Barsoom: The Mars Series by Edgar Rice Burroughs

The Edgar Rice Burroughs Show
Barsoom
My Dopey Discord
/ discord

[@robertpatenaude]

I still don't know why people hated the movie so much. I thought it was pretty good. Be well, stay safe.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I do wish they had made the second film. Disney really dropped the ball promoting that movie.

[@ManDuderGuy]

I enjoyed it too, it was fun 😄

[@garylovisi357]

Ot was a good movie but the name only title misled a lot of people who would have seen it. It should have been titled John Carter of Mars and not just John Carter.

[@dalehoustman4737]

Burroughs should have named the Martian dog “Barksoom.”

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Ha! Yes!

[@parazatico9030]

The John Carter series was a big influence on Michael Moorcock, to the extent that he created his own Martian hero character, Sojan.

[@bookchaser1103]

True, I read his Kane of Old Mars series last year.

[@DavidWiley7]

I plan to talk about this series sometime soon! I finished all 11 of them, and enjoyed nearly every page along the way. Now I'm reading an anthology of stories taking place on Barsoom, although not written by ERB.

[@yuleeyahoo]

I prefer John Carter to Tarzan. Heresy, I know.

[@LiamsLyceum]

A good reminder that I need to read Thuvia.

[@Brian_Boru]

Tarzan never piqued my interest but John Carter of Mars? Electric.

[@brianchristensen366]

I can't wait to read the Barsoom series in 2024. Thank you for introducing me to all of ERB's novels other than the Tarzan series, which I was familiar with to a limited extent. By great good fortune in early December, I was browsing books in our cities' only bookstore (which happens to be a thrift store) and came across about 60 ERB vintage paperbacks that someone had recently donated. Included were all of the Tarzan novels (except the first 2), all of the Barsoom, Venus, and Pelucidar series (except #1 of each), as well as many of the standalone and Land That Time Forgot books. I hesitated about a nanosecond and bought them all; the total with taxes came to $68 Canadian! 😊

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Money well spent!

[@occultdetective]

Great video, Michael. I loved the John Carter books. As I've often shared, Burroughs and Howard were near constant companions for me as a kid. Growing up in rural Indiana, those books were found shoved into my back pocket as I roamed the woods with my trusty buck knife and bb gun, following Turkey Creek to my various little hide-outs/campsites where I would read these soaring adventures far from the prying eyes of the civilized world (ie parental supervision).

[@crawdad19141]

Fantastic overview of the series Michael, I cant wait for you to tackle the Venus series. As a teenager, I actually enjoyed the Venus series more so than the Mars book. I think it was the sense of "realism" that came from Carson's lesser abilities and frankly his finding less or even no joy in Battle. JC was so over the top in his battle lust that as good a writer as Burroughs was, I was taken out of the story. JC just enjoyed killing too much, at least that was my perspective. Plus his battling atop seemingly mountains of his enemies just seemed over the top, I never felt JC could fall in Battle, but Carson with his lesser abilities, there was always seemingly that possibility. On a side note, I am glad you mentioned Burroughs son, I actually read his published work prior to his fathers. My 7th grade English teacher loaned me a copy of "Treasure of the Black Falcon" which I devoured! The apple did not fall far from the tree! I do wish the ERB society would publish his book "Danton Doring" co-written with John Eric Holmes at some point, he deserves the honor.

[@craiggerrard5117]

It's interesting that you should say this. Following last week's video on this channel, I downloaded Pirates of Venus to my Kindle and read itin just a couple of sittings. I read most of the Mars books in the 1970s and have returned to them occasionally since but never bothered with the Venus ones until a few days ago. You are right about the difference in protagonists. John Carter is pretty much invincible physically in a way that Carson is not. A bit like the difference between Superman and Batman perhaps. Carson seems a lot more thoughtful than his counterpart on Mars and has to work a bit harder mentally to get out of trouble. It is a lesser known series so would also like to see it discussed on this channel.

