178 replies to this topic

[Libaax]

Why must old fashioned style be a negative thing? ERB style of writing is the classic late 1800s adventure writing and he is good at that. There is flaws but the natural storytelling ability isnt one of them. The storytelling is more timeless than i expected.

When i say old school or old fashioned i mean the quality of that style,authors like fav authors like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Poe,Wells etc

Most of my fav prose style are the old classic styles of Lord Dunsany,Poe,CAS,REH.

[Libaax]

I started late last night A Princess of Mars and this second time it got going fast, feels like fun old school adventure that isnt as dated as the first time i tried to read it. First time i read i didnt know ERB, his place as early important author in these genres. I couldnt get past the first chapters in Mars.

Now his writing doesnt feel as dated, it feels like REH adventure but with less poetic pulp style. Weird how i believe JC story and how he traveled to Mars.

Glad it's going better this time, Libaax. Just keep in mind that APoM was ERB's first real attempt at wriiting. He had imagination to burn and actually quietly threw away stuff like telepathy in later novels, since it really didn't help the storytelling. So, the first novel is loaded with mind-blowing concepts, but is a little crude in the actual plot/writing department. OTOH, Gods of Mars is a quantum leap forward.

If you can make it through APoM, you're pretty much home free.

Hey i just finished the novel and i have to ask two things. I wrote a long positive review in Goodreads. The two flaws that was clear to me was as you mentioned the telepathy that im glad he throws away. It stood out too much in that he didnt explain it well unlike everything else in that world, cultures.

Also in the second half of the novel he jumped past too much juicy action scenes i thought. JC moved and people died without you seeing the action/violence like they were cutting down on the violence. I wonder does that part change in the other books ? JC has very cool powers, he is fight like a great warrior that you want to see him do his work.

Overall i cant wait to read book 2,3 at once. The world was fascinating. I felt as sad as JC that the book ended and i had to leave mars like he did.

Edited by Libaax, 17 March 2012 - 12:06 AM.

[deuce]

If you can make it through APoM, you're pretty much home free.

Hey i just finished the novel and i have to ask two things. I wrote a long positive review in Goodreads. The two flaws that was clear to me was as you mentioned the telepathy that im glad he throws away. It stood out too much in that he didnt explain it well unlike everything else in that world, cultures.

Also in the second half of the novel he jumped past too much juicy action scenes i thought. JC moved and people died without you seeing the action/violence like they were cutting down on the violence. I wonder does that part change in the other books ? JC has very cool powers, he is fight like a great warrior that you want to see him do his work.

Overall i cant wait to read book 2,3 at once. The world was fascinating. I felt as sad as JC that the book ended and i had to leave mars like he did.

Kaor, Libaax! Welcome to the Barsoomian Brotherhood.

I think ERB just got a little rushed towards the end of APoM.

Back when he first became successful, Burroughs was taken to task for the nudity and (for the time) the "excessive bloodshed" in his novels (sorta like REH 20yrs later). Don't worry, "Gods" opens up with one of the most epic slaughter-fests in the entire Mars series.

[Libaax]

If you can make it through APoM, you're pretty much home free.

Hey i just finished the novel and i have to ask two things. I wrote a long positive review in Goodreads. The two flaws that was clear to me was as you mentioned the telepathy that im glad he throws away. It stood out too much in that he didnt explain it well unlike everything else in that world, cultures.

Also in the second half of the novel he jumped past too much juicy action scenes i thought. JC moved and people died without you seeing the action/violence like they were cutting down on the violence. I wonder does that part change in the other books ? JC has very cool powers, he is fight like a great warrior that you want to see him do his work.

Overall i cant wait to read book 2,3 at once. The world was fascinating. I felt as sad as JC that the book ended and i had to leave mars like he did.

Kaor, Libaax! Welcome to the Barsoomian Brotherhood.

I think ERB just got a little rushed towards the end of APoM.

Back when he first became successful, Burroughs was taken to task for the nudity and (for the time) the "excessive bloodshed" in his novels (sorta like REH 20yrs later). Don't worry, "Gods" opens up with one of the most epic slaughter-fests in the entire Mars series.

Thanks for the welcome, John Carter have changed completely how i look at Sword and Planet, similar SFF adventures. I see newer Sword and planet series with heroes that are only shades of JC. Only REH,Leigh Brackett could write adventure,science fantasy heroes as great as JC in my experience.

I read the book whole night i was completly lost in the story and how awesome, heroic/hardcore JC was. Really despite its flaws its unbelievable the book is from 1912. I have seen SF,Science Fantasy similar that was totally dated despite they are from the 1960s!

I dont care how good his other series are ERB, i will focus buying the next 4,5 Carter books before i even look at his other books

Edited by Libaax, 17 March 2012 - 06:41 PM.

[Kane]

I think it is interestering that the style of writing was brought up. Burroughs, Howard, Smith, lovecraft, and other pulp writers were working under constraints that most modern writers would find almost impossible to deal with.
They had to create stories that if overly long either needed to be broken into sections that would be published over several issues over several months. Meaning they needed to drop in recaps on a semi regular basis.
Or keep the stories short enough to be published in a single issue. While making the word count high enough to be worrth the effort of getting paid to write in the first place. All this on top of trying to create settings and characters that will keep the readers coming back month after month.

