Official Blurb
This escapist novel first published in 1905 as Lieutenant Gullivar Jones: His Vacation follows the exploits of American Navy Lieutenant Gulliver Jones, a bold, if slightly hapless, hero who is magically transported to Mars; where he almost outwits his enemies, almost gets the girl, and almost saves the day.
Somewhat of a literary and chronological bridge between H.G. Wells and Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jones’ adventures provide an evocative mix of satire and sword-and-planet adventure.
My Review
Well the blurb hits the nail on the head. Not quite the rip roaring adventure of John Carter's exploits on Mars but never the less a fun listen.
It follows the hero of the piece as he travels across the face of Mars constantly discovering new and wonderous things in a haphazzard kind of way. In the truest tradition of the Pulp genre out hero is in love and must save his maiden, pretty typical stuff.
That said, the story is original, this is no John Carter rip off, it stands on it's own and makes an enjoyable listen from beginning to end. I like the characterisation of our hero, who keeps worrying about the unpaid tailor bill in his pocket!
The reader is pretty good, he doesn't do voices, but then he doesn't need to here, you can follow the push and pull of conversation regardless.
Reading 2/3
Production 2/3
Story 2/3
Total Score 6/9
Download it from Librivox
Listen to the first chapter
