The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
A Planet of Gold, a Valley of Death
Edgar Rice Burroughs’ The Gods of Mars is a resounding continuation of his Barsoom saga, picking up a decade after the events of A Princess of Mars and catapulting readers into a thrilling, imaginative, and myth-breaking exploration of the Red Planet. The novel opens with the miraculous return of John Carter to Mars, or Barsoom, and what he discovers there shakes the spiritual and social foundations of the Martian world.
The story begins in medias res as Carter materializes near the River Iss, a sacred route said to lead devout Martians to eternal paradise. Instead of a blissful afterlife, Carter finds a nightmarish ecosystem of vampiric plant men, monstrous white apes, and soul-devouring false deities. The plot centers around Carter's effort to survive this harrowing “heaven,” rescue his beloved Dejah Thoris, and expose the cruel theocracy of the Holy Therns and the self-proclaimed goddess Issus.
As the adventure unfolds, Carter reunites with the mighty green warrior Tars Tarkas and meets a host of new characters, including the red Martian Thuvia and the mysterious child Carthoris. The narrative crescendos in battles both philosophical and physical, as Carter strikes at the heart of Martian religious oppression.
Burroughs tackles heady material beneath the trappings of pulp fiction. The most dominant theme is religious deception. The myth of Issus as a benevolent goddess is exposed as a manufactured ideology used to perpetuate slavery and fear. Through Carter’s eyes, Burroughs mounts a critique of blind devotion and clerical power. Yet the theme is handled in an action-driven manner rather than as a theological treatise, making it digestible within the genre.
Another theme is the unbreakable will of the hero. Carter remains a paragon of virtue, courage, and romantic idealism—qualities that not only help him survive but allow him to challenge entire civilizations.
While the character development is not deeply psychological, it is serviceable within the constraints of an adventure novel. John Carter continues to be a somewhat static but admirable hero, while Tars Tarkas grows in emotional complexity, particularly as we learn more of his motives and past. Thuvia, though initially underdeveloped, emerges with surprising strength and agency.
The setting is one of the novel’s greatest triumphs. Burroughs’ world-building is visionary. The forests of colossal golden trees, the cruel valley of the plant men, and the labyrinthine cliffs of the Otz Mountains evoke awe. The contrast between the idyllic appearance of Dor and its grotesque reality is as vivid and affecting as any dystopia in classic science fiction.
The narrative rarely falters in its pacing. Each chapter ends with a revelation, peril, or battle that propels the story forward. The combat scenes are frequent and vividly imagined, though occasionally repetitive. The mystery of Carter’s return to Mars and the fate of Dejah Thoris keeps tension taut through much of the book.
Burroughs’ prose is florid, sometimes to excess, but this heightened style suits the otherworldly atmosphere he conjures. His descriptions are lush, his dialogue melodramatic, and his moral lines clearly drawn. While modern readers may find the language dated, it maintains a romantic earnestness and pulp vitality that remains enjoyable.
Burroughs excels at imaginative spectacle and high-stakes adventure. His vision of Mars is a triumph of creative world-building, rich with social hierarchies, spiritual paradoxes, and alien biologies.
However, the novel's weaknesses lie in its binary morality and limited character growth. Female characters, while occasionally brave, often fall into roles of passive beauty or objects of rescue. The serialized structure, while engaging, sometimes leads to episodic repetition.
The Gods of Mars is a landmark in the planetary romance subgenre. It predates—and arguably paves the way for—later epics like Dune and Star Wars, though its tone remains more mythic than allegorical. Compared to the more optimistic A Princess of Mars, this sequel is darker, more subversive, and structurally tighter.
The Gods of Mars fulfills its goal as a thrilling and imaginative science fantasy. It deepens the mythology of Barsoom, critiques theocracy with daring, and transports readers to a world as deadly as it is dazzling. It is best suited for fans of early science fiction, pulp adventure, and those curious about the literary roots of modern space operas. Though dated in some respects, it remains a vivid, fast-paced read that rewards both escapism and thoughtful interpretation.
A richly imagined, daring sequel that punctures utopia with a sword—and challenges gods with a smile.
—N3UR4L Reviews