[@crawdad19141]

@@craiggerrard5117 Good analysis, you are correct, it seemed Carson relied more on wits at times than prowess. Plus there seemed to be level of levity in the Venus series absent the Mars books that added a bit to the humor. Dejah never doubted Johns ability to get her and them both out of scrapes, where as Duare seemed a little anxious in terms of Carsons abilities, especially early on, never overtly, just in subtle ways, and that lent to a bit of levity. JC was born the hero of one world and almost immediately became the hero of two. Carson stumbled and bumbled his way on accident to Venus, and then grew into the role of hero and competent protector. Very different hero journeys between the 2 series, but both work very well. I look forward to hearing how you enjoy the rest of the Venus books!

[@craiggerrard5117]

@@crawdad19141 Thanks for your comments. I am starting Lost tomorrow and am looking forward to discover how he gets out of Noobol.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

John Carter was the product of a younger ERB who was going through some tough times. JC was pure wish fulfillment. By the time ERB got to the Venus series he was successful and more mature. I’m not surprised Carson was so different.

[@jscottphillips503]

Great cover review! Yes, those earlier Ballantine covers were all by Bob Abbett, including the orange cover with Thuvia and the banth and others. The New English Library cover of Thuvia is by Bruce Pennington. The Chessman cover with the weird crab-heads, and the Mastermind, Synthetic Men and that last John Carter cover, are all by my own sentimental favorite Barsoom artist, Gino d'Achille. It was his covers that introduced me to John Carter back in my college days, and remain my favorite artist of the series. You are also correct on "The Gods of Mars" is the best of the series. I always thought his examination of religion was way ahead of its time. Brilliant stuff!

[@parazatico9030]

I'd never have guessed that cover was by Bruce Pennington.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks! I knew you would help me out with the artists!

[@derekgreen7319]

I've been reading Tarzan recently ( I have a depression pulp era reading project) and it's great!

[@charliedogg7683]

To me, "Under The Moons Of Mars" sounds like the better title for what is now known as "A Princess Of Mars". Although I've only read the first two Barsoom novels, I thoroughly enjoyed Marvel's John Carter series from the 1970s.

[@MasterMalrubius]

Always love JCoM discussions. I had re-read a couple lately and I find them a bit "serialy", meaning the characters tend to not take the most direct action/route to accomplishing their goals. They often fail to see obvious signs going on around them which leads them to take a lot more time and activity to accomplish things. It is a typical method to draw out a story and does not necessarily detract from the books but can be a little irritating when it continue to occur.

[@alancarr7718]

Greetings Sir Michael, greetings Roger. you too Mr Clock, what a Dial! Ah Barsoom, I spent much of my teenage years there. Wonderful place. Mr Burroughs was a master at the story telling art. And a very nifty collection you have. We had mostly the NEL additions here in Oz, The very talented artist for these covers was the wonderful Bruce Pennington. Although for my true ERB appreciation I get down my J Allen St John tome. Cheers Al Thegoldkeyfourcolorkidownunda

[@davidaldinger3666]

Tarzan, John Carter, Carson of Venus and Pellucidar were the first sci-fi/fantasy I ever read because my uncle had all the Ace editions and was happy to lend them out.

[@MysteryandMayhem-gr7nn]

Very entertaining video! I'm always up for some great ERB content, and you do it so well! Thanks, Michael! 🥂

[@asdfasdf5695]

Burroughs is so much fun. I've only read half the Barsoom novels and the first seven Tarzan adventures, but I intend to work through his whole bibliography in the coming years. Great video!

[@Johnny-Thunder]

I decided to try reading these novels after seeing Carl Sagan's Cosmos, as he talked so passionately in that series about these novels as something that he loved as a kid. He also showed the magnificent artwork of Michael Whelan. So I read the first few novels and very soon I too was completely in love with the world of Barsoom. By now I have read all eleven parts of the Barsoom series.

