A Book Recommendation

You know(or maybe you don't) that I am so excited about the movie, John Carter, coming out in March.

If you are a true sci-fi geek, Star Wars lover, Ring enthusiast...or just curious...you really need to read A Princess of Mars. If you have a Nook (and probably Kindle, too), be sure to do a do a search. I was able to download it for $.99. If you want a book, look around. You're sure to be able to find used copies of it. AND it is on audio book, if that is your preference. I recommend the one narrated by John Bolen. John Carter is a confederate soldier. Mr. Bolen reads in a mild Southern accent, adding a bit of authenticity to the narration.

Written in 1912 by Edgar Rice Burroughs (better known for Tarzan), it is really the beginning and inspiration of modern science fiction! It is so hard to believe that it is 100 years old! It is part of the Barsoom Series (Barsoom is what we call Mars), 11 books chronicling life on Mars. Only 3 of the series are John Carter books: A Princess of Mars, Gods of Mars, & The Warlord of Mars.

It's been a long time since I've written a book report, so I'm lifting a paragraph from the Wikipedia entry. There are spoilers, so if you don't want the plot spoiled, skip down to the video.

"John Carter, a Confederate veteran of the American Civil War, goes prospecting in Arizona immediately after the war's end. Having struck a rich vein of gold, he runs afoul of the Apaches. While attempting to evade pursuit by hiding in a sacred cave, he is mysteriously transported to Mars, called "Barsoom" by its inhabitants. Carter finds that he has great strength and superhuman agility in this new environment as a result of its lesser gravity. He soon falls in with the Tharks, a nomadic tribe of Green Martians, as the planet's warlike, six-limbed, green-skinned inhabitants are known. Thanks to his strength and combat abilities, Carter rises to a high position in the tribe and earns the respect and eventually the friendship of Tars Tarkas, one of the Thark chiefs.

The Tharks subsequently capture Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, a member of the humanoid red Martian race. The red Martians inhabit a loose network of city-states and control the desert planet's canals, along which its agriculture is concentrated. Carter rescues Dejah Thoris from the green men in a bid to return her to her people.

Subsequently Carter becomes embroiled in the political affairs of both the red and green men in his efforts to safeguard Dejah Thoris, eventually leading a horde of Tharks against the city-state of Zodanga, the historic enemy of Helium. Winning Dejah Thoris' hand, he becomes Prince of Helium, and the two live happily together for nine years. However, the sudden breakdown of the Atmosphere Factory that sustains the planet's waning air supply endangers all life on Barsoom. In a desperate attempt to save the planet's inhabitants, Carter uses a secret telepathic code to enter the factory, bringing an engineer who can restore functionality. Carter then succumbs to asphyxiation, only to awaken on Earth, left to wonder what has become of Barsoom.".

I have high hopes for the movie. Disney considered stopping production when they were having some budget issues, but it was too far along, so they kept it. I'm hoping it will be worth it! If you clicked on the link about, you saw the trailer. This is the test footage for the movie.

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