Title: A Princess of Mars
Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Genre: sci-fi
Book Number/Goal: 6/52
My Rating: 2/5
Notes: for Coursera Fantasy and Science Fiction course
Download: at Project Gutenberg
Review:
The main character, an ex-soldier digging for gold in Arisona, finds himself "magically" transported to Mars. He is captured by the natives and eventually integrates into the Martian society, becoming a distinguished warrior and a star of many adventures, spawning from what becomes the driving force of his life - falling in love with a beautiful princess.
This is a classic action thriller, with the background of a vicious conflict between two Martian races. One is the race of approximately humanoid warriors, cold and cruel but honorable in their own way; the other race closely resembles humans, not only in appearance but also in mentality and sophistication. Both reproduce by laying eggs.
There's plenty of interesting descriptions of the native society and culture. Unfortunately, for me it was the only worthwhile part of the story. The characters left me indifferent, and probably that's why the action, including the romance, was boring to the extent that at times I just skimmed it. The ending was exciting though, perhaps because it was intense and left unanswered questions.
Maybe it's a good book... but not for me.
Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Genre: sci-fi
Book Number/Goal: 6/52
My Rating: 2/5
Notes: for Coursera Fantasy and Science Fiction course
Download: at Project Gutenberg
Review:
The main character, an ex-soldier digging for gold in Arisona, finds himself "magically" transported to Mars. He is captured by the natives and eventually integrates into the Martian society, becoming a distinguished warrior and a star of many adventures, spawning from what becomes the driving force of his life - falling in love with a beautiful princess.
This is a classic action thriller, with the background of a vicious conflict between two Martian races. One is the race of approximately humanoid warriors, cold and cruel but honorable in their own way; the other race closely resembles humans, not only in appearance but also in mentality and sophistication. Both reproduce by laying eggs.
There's plenty of interesting descriptions of the native society and culture. Unfortunately, for me it was the only worthwhile part of the story. The characters left me indifferent, and probably that's why the action, including the romance, was boring to the extent that at times I just skimmed it. The ending was exciting though, perhaps because it was intense and left unanswered questions.
Maybe it's a good book... but not for me.