John Carter in 'A Princess of Mars': Barsoom Series, Book 1

Yes. Excellent story (but I'm biased, my favorite author and favorite novel) supported by a great narrator.

It's a typical Swords and Planets story. Maybe a bit of the Lord of the Rings for those not familiar with this genre. A highly detailed planet, cultures, and creatures…machines and weapons. Others in the series are Gods of Mars, Warlord of Mars…the first three in the series are a good solid story arc. Then you can decide from there if you wish to push on through all eleven (though I believe only the first five, those in the public domain, are available in audiobook).

I've listened to a few others' by Scott Brick, the Robert Langdon series (The Da Vinci Code). This is equivalent in quality. Frankly, I'm a bit disappointed Scott Brick has not done more in the series, to date. The other narrators currently available for Gods of Mars and on, seem hidebound to make John Carter's accent Southern. Yes, in the novel he is a Southern gentlemen…but I don't necessarily need the added touch. Unless it's read by a 'true' Southerner. That accent to my ears is not so easily adopted without sounding a bit off.

I read this from childhood. Given by my Grandfather to my Mother, and from her to me. How can one not get misty when Woola (a large frog-dog-like creature) and John Carter choose 'each other' as life long companions?

It's clear who the good guys are, who the bad guys are, the hero always wins, the heroine is always saved in the nick of time, the villain is 'eventually' defeated after many scrapes, trials, and quests. If you want crime, rape, drama, and current events…try something else :-) …oh, and go see the movie :-D

I saw the movie and thought I would like to listen to the book too. I think the amazing thing about this sci-fi book is that it was written in 1917. Story is a little different from the movie, so it is interesting and surprising in its own right.

This is one of my favorite books. I am so glad this new reading has been released with the exceptional narrating ability of Scott Brick. This listening experience is so much better than the listening torture of previous narrattors. I have listen to Mr. Brick's version twice already.

I have listened to this story twice by two different narrators. Scott Brick makes it a pleasure to listen to and enjoy!

The story is obviously different than the movie but based upon this book but it is no less enjoyable either way if you discard the expectation that the movie was anything like the book other than a few characters with the same names. I think the book is actually better than the movie. However the movie gave me interesting visuals as I listened to this story for the second time and constructed the scenes in my mind.

If you like Science Fiction you need to listen to this story!

This is no earth-shattering, life-changing experience, but if you can allow yourself to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the story, it's a fun book. I love that it makes no attempt whatsoever to explain how any of the things in the book is possible, it just thunders ahead like old hero tales.

Yes, I would. I have.

I've listened to a couple of different actors perform the John Carter books, and I like Brick's approach. His voice and manner fit the John Carter character and his first person narration really well.

I grew up reading Edgar Rice Burroughs at the suggestion of my grandfather. I well remember the wet Saturday afternoons spent lying on my bedroom floor reading of the exploits of John Cater. Not long after that, I recall the stories were serialised in one of the Boys' Own type magazines that used to be our substitute for the Nintendos, X-Boxes and PSs. I think it was Look and Learn, but I can't be sure. I remember the big green men with many arms, fierce and warlike and the scantily clad heroines. I loved it! Listening to this was like reliving my childhood and early adolescence. To that extent, perhaps I have overrated overall, but I think the other ratings are fair.
The opening of the movie (which has prompted the change of name for this edition - it was always "A Princess of Mars" to me - encouraged me to re-visit this novel. The movie was better than I had expected and closely resembled the drawings in the serialised version I have alluded to above. However, having recently burst the bubble on another science fiction classic of my youth ("The Mote in God's Eye"), I approached the read with some nervousness. This increased early on because I found Scott Brick's narration a bit wooden, but as he seemed to delve into the story, he and it came alive. Still, it remained a narration rather than a performance, but given the storyline (where John Carter looks back on decades of his life), narration was not out of place. I thought the princess might have been better rendered, but overall I was well satisfied by the rendering of the text.
It's well worth the read for those who enjoy high adventure of the swashbuckling variety, but be warned that it was not written for modern gender or PC sensibilities in mind. I expect I will read the next episode in the not too distant future.

for those of you unfamiliar with this character let me assure you that the movie will do very little to enthrall your enthusiasm, the movie was OK, but it was nothing like the books. "The Princess of Mars" began the story of John Carter, and like most of Edgar Rice Burroughs books it is an adventure wrapped in a love story. All of ERBs leading men were heroic and strong of body and mind, and morale conviction; flawed of course, but always a step or two above average in prowess and intellect. John Carter truly was earth's first super alien, he could leap tall buildings with a single bound, fight until the bodies of his enemies lie shoulder high around him, for upon Mars his earthly sinew and mass aloud for feats of extraordinary strength and agility: 26 years before Jerome "Jerry" Siegel and Joseph "Joe" Shuster created Superman. The book is over a hundred years old and worth the read, ERB created a world and a civilization to call it home...read the books, and if you see the movie then you will know what could have been.

John Carter is a great story, excellent plot, draws the reader in, etc.

Hopefully, the movie version has updated the writing and dialogue. I think it was written in 1912, in a more formal and unusual version of American English.

Think of a black & white Errol Flynn movie, a swashbuckler with sword fights. All of the characters sound sort of vaguely English. right?

It takes 5 or 10 minutes to adjust and then you're totally into it.

I loved the book, it's a good story - even if Science Fiction isn't what you'd normally read.

It depends on my friends likes in books. If he likes fantasy...an absolute, "YES"!

Scott Brick seems to know the characters, and understand the story. He is very clear when reading, and does not overemphasize the men's or women's voices. I am usually running with headsets when listening to my Audible Books (using outer-ear headsets - Polk UltraFit 2000's), and I never had a problem understanding his pronunciation of words, names, or places. But after finishing the first 3 books of this Barsoom series (read by Scott Brick), I am starting "Thuvia, Maid of Mars," and I noticed that he is not narrating any more of the series. For the 4th book I initially went with John Bolen...and he was absolutely horrible. It is going to be hard to listen to the other books with a different narrator, as Scott Brick was awesome!

I grew-up reading these books. I am 48 years old now, and to be able to re-read them while running is fantastic. It took me back to my teenage years. Absolutely love the stories, the characters, the wildlife of Mars, and I am picking-up little parts that I did not remember from before. This first book is incredible. ERB was a man ahead of his time.

There are many points I'd like to make in this review.

- For being a book written in the early 1900's, the "sci-fi" was great. Such imagination and quite descriptive to actually provide a picture in the readers head.

- Normally I read a book before watching a movie, and even then I approach both without prejudice to the other. However, in this case, I thought the movie was much better. I believe my reasoning is in the fact that the movie gets to the next big points of the story that much quicker. Still a decent read, although I might not continue on in the series.

- John Carter himself was amazing, as well as a few of his supporting characters. Edgar Rice Burroughs portrays John as loyal, fierce, determined, and a respectful man. In other words, he makes him the perfect package complete with looks, strength, and attitude. Which definitely made it worthwhile.