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The fifth book in the popular Barsoom series, The Chessmen of Mars is a 1922 science fiction novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tara, princess of the great city state of Helium, is initially impervious to the courtship attempts of Gahan, prince of the city state Gathol. But when she loses control of her craft in a storm and is captured by the Kaldanes, horrific crab-like creatures who've sacrificed their bodies in the pursuit of intellect, the deeply smitten Gahan sets out to rescue his princess show more and prove his worth. But this is a challenge that may forfeit his life and hers, as he and his companions are forced to become pawns in a game of Jetan, Barsoomian Chess on a life-size board that uses the living as its pieces and the dead as its conquests. show lessTags
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I'm pretty sure this is the longest Barsoom book. It definitely felt like it. I started skim-reading about 100 pages in and only regained complete interest in the last couple of chapters. Princess Tara of Helium is great, like all princesses in this universe she has a tendency to get lost and kidnapped a lot. But she holds her own. My issue was actually the plot, it's broken up into Tara being held prisoner in two different Barsoomian societies. It could have been two books. The first society is one in which Barsoomians prioritize thought to the exclusion of all else and their bodies have physically adapted to that. This is written like it's a commentary on the dangers of intellectualism but its so absurd and extreme that I don't think show more a valid point ever coalesces. Tara's time in this society drags on for too long in my opinion and then she's off to a city that neighbors the city of a family friend. This section has more of the fast-paced storytelling I'm used to from Barsoom books. There's not much of a message, but there's a lot of political intrigue. I was already tired out by the first half of the novel though.
If I weren't committed to finishing this series and hopeful that the next books would be more enjoyable, I definitely would not have finished this. It was a low 2-star read for me, but the way things wrapped up in the end pushed it up to a 3-star for me. Tons of fun in those final chapters. show less
If I weren't committed to finishing this series and hopeful that the next books would be more enjoyable, I definitely would not have finished this. It was a low 2-star read for me, but the way things wrapped up in the end pushed it up to a 3-star for me. Tons of fun in those final chapters. show less
The main characters of [b:The Chessmen of Mars|40378|The Chessmen of Mars (Barsoom #5)|Edgar Rice Burroughs|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328773629l/40378._SX50_.jpg|1933207] are Carter’s daughter Tara and Gahan of Gathol, a prince of another kingdom. Tara is engaged and is outraged when Gahan declares his love for her because she is not attracted to him at all. She takes off in her flier, only to get caught in a massive storm which sends her flying off into uncharted lands. She's captured by the horrific Kaldanes, who intend to fatten her up for an upcoming feast. She wins over one of the Kaldanes, Ghek, and escapes. in the meantime, Gahan rushes to rescue the woman he's fallen for, typical in show more these Barsoom fantasy novels.
Gahan reaches the city of Manator where he taken prisoner by the inhabitants. Tara and Ghek are also captured. Eventually they are forced to engage in a duel to the death in a massive game that is reminiscent of Chess.
The Chessmen of Mars is a wonderful piece of fantasy, one that had me cheering the characters along in an engaging story with some genuinely fun and thrilling moments. show less
Gahan reaches the city of Manator where he taken prisoner by the inhabitants. Tara and Ghek are also captured. Eventually they are forced to engage in a duel to the death in a massive game that is reminiscent of Chess.
The Chessmen of Mars is a wonderful piece of fantasy, one that had me cheering the characters along in an engaging story with some genuinely fun and thrilling moments. show less
Out of all the John Carter books I think I enjoyed this one the best.
Burroughs introduced a couple pretty strange Barsoom creatures in this story, the Kaldanes, and the Rykors. Two separate creatures but dependent on one another.
The story was kind of halloweenish in one regard with the horrible looking Kaldanes and other events that involve superstitious fear of the Manatarians.
The story also has a philosophical aspect of maintaining a healthy balance between mind and body.
Burroughs introduced a couple pretty strange Barsoom creatures in this story, the Kaldanes, and the Rykors. Two separate creatures but dependent on one another.
The story was kind of halloweenish in one regard with the horrible looking Kaldanes and other events that involve superstitious fear of the Manatarians.
The story also has a philosophical aspect of maintaining a healthy balance between mind and body.
