Official Blurb
The Chessmen of Mars is a science fiction novel by the mental sword- and physical pen- wielding author Edgar Rice Burroughs. It the fifth installment of his Barsoom series. The Chessmen of Mars is a tale of wonder and excellence that follows John Carter and Dejah Thoris, along with their daughter Tara, princess of Helium, as she is sought after by Gahan, Jed of Gathol. Adventure and peril ensue as the story unfolds.
My Review
The Barsoom series of books are a steam punk type of story where heros leap around waving swords at the bad guys even when they can all lay their hands on firearms.
This story follows a familar Barsoom pattern of a journey across unknown parts of Mars and encounters with new races of "men". A woman in trouble needs rescuing and a manly sword waving hero is close at hand.
When you listen to these Barsoom stories there is never any doubt about a happy ending being around the corner but that's not the best part of the stories. It's the adventure and action that make the story worth listening to. In common with all of the other Barsoom stories I've listened to, this is a jolly good listen!
In this story the woman in trouble is John Carter's daughter who becomes lost and needs a heroic red man to come to her rescue. Which of course he does. We find at least two new martian races to complicate things and the usual collection of predator type animals to threaten everyone.
If you've enjoyed any of the other Barsoom stories and liked them, you can move onto this story with confidence.
The reading in this novel is pretty good, but there is a rather odd thing here. There are two versions of the first couple of chapters by different readers. I have no explanation for why that may be, it's odd.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
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Listen to the first chapter
