The Chessmen of Mars

Edgar Rice Burroughs

Mar 2013 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

The Chessmen of Mars is the fifth novel in Edgar Rice Burroughs' amazing Barsoom series. John Carter's daughter, Tara, and her glider are lost in a storm. Gahan, a young noble man who is in love with Tara, must race into the storm if he is to have any hope of saving her. This edition has a new introduction by World Fantasy Award winner Darrell Schweitzer. Schweitzer, the former Editor of Weird Tales and a pre-emanate scholar of fantastic fiction, places the Barsoom novels in their proper context. These novels will transport you to a lush Mars that never was. A Mars filled with strange and wonderful flora and fauna; giants and monsters; and, most importantly, maidens in distress and fabulous adventures.

About the author

Edgar Rice Burroughs was born on September 1, 1875, in Chicago. His father, George Tyler was a distiller and a battery manufacturer. Early in life Burroughs attempted to support his family in a variety of occupations, including railroad policeman, business partner, and miner. None of these proved successful. However, Burroughs had always enjoyed reading adventure fiction and decided to try his hand at writing. His first attempt, written under the pseudonym Normal Bean, sold very quickly and Burroughs' career took off. Although critics and educators have not always been supportive of Burroughs' writing, the characters in his stories have entertained readers for many years. Tarzan was the most popular, earning Burroughs enough money to start his own publishing house and a motion picture company. Another character, John Carter, is the hero of Burroughs' Mars adventure series. The continuing popularity of these characters has led some critics to reconsider the value of Burroughs' writing and to acknowledge significant themes in his stories. Burroughs died on March 19, 1950.