Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote the Barsoom series. It inspired a number of well-known 20th century science fiction writers, including Ray Bradbury and Arthur C. Clarke, and was also inspirational for many scientists in the fields of space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life, including Carl Sagan. The first book in the trilogy is A Princess of Mars, a science fantasy novel full of swordplay and daring feats. It is considered a classic example of 20th century pulp fiction. It is also the beginning of the planetary romance, a sub-genre of science fantasy that became highly popular in the following decades. Its early chapters also contain elements of the Western. The story is set on Mars, imagined as a dying planet with a harsh desert environment. The second book is The Gods of Mars, a 1918 science fiction novel. It is most closely related to the planetary romance genre, similar to sword and sorcery, but including scientific aspects. Planetary romances mostly take place on the surface of an alien world (Mars, in this case), frequently include sword fighting, monsters, supernatural elements such as telepathic abilities, and civilizations similar to Earth in pre-technological eras, particularly with the inclusion of kingdoms, empires or religious societies. The third book is The Warlord of Mars a science fiction novel. Burroughs's vision of Mars was loosely inspired by astronomical speculation of the time, when Mars was seen as a formerly Earthlike world which was becoming less hospitable to life due to its advanced age, and its newly observed canals. In the novels, scarce water is distributed through these canals. In this world, the main character, John Carter, discovers fantastic creatures and ancient mysterious Martian races. The action crosses the planet from one civilization hidden in the southern polar ice-cap to another hidden in the northern polar ice-cap.

バローズが創造した本作は、SFと騎士道が融合した惑星冒険譚の至高の原点です。衰退する火星の過酷な美しさと、剣一本で運命を切り拓く英雄の気高さ。そこには科学的空想と神話が織りなす圧倒的なロマンが宿っています。名だたる巨匠を刺激したこの物語は、未知へ挑む人間の根源的な渇望を色鮮やかに描き出します。 映像版が壮大なスケールを視覚化した一方、原作の真髄は文字に刻まれた濃密な内面描写にあります。映像が与える躍動感と、書籍ならではの異文明への深い洞察。両者を往復することで、百年前の夢想が放つ真の輝きを享受できるはずです。今こそ、この壮麗なる叙事詩に魂を浸してください。