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garunar's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
dtgraham's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful little short story by Edmond Hamilton! A little bit more political and military focused than most science fiction novels, but still a great story about the outer worlds and colonies returning to Earth for one last triumph. Like many novels from this era there is quite a bit of sexism present; and most of the characters are mainly men.
jameseckman's review
3.0
If [a:Dashiell Hammett|16927|Dashiell Hammett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1287255332p2/16927.jpg] dropped [b:A Princess of Mars|40395|A Princess of Mars (Barsoom, #1)|Edgar Rice Burroughs|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1332272118l/40395._SY75_.jpg|1129624] into a pot of boiling water the results would this hard-boiled planetary romance. This is hard-core SF pulp with all the tropes and cliches that infest it. First meet the Chosen One and Great White Savior Rick of the Anglo-Saxon name(as well as many of the Terrans), a two-fisted, larger than life hero that will cast his shadow over Mars!(page 8) Then there's the love interest, tough girl Mayo McCall, She Who Must Be Rescued. Throw in some vaguely racist alien monsters and races and you have a typical stew for a pot-boiler. Will he get the girl and his bloody revenge, you can't make me talk copper!
Other authors tried the Burroughs' formula, [a:Michael Moorcock|16939|Michael Moorcock|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg], [a:Philip José Farmer|10089|Philip José Farmer|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234714074p2/10089.jpg], [a:Lin Carter|4947|Lin Carter|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1233548905p2/4947.jpg], and of course Burroughs himself repeated until death, but this one ranks among the best.
Other authors tried the Burroughs' formula, [a:Michael Moorcock|16939|Michael Moorcock|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424079041p2/16939.jpg], [a:Philip José Farmer|10089|Philip José Farmer|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234714074p2/10089.jpg], [a:Lin Carter|4947|Lin Carter|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1233548905p2/4947.jpg], and of course Burroughs himself repeated until death, but this one ranks among the best.
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