Sadly, the Movie Was Better: A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Barsoom #1:  A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Classic Adventure

I really wanted to like this book.  After all, I loved the "Tarzan" series by Burroughs and was hopeful this would live up to that reputation.  Instead, I have to say that the movie, called "John Carter" for some reason, was much better than the book.

The story revolves around John and the tale he gives a family member of his travels to the distant planet of Mars.  It's a bit strange how John gets to Mars but apparently there exists a portal in the desert of the west where one can make the trip.  When John arrives on Mars, he lands smack in the middle of a war and has to use his new superhuman powers and considerable male macho-ness to bring peace.  Along the way he acquires a pet and get the princess of Mars to fall in love with him.

The whole story was just rather silly.  There was never any of the adventure and thrill that exists in the Tarzan tale.  I was hopeful John might be killed early on and perhaps a more exciting character would take up the tale, but, alas, John plodded on dully until the last page.  The ending is (supposedly) a characteristically Burroughs cliff-hanger, but I have no intention of reading Barsoom #2.  I'll just stick with my jungle man, who has more to offer in the way of thrills and chills