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Live Blogs Let's Read John Carter of Mars
DrRockopolis2010-12-09 10:18:37

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Well, I'm waiting for the train, watching the freight trains go by, and reading ebooks on my phone. I downloaded the first few John Carter Of Mars books from Project Gutenberg to read on my trip, and I figured I'd pass the time by liveblogging them.

I've never read any of Burroughs' work; the closest I've come is watching Disney's Tarzan. Nevertheless, I've heard they were quite good.

This would probably be easier if I had Wifi for my computer and weren't trying to do this on my phone, but I'll give it a shot.

Edit; You know, I've also got the audiobook of the first one from Project Gutenberg, and the narrator has a groovy Scottish accent; I might try that, too.

Edit Edit: Edgar Rice Burroughs' Project Gutenberg Mobile entry; m.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.mobile/?default_prefix=author_id&sort_order=downloads&query=48

Comments

TheGirlWithPointyEars Since: Dec, 1969
Dec 15th 2010 at 5:24:36 AM
There's the Fridge Logic of how anything evolved on Mars that needed oxygen in the first place if they have to go to the trouble of making it... unless they're originally, say, from Earth and are terraforming it. I won't examine this too closely :p

I like the Red Martians, though. Very hospitable :)
DrRockopolis Since: Dec, 1969
Dec 15th 2010 at 6:52:05 AM
I believe the idea was that it's a Gotterdammerung Mars; Barsoom used to be lush and green, but by now it's a mostly barren wasteland where air and water have to be manufactured.

Dejah made mention, in explaining a mural, that there used to be an great Crystal Spires And Togas empire of Irish White Men with Red Heads. Among other things, they're ancestors of the Red Men (having interbred with the Black Men and the Yellow Men, and not forming the Beige Men), and for having there Empire collapse, as is the tendency. In retrospect, That Came Out Wrong, but one assumes the end of the Empire coincided with the ecological disaster.
  • Interestingly enough, the current Red Men claim to have matched or even exceeded the technology of the ancients (oxygen plants), if being lacking in their luxriant culture.
  • No one's brought up John looking like a White Martian, so I guess they still look different?
    • Earth is a Lost Colony of White Martians and John was a throwback?
      • There was a Sci Fi novel with a similar theme, totally can't remember the name, just that there was weird lightsaber dueling and that the empire were kinda racist pale giants.

Also, White Martian sounds like a cocktail.
TheGirlWithPointyEars Since: Dec, 1969
Dec 15th 2010 at 6:59:23 AM
Also, White Martian sounds like a cocktail.

Yes, it kinda does :p

Ah, one of those 'Mars was once lush and green, but no more' explanations. That makes more sense, thanks :)
arbane Since: Dec, 1969
Dec 15th 2010 at 9:34:03 AM
Dr Rockopolis: IIRC, White Martians are all blond, John's got black hair. (Going by memory here, pardon me if I got it wrong.)
DrRockopolis Since: Dec, 1969
Dec 15th 2010 at 10:35:21 AM
Ah, "The decoration of the walls was most elaborate, and, unlike the frescoes in the other buildings I had examined, portrayed many human figures in the compositions. These were of people like myself, and of a much lighter color than Dejah Thoris. They were clad in graceful, flowing robes, highly ornamented with metal and jewels, and their luxuriant hair was of a beautiful golden and reddish bronze. The men were beardless and only a few wore arms. The scenes depicted for the most part, a fair-skinned, fair-haired people at play."
  • Strange, I forgot the part about "Like myself".
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