoomBarsoom
Barsoom is a fictional representation of the planet Mars created by American pulp fiction author Edgar Rice Burroughs, who wrote close to 100 action adventure stories in various genres in the first half of the 20th century, and is now best known as the creator of the character Tarzan...
series and is generally considered something of an afterthought. However, in the book Master of Adventure: The Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs
Master of Adventure: The Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs
Master of Adventure: The Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs is a book by Richard A. Lupoff that explores the work of Edgar Rice Burroughs, the creator of Tarzan and author of numerous science fiction, fantasy, and adventure novels...
, Richard A. Lupoff
Richard A. Lupoff
Richard Allen Lupoff is an American science fiction and mystery author, who has also written humor, satire, non-fiction and reviews. In addition to his two dozen novels and more than 40 short stories, he has also edited science-fantasy anthologies. He is an expert on the writing of Edgar Rice...
, the editor of the 1964 Canaveral Press edition of John Carter of Mars, writes that it is interesting for its contrast between "real" Burroughs ("Skeleton Men of Jupiter") and "ersatz" Burroughs ("John Carter and the Giant of Mars").
Copyright
The copyrightCopyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
for this book has expired in Australia, and thus now resides in the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
there. The text is available via Project Gutenberg Australia
Project Gutenberg Australia
Project Gutenberg Australia, abbreviated as PGA, is an Internet site which was founded in 2001 by Colin Choat. The site hosts free ebooks or e-texts which are in the public domain in Australia. The ebooks have been prepared and submitted by volunteers...
.
External links
- ERBzine C.H.A.S.E.R ENCYCLOPEDIA entry for John Carter of Mars
- Text file of "John Carter and the Giant of Mars" at Project Gutenberg AustraliaProject Gutenberg AustraliaProject Gutenberg Australia, abbreviated as PGA, is an Internet site which was founded in 2001 by Colin Choat. The site hosts free ebooks or e-texts which are in the public domain in Australia. The ebooks have been prepared and submitted by volunteers...
Zip file - Text file of "Skeleton Men of Jupiter" at Project Gutenberg AustraliaProject Gutenberg AustraliaProject Gutenberg Australia, abbreviated as PGA, is an Internet site which was founded in 2001 by Colin Choat. The site hosts free ebooks or e-texts which are in the public domain in Australia. The ebooks have been prepared and submitted by volunteers...
Zip file - Edgar Rice Burroughs Summary Project page for "John Carter and the Giant of Mars"
- Edgar Rice Burroughs Summary Project page for "Skeleton Men of Jupiter"