This adaptation will not only give readers an amazing novelization of the upcoming John Carter film, but also the original text of A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs. A Princess of Mars was the first book to feature John Carter, led to an eleven-book series featuring his adventures, and was also the basis for the 2012 movie!

The movie John Carter tells the story of a war-weary former military captain during the Civil War, who is inexplicably transported to Mars. He quickly (and reluctantly) becomes embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet. 

The adaptation, written by Stuart Moore, wonderfully brings the movie's otherworldly action and adventure to the page, while keeping the themes of family, planetary survival, and loyalty at heart. 

Commentary by John Martin While seemingly totally different in some places from ERB's story, the film actually follows the plot of A Princess of Mars.

  Here's my list of plot elements common to the book and the movie (there are others; these are just main points). Judge for yourselves:

  1. John Carter is a Civil War veteran, having fought for the South.
  2.  A gold prospector in Arizona, he is pursued by Apaches to a cave, where he is mysteriously transported to Mars.
  3. A man named Powell is fatally wounded by the Apaches.
  4. When John Carter gets to Mars, the first life he encounters is an incubator in which baby Tharks are hatching.
  5. He encounters his first fully grown Thark green men when they show up at the incubator.
  6. Though a prisoner of the Tharks, he enjoys a measure of freedom among them and soon earns their respect and is trusted with weapons.
  7. Sola, a female Thark, is assigned to watch over him, and they get along well. She turns out to be Tars Tarkas's daughter.
  8. Along the way, he acquires Woola and the animal becomes his friend and protector.
  9. Dejah Thoris, red Martian princess, comes into the picture when her airship is wrecked over Thark territory.
10. Both John Carter and Dejah Thoris remain among the Tharks as prisoners for awhile. Sarkoja is an enemy to Sola as well as to John Carter and Dejah.
11. The trio escape and set out across the Martian landscape.
12. John Carter is captured by the Warhoon tribe of green men, but not before making sure that Sola and Dejah get away.
13. John Carter, freed from the Warhoons, finds his way to the city of Helium.
14. John Carter gathers a Thark army.
15. He rescues Dejah Thoris from the worse-than-death fate of marrying Sab Than, something she agreed to only to save many lives.
16. John Carter's Tharks team with the forces of Helium to defeat Zodanga.
17. John Carter marries the Princess.
18. But...he is suddenly miraculously transported back to the Arizona cave.

  The movie throws in a lot of other things and some of the things that are true in both the book and movie are played out a bit differently in the movie. But, after making my list, I came to the conclusion that it's the same basic story.

~ JM

 
Book One of the John Carter of Mars collections, this edition contains the original text from the first, second, and third of Edgar Rice Burrough's world-famous novels.

Originally published from 1917 and 1919, A Princess of Mars, The Gods of Mars, and The Warlord of Mars are science-fiction classics, and the origin of Burroughs's legendary series. 

Book Two of the John Carter of Mars collections, this edition contains the original text from the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh of Edgar Rice Burrough's world-famous novels. 

Originally published between 1916 and 1930, Thuvia, Maid of Mars; The Chessmen of Mars; The Master Mind of Mars; and A Fighting Man of Mars are science fiction classics which introduce new characters and adventures to the dangerous martian landscape. 

Book Three of the John Carter of Mars collections, this edition contains the original text from the eighth, ninth, tenth, and the two short stories and make up the eleventh of Edgar Rice Burrough's world-famous novels. 

Originally published between 1934 and 1943, Swords of Mars; Synthetic Men of Mars; Llana of Gathol; John Carter and the Giant of Mars; and Skeleton Men of Jupiter are science fiction classics!