[@bizarrebraincomics7819]

Great one! Love JCoM stories.Read them all with multiple copies of many like you too. I like the SF book club editions and those illos.

[@bertorosso5377]

Excellent video! For me, it all began as a young boy with the wonderful Edgar Rice Burroughs books. I read all kinds of stuff now, but even after all these years, I'm still reading ERB with immense enjoyment. I read through the Barsoom series again a year or two ago and enjoyed it as much as ever--especially "The Gods of Mars" and "The Chessman of Mars." Great taste, eh? Original Ace with the Krenkel covers & Original Ballantine with the Bod Abbett covers. For "The Princess of Mars" this time I read the ERB Inc special limited edition--an ultimate "fancy pants" edition (as MKV would call it). It came with all kinds of stuff. A packet of art by various artists, facsimile manuscripts, letters, even a pen like the one Burroughs used. Set me back a few hundred). I'm really happy to see you discussing Burroughs & Howard & pulps in general.

[@garylovisi357]

Michael, great fun video. Two things: there is a Ballantine paperback variant of Thuvia, with different cover art, all covers by Bob Abbett. Also, another terrific book on Barsoom is Richard A Lupoff’s, Edgar Rice Burroughs and The Martian Vision, originally a Mirage Press hardcover from 1970s, and later reprinted by me under my Gryphon Books imprint in the late90s. It had a terrific George Barr cover as well.

[@AgnosticTruth]

Thanks for some more Burroughs! I’ve only read a few stories from him and I’d love to start the John Carter series next. I really like how you try to show all the different publications that were released and showing off your collection while you explain. Keep up the good work. I’d love to know your thoughts on new S&S authors like Howard Andrew Jones and contrast and compare with the founders.

[@ObscureBookAdventures]

Yesterday I came across a John Carter comic with artwork by Gil Kane. I remembered you talking about Edgar Rice Burroughs. And the artwork looked pretty darn good. So I’m going to read it sometime soon.

[@trunkshatake7407]

Princess of Mars is in my top 3 of favorite books .

[@evanames5940]

Very Good. I remember reading the in High School in the late sixties.

[@abhilashmaddali7158]

An imaginative and fun series. I only read the first 4, need to get back to it. Robert Abett is the illustrator for the Ballantine Princess of Mars cover, he has done Tarzan covers as well.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks!

[@nunyabizness6595]

"Virginia!"

[@danieltenney1896]

The first thing I loaded up on my new kindle was a collection of the first nine Mars series books. I can't wait to dive in. I just finished Gladiator by Wylie and loved it. I've also been reading the new Conan pastiche short story e-books from Heroic Signatures and Titan. They are fun little short stories if you are interested. I've got Swords and Deviltry loaded up too that I'm looking forward to!

[@DanielsBibliophagy]

This was a wonderful overview. Reminded me why I love this series.

[@stephennootens916]

I have to admit Princess of Mars which I love is only one I have read from the series.

[@JBDebtFree]

Because of your love for Edgar Rice Burroughs I have read the first 7 books in the Series. I loved them! My favorite was The Mastermind of Mars! This year I will finish the Mars series, and will start on Tarzan. Thanks for sharing with us! Really enjoy your channel. Love having my coffee and watching.

[@GrammaticusBooks]

Great video as always MKV! And what an amazing Barsoom collection! Fantastic. The egg thing at the end of Princess of Mars through me for a loop too. (I love Roy Krenkel. What a gem to have a Mars cover by Krenkel)

[@glockensig]

Barsoooooooooooooom!!!!!!!!

[@bobbehers1625]

Thanks buddy!

[@Toracube]

I’ve just received a bunch of ERB’s… now I have to fit them in to my tbrs…every time I watch one of your vids it grows..arghhh

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Sorry!

