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blockonthenewkid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Similar to the previous entry, a bit more sci-fi horror with the brain swapping surgery.
The main character is much less full of himself which made that an easier read, but lacked a very distinct voice. A pity as there was much Burroughs could have done with a shellshocked youth but only barely skimmed the Great War and trench warfare.
All in all fine, not much to sell it other than weird brain swapping stuff.
The main character is much less full of himself which made that an easier read, but lacked a very distinct voice. A pity as there was much Burroughs could have done with a shellshocked youth but only barely skimmed the Great War and trench warfare.
All in all fine, not much to sell it other than weird brain swapping stuff.
kb_208's review against another edition
3.0
This was a pretty good read in the Mars series, though so far it is my least favorite. It's an interesting adventure story dealing with a new character from Earth who finds himself on the red planet and into an apprenticeship for the Mastermind who transfers the mind of one person to another. This is the third book in a row that doesn't feature John Carter, though he does make an appearance at the end. But I guess it is not the John Carter of Mars series, rather just the Mars series. It's a good story and worth reading.
angelarenea's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book more than the previous few, although it still didn't thrill me. I liked the medical aspect of this book, and I think that is why I liked it more than the previous. I was a bit confused by the beginning. What seems to be a letter from a fan to Burroughs turns out to be part of the book. I liked that there was little to no John Carter in this book, and even though this new lead shares some of the flaws, he's most definitely more bearable.
loki728's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
valhecka's review against another edition
3.0
The science in this was so unapologetically phoned-in and it's hilarious. I like Ulysses as a narrator; he doesn't have a distinct voice, but he's about four orders of magnitude less self-obsessed and more self-aware than Carter.
sheldonqueens's review against another edition
3.0
A bogus far fetching tale and a queer style of writing - but for a story written 100 years ago, I can only admire the master mind of E. R. Burroughs.
vintonole's review against another edition
1.0
Another American finds himself on Mars in the laboratories of a Martian medical savant who gains wealth by switching out the brains of local aristocrats and jeddaks with those of beautiful slaves or criminals. Somehow this works and produces a series of wrongs that must be righted. The American Ulysses Paxton sets off with a cadre to the nearby city of Pfundahl to rescue the body of one of these hapless victims. That it is now hosting the city states leader is just a minor problem. John Carter makes a quick cameo appearance at the end of the story in case you were wondering.
Definitely not the best in the series so far, but it does make 'The Chessmen of Mars' look much better. I think I read this more to experience the ancient paperback with the beautiful cover art and old-book smell.
Definitely not the best in the series so far, but it does make 'The Chessmen of Mars' look much better. I think I read this more to experience the ancient paperback with the beautiful cover art and old-book smell.
souljaleonn's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.25
michaeldrakich's review
4.0
In this book, the series takes on a new dimension by introducing a character outside of the family of John Carter. In my opinion, it's not the best step. The character introduced, Ulysses Paxton, fails to take any real advantage of his superior abilities an Earthman has over a Martian, something well played with John Carter.
The story itself, a mad scientist with the skill to transfer brains from one body to another, is intriguing and harkened somewhat to Frankenstein and other horror scifi's of the day. Perhaps this is the darkest book of the series, something that breaks away from the heroism of the others.
As in many of the earlier books, the author also returns to his tried and true formula of the hero having to travel to unique distant lands to achieve the expected rescue of the woman of his desire. Throw in a cast of sidekicks and in some ways it has more fun than the solo adventures.
The story itself, a mad scientist with the skill to transfer brains from one body to another, is intriguing and harkened somewhat to Frankenstein and other horror scifi's of the day. Perhaps this is the darkest book of the series, something that breaks away from the heroism of the others.
As in many of the earlier books, the author also returns to his tried and true formula of the hero having to travel to unique distant lands to achieve the expected rescue of the woman of his desire. Throw in a cast of sidekicks and in some ways it has more fun than the solo adventures.