The fact that we have such a number of writers still being reprinted and followed today indicates, at least to me, that not only were these writers very talented but that there is still a need for fast action packed adventure writers. Writers who know how to get straight into the action of the story and eliminate the padding and filler that infest so much of todays modern writing.
Also, I have to believe that the pulp writers were, on the norm, more literate then a number of todays writers. The styles and descriptions flow more smoothly, the action is direct with being weighted down with over description. And the word choices make it clear that they were not writing for the lowest common denominator.

[monk]

a hardback of NEW, yes I said NEW, stories based on ERB setting.
The jacket mentions that these stories were inspired by Burroughs and based on the gaps in the published
stories and between them. Also, only a few of them delt with John Carter, the rest delt with secondary characters
mentioned in the series and Carter's children and grandchildren.

something I've wanted CPI to do with Conan and the Hyborian setting since they took over the character.

I suspect you mean, Under the Moons of Mars.

Damn! That looks pretty cool. Also, it has art from Kaluta, Manchess and Vess. It's on my Wish List.

However... is there some reason Adams couldn't get SM Stirling to write something.

just went down to B&N to get a notification when the Kaluta illustrated collection comes in! VERY psyched.

here's a great manchess...

[deuce]

I was rereading The Moon Maid the other day and noticed ERB stated that June 10th (1953, I think) was "Mars Day". That was supposedly when Earth and Barsoom first made radio contact. Anyway, if any of y'all wanna get together with family/friends on the 10th and celebrate "Mars Day" by watching John Carter, be my guest!

A few other things that occurred to me/I just discovered...

Early in The Gods of Mars, JC states that he was "translated" to Barsoom in March of 1866. March, the month of Mars. Burroughs himself was "translated" from the here-and-now to the hereafter in March of 1950. John Carter was released in US cinemas in March 2012 (AFAIK).

Just some wacky things I stumbled upon.

Anyway, I totally plan on celebrating "Mars Day" this Sunday with some buds, watching JC on Blu-Ray.

[Ironhand]

here's a great manchess...

Four swords, no waiting!

[Hamilcar]

Its to bad John Carter didn't do better at the movies becuase the Plant men would of been cool in a JC2. I just finished The Land That Time Forgot Trilogy and though it was short it was great. With the lack of success for John Carter, there will be no chance it gets a reboot anytime soon.

[Libaax]

Has anyone read the new Disney versions that collect this series in omnibus volumes ?

I saw Volume 2 with books 4-6 in the library and it was cool to see new print versions of first John Carter books for the first time in local library.

I dont know how i feel about seeing Disney publishing them.....

[PaulMc]

Has anyone read the new Disney versions that collect this series in omnibus volumes ?

I saw Volume 2 with books 4-6 in the library and it was cool to see new print versions of first John Carter books for the first time in local library.

I dont know how i feel about seeing Disney publishing them.....

Be warned - they are abridged.
See earlier in this thread;
http://www.conan.com/invboard/index.php?showtopic=3198&st=120#entry200537

[Libaax]

Wow thanks for the warning!

I would never go near their version anyway but this gives me an excuse to ask the library to order real, unabdriged versions of the books!

I wonder though for my personal collection as new fan are there hardcover or trade paperback version with illustrations? Having read the awesome Del Rey Howard collections i wouldnt mind some cool illustrations. There are so many versions out there. There must be a sort of Howard Works site for this series or author.

I want nice omnibus to enjoy the books personally

Edited by Libaax, 14 June 2012 - 12:01 AM.

[Arcadian]

Kaluta is supposed to have an illustrated edition (cover and chapter illus.) for Princess of Mars to be released next month.

Link

Edited by Arcadian, 14 June 2012 - 05:33 AM.

[Libaax]

Kaluta is supposed to have an illustrated edition (cover and chapter illus.) for Princess of Mars to be released next month.

Link

That sounds like what im looking but i have already read book 1 and im looking for book 2-5 right now. I will try find a good real hardcover versions after the summer when i get back from vacation, after my summer time work.

[deuce]

Wow thanks for the warning!

I would never go near their version anyway but this gives me an excuse to ask the library to order real, unabdriged versions of the books!

I wonder though for my personal collection as new fan are there hardcover or trade paperback version with illustrations? Having read the awesome Del Rey Howard collections i wouldnt mind some cool illustrations. There are so many versions out there. There must be a sort of Howard Works site for this series or author.

I want nice omnibus to enjoy the books personally

There are the SFBC editions from the 70s with Frazetta covers/illos. I had all of them, but only my copy of APoM survived the flood in March (the month of Mars). The new MWK stuff should be awesome.

Always check the ERBzine site when you looking for anything ERBian. It's kinda like HW, REHUPA and TGR combined. Truly excellent.

[billofill]

Are the collected versions that arent published by Disney alright?

[deuce]

Are the collected versions that arent published by Disney alright?

AFAIK. Always check ERBzine for definitive news.

BTW, welcome to the forum, Bill!

[deuce]

All the great Frazetta artwork for "Gods/Warlord of Mars":


http://davycrocketts...warlord-of.html

Crom, I miss that book. Fritz was at his absolute peak.

[deuce]

In this wiki entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dream-Quest_of_Unknown_Kadath

HPL (and REH) scholar, Robert M. Price, is quoted regarding his theory that The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath was directly inspired by ERB's first six "Barsoom" novels. We already know that HPL was a big fan of Gods of Mars when it was first published.