[@Toracube]

@@michaelk.vaughan8617 lol

[@bookchaser1103]

The ERB show! What a great way to start my morning. I just finished Thuvia for the second time and am currently working on Chessman. I'd forgotten how good they were as it's been over a decade since I first read them. I've managed to pick up some old hardcopy versions of the last six but I've never read. I also got a Princess of Mars tshirt with the Whalen cover from Amazon. P.S. The official ERB library editions of Mars should kick off in the spring. May have to get them all!

[@bookssongsandothermagic]

Loved this - and loved the first book when I read it, as you know. I need to get out God of Mars to keep it going….brilliant video.

[@ellesse3862]

Quite a showcase of various printings with cool covers, much better than the more modern Disney omnibus paperbacks or the Golden Age Masterworks omnibus of the first three stories, and on the shelf behind you.. keeping quiet, hardback John Carter staring at me, making wonder how many more copies have you got stashed in the manor. I think the range of Tarzan hardcovers is complete, Barsoom is next for the hardback treatment, maybe nudge the lady of the manor towards them around your birthday if you can't resist more editions.

[@MWhaleK]

A great series of Books by a great author!

[@jamesholder13]

Great video!

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Thanks James!

[@frankmorlock1403]

Nice Video, Michael. I'm glad you pay attention to the cover artists. I've been deep diving into AI and learning new artists to model styles is very useful. Especially cover art as that is what triggered my interest in AI. Slightly off topic: DELPHI CLASSICS has just published works by John Wyndham that might be of interest to Roger and members of the Club. They also have E.R. Burroughs, Howard, Haggard, Hope, wells, and many more lesser known. If you like having complete works at your finger tips at very modest prices it is great. I have no financial interest in this, but I do own many complete works publshed by them. BTW they are very open to suggestions: I got them to publish a complete works of John Ford and they soon will do the same for James Shirley (both Elizabethan/Jacobean dramtists). So if you have ideas for forgotten writers its worth making the suggestion.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I have a ton of Delphi sets. Thanks! I’ll check to see if Wyndham is available in the US…..not that I can buy it anyway!

[@frankmorlock1403]

There's an Amrtican Edition and a European one. Good God, did you include e-books in your 500 book challenge ? It gets scarier every day.@@michaelk.vaughan8617

[@DDB168]

Haven't read any but do have a copy of the first book. Lets see if I can overcome my lack of enthusiasm for Victorian authors.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

He’s not exactly Henry James….thank goodness.

[@madmanelsd123]

Same type of power set, go to different planet... And your strong

[@derekgreen7319]

Have you already talked about Tarzan ? I love that series lol

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

I have but I’ll be talking to more about him soon.

[@timmeyer9191]

Is it just me or does that Martian (Barsoon) dog on the cover of The Warlord of Mars book look like the Gorn that Kirk fought in the Star Trek tv series?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

He’s like a Gorn puppy

[@madmanelsd123]

also sirens of titan

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

So hard to know which format to go with 🤔

[@MagusMarquillin]

Too bad Boris Vallejo didn't get into Barsoom more, he at least would have no qualms with depicting everyone in birthday suit accuracy, though Whelen's good and tries to please everyone with modest side poses - but is it accurate that the green martians have codpiece and the humans let it hang?

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Probably not accurate

[@madmanelsd123]

Adam strange is the same idea

[@madmanelsd123]

Superman wouldn't exist

[@HideAndRead]

Disney movie was a flop, but the female lead was.... ERB and Frazetta would approve.

[@QueenoftheBlackCoast]

I didn't really mind the Disney movie that much. It's unfortunate they didn't realize what they had. If they hadn't dropped the ball, it could've been a new franchise for them.

[@HideAndRead]

@@QueenoftheBlackCoast agreed! The movie is what got me to start reading the books.

[@crawdad19141]

She WAS Dejah! Great casting, JC not so much.

[@HideAndRead]

@@crawdad19141 ahh a fellow man of culture I see.

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Lynn Collins. Yes. Yes she was.

[@madmanelsd123]

Same type of power set, go to different planet... And your strong