Download Audio Books from Audible.

Customer reviews

5 star		67%
4 star		20%
3 star		10%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

How are ratings calculated?

Review this product

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

John Lawson

Headcrabs!

Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2015

Verified Purchase

Apparently, John Carter and Dejah Thoris have been getting busy. Not only do they have a son, Carthoris, but now they have a daughter, Tara. Just as hot as mom, just as willful as dad, but lacking the common sense of either. Tara is spirited far away from home where she meet sstrange and dangerous people and overthrows them. Headcrabs ensue.

Wait, wasn't this the plot of the previous book? Yeah, but this time, Tara is the rescuee rather than rescuer. Because she has boobs, of course.

Both Cathoris and Tara are half human, but while the son is nearly the Superman that John Carter is, poor Tara is weak and helpless, armed solely with a defiant streak and a hidden dagger that she remembers she carries only when the author deems it convenient.

The headcrabs were cool, though.

A World Of Headless Beings And Living Chess Pieces

Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2014

Verified Purchase

“Chessmen of Mars” is the fifth novel in the Barsoom series and was published in its full novel form in 1922, about a decade after the first Barsoom novel. In it, Burroughs focuses, as he did in the previous novel, not on John Carter, but on his descendants. The focus of the novel is on his daughter, Tara of Helium, and her paramour, Gahan of Gathol. Other than that, the novel follows in the same basic pattern as the earlier novels of this series with a tale of romance and chivalry set not among the knights and damsels of the middle ages, but on the dying planet of Mars. It is a terrific adventure book and a fun story to read.

Tara, at least in the beginning of the book, is a haughty princess with many suitors at the palace ball, sort of a Marie Antoinette or Scarlet O’Hara type of character with flowing gowns and romantic intrigue. The tale takes Tara out of her comfortable palace life to adventures in forgotten valleys and unknown lands where she encounters ancient people who know nothing of modern-day Martian civilization. First, her adventures take her to the Bantoomian Valley, where Burroughs has invented a unique people, whose heads and bodies are independent with the heads being intelligent and advanced and able to crawl about on little legs like spiders and the headless bodies are no better than the most brutish of animals. Burroughs invented such creatures nearly one hundred years ago and it is amazing how many books and creatures and inventions followed in his wake. What an imagination!

The second ancient civilization Tara and Gahan encounter is the ancient city of Manator, where the game of Jetan (which is similar in many respects to the Earthly game of chess) is played in an arena on a board with living and armed human pieces. When one piece enters another’s space, they fight to the death, making this an exciting and unusual game. There are many other interesting aspects to the ancient city, but the game of Jetan is, by far, the most intriguing and inventive.

Once again, as in the first four novels in this amazing series, Burroughs has invented a world in many ways like our own, but in many ways unlike it, a world peopled by unique creatures and ancient civilizations and, often, unexplored. It is a vast land, even though the planet is smaller, as the oceans have dried up and, therefore, there is more land. On this unique landscape, Burroughs plays out his stories of derring-do and chivalry as there is always a beautiful princess to rescue and a great and mighty swordsman to rescue her, often causing entire nations to rise in revolt against their despotic rulers.

Many writers followed in Burroughs’ wake, but none ever wrote tales so well.

Sharon Gray

A Barsoomian game of strategy

Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2020

Verified Purchase

When John Carter’s daughter finds herself in danger, the beauty passed down from her mother finds many champions. Among these is a suitor she rejected and a creature who terrifies her. Honestly, Burroughs introduces two most disturbing Martian creatures in this piece. He also gives more than one character the opportunity to change their ways and contribute to the improvement of life on the red planet.

SOD

Couldn't put it down may be trite but true...

Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2019

Verified Purchase

I started The Chessmen before realizing I was starting in the middle. Now however, I will go to the beginning and read to the end. Hmmmm maybe I'll go to the end and read to the middle then go to the beginning and read towards the end 😁
My 16 year old grand daughter is a voracious reader and I might add a 4.0++ student and has competed in National events in spoken Mandarin. I recommended The Chessmen as one she would enjoy.

Charles J. Kravetz

A game of chess, unlike any you ever heard of!

Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2012

Verified Purchase

This book continues the excellent series of John Carter/Barsoom. We are now introduced to the daughter of Dejah Thoris and John Carter. Second in beauty only to her mother. Tara, Princess of Helium, is a bit of a brat who normally gets her way. When the storm comes up and the winds don't listen, the child starts to learn a couple of valuable lessons. We are also introduced to yet another species of Barsoom, along with a game called jetan. Jetan is very similar to earth's game called chess.

I think the excitement and adventure continuing in this book is great! I really enjoy the way the story unfolds, and the descriptions used throughout the series. I read a lot of books. I will cherish my opportunity to read these books again and again. I do not tire of the constant change in scenery and characters as described by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Since each book has introduced new species, as well as new areas of Barsoom, I find each book to be a new adventure.

I find these books to be highly entertaining. I can, perhaps naively, imagine the landscapes of Barsoom as described. I do, however unlikely, dream of the possibility of instant travel. I love discovering new countryside, and meeting people different from myself. It is sometimes frightening, and sometimes thrilling.

Top reviews from other countries

Christie

Interesting but appears rushed

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 2, 2014

Verified Purchase

As an extension of the John Carter stories this is entertaining but seems to rush through aspects of the story that previously were fully explained. The ending leaves a lot to be desired with more story to tell and a brief addendum of a couple of paragraphs having to suffice. A little disappointed but still looking forward to further stories written by Burroughs.

Hiraethus o Gymru

A lifelong fan

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 13, 2013

Verified Purchase

I began reading Edgar Rice Burroughs novels when at school, more than 50 years ago. I have all of them in paper form, all read and reread many times. I love having at least some of them in my kindle now for easy access at any time.

staffy 45

Dejah Thoris

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2013

Verified Purchase

What a babe....these books are far better than the recent movie. I have read the entire collection 3 times over and will probably read them again.

Harmless first class Sci Fi from a golden age.

Steve Butterworth

The Chessmen of Mars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2012

Verified Purchase

I "bought" (it was free) this expecting a reasonable read from a classic author. The style is very old fashioned but the story line is well crafted if you accept the basic premise. Good for bedtime reading.

Gransmithies

good read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 18, 2013

Verified Purchase

If you like a good old fashioned read ,real" boys own " stuff this is a cracking read .It was written at the beginning of the last century so is not a modern strory but I enjoyed it

See all reviews