This story focuses on Tara, daughter of John Carter and Dehah Thoris, who is captured by the warriors of the city of Manatol, where they play living games of jetan or Martian chess, in which the living pieces fight to the death. These games are used as a form of social control --criminals may fight in the games, slaves, in theory, may win their freedom in them, nobles may command teams as a form of group duel.Tara is supposed to be a prize in one if these games, to be enjoyed by the entire team f criminals who wins her, but naturally this does not happen.The story includes an appendix with the rules for Martian chess, and I can recall making a set of pieces and playing it when young. To me, this is one of the more clever concepts in the show more Barsoom series. show less
In this standard frame narrative, John Carter pays another visit to Earth to impart the story of how his headstrong daughter found herself a husband. Tara is the second most beautiful woman on Mars. (It should be noted that this complement doesn't comprehend very much as she is very nearly the only woman on Mars.) She has very few other characteristics besides being the daughter of John Carter and extremely concerned with maintaining family honor.
When a freak windstorm sends her far from home, her newest admirer will go to any lengths in order to rescue her and win her affection.
This book is formulaic in the extreme. Cannot recommend.
When a freak windstorm sends her far from home, her newest admirer will go to any lengths in order to rescue her and win her affection.
This book is formulaic in the extreme. Cannot recommend.
This fifth volume of the Barsoom series is very entertaining. Again some very original populations of Barsoom are introduced, and in this volume the fighting and killing is not so dominant as in some previous volumes. The story has Tara, daughter of John Carter and Dejah Thoris as the main character. There is enough tension and - as I said - the new peoples that are introduced are quite original. A good read!
Classic Burroughs. Nothing spectacular, but as always the settings are interesting and there is plenty of action.
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Author Information
768+ Works 65,141 Members
Edgar Rice Burroughs was born on September 1, 1875, in Chicago. His father, George Tyler was a distiller and a battery manufacturer. Early in life Burroughs attempted to support his family in a variety of occupations, including railroad policeman, business partner, and miner. None of these proved successful. However, Burroughs had always enjoyed show more reading adventure fiction and decided to try his hand at writing. His first attempt, written under the pseudonym Normal Bean, sold very quickly and Burroughs' career took off. Although critics and educators have not always been supportive of Burroughs' writing, the characters in his stories have entertained readers for many years. Tarzan was the most popular, earning Burroughs enough money to start his own publishing house and a motion picture company. Another character, John Carter, is the hero of Burroughs' Mars adventure series. The continuing popularity of these characters has led some critics to reconsider the value of Burroughs' writing and to acknowledge significant themes in his stories. Burroughs died on March 19, 1950. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Some Editions
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Work Relationships
Is contained in
Return to Mars: Thuvia, Maid of Mars; The Chessmen of Mars; & The Master Mind of Mars (Barsoom #4, 5, & 6) by Edgar Rice Burroughs
John Carter of Mars Vol. 3: "The Chessmen of Mars" and "The Mastermind of Mars" by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Chessmen of Mars
- Original title
- The Chessmen of Mars
- Original publication date
- 1922; 1922-02-18; 1922-03; 1922-04
- People/Characters
- John Carter; Shea; Tara of Helium; I-Gos; Ghek; Gahan of Gathol (show all 9); O-Tar; A-Kor; U-Thor
- Important places
- Mars; Barsoom (Mars); Helium, Barsoom; Manator
- First words
- PRELUDE: Shea had just beaten me at chess, as usual, and, also as usual, I had gleaned what questionable satisfaction I might by twitting him with this indication of failing mentality by calling his attention to the nt... (show all)h time to that theory, propounded by certain scientists, which is based upon the assertion that phenomenal chess players are always found to be from the ranks of children under twelve, adults over seventy-two or the mentally defective—a theory that is lightly ignored upon those occasions that I win.
Tara of Helium rose from the pile of silks and soft furs upon which she had been reclining, stretched her lithe body languidly, and crossed toward the center of the room, where, above a large table, a bronze disc de... (show all)pended from the low ceiling. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)A moment later he was gone.
- Original language
- English
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 813.087626
Classifications
- Genres
- Science Fiction, Fiction and Literature
- DDC/MDS
- 813.087626 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English By type Genre fiction Adventure fiction Speculative fiction Science fiction Planetary romance
- LCC
- PS3503 .U687 .C47 — Language and Literature American literature American literature Individual authors 1900-1960
- BISAC
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- ISBNs
- 134
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 67