
A former Confederate soldier finds himself swept away from Earth by a strange storm and awakens on the barren, red world of Barsoom. The alien landscape is populated by towering, six‑legged threes‑gaited creatures and warring city‑states, each with its own customs and deadly politics. Disoriented but fiercely independent, he quickly discovers that his Earthly strength and courage make him a rarity among the planet’s inhabitants.
Soon he is drawn into a fierce conflict between the red‑skinned Martians of Helium and their enemies, proving his skill in battle and earning grudging respect. Amid the chaos he encounters the radiant princess of the city of Helium, a woman of intelligence and bravery who challenges his assumptions about this strange world. Together they must navigate treacherous deserts, hostile tribes, and the ever‑looming threat of the planet’s deadly climate, setting the stage for an epic struggle that will test both his heart and his destiny.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (368K characters)
Series
Barsoom series, 1
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
1993-04-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1875–1950
Best known for creating Tarzan and John Carter, this hugely popular adventure writer helped shape early science fiction and fantasy. His stories mixed jungle action, lost worlds, and interplanetary romance in a way that still feels energetic today.
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