Before Tarzan there was John Carter...
Edgar Rice Burroughs is best known for his series of Tarzan
books...but he is also one of the founding fathers of Science Fiction as well. The first story in the Barsoom series, A Princess of
Mars, has already been featured here on First Edition Friday, and can be
found as the first link in this week's expose.
The saga of John Carter and the Martians doesn't stop there. Burroughs authored 10 more stories in the
series, and his son wrote another and attributed it to his father.
The series started in 1912, and finally ended in 1964 with
the publication of the final two novellas.
All of the Barsoom novels were
originally serialized in magazines before they were published as books, as is
the case with many, many stories that become classic works of literature. I have provided you with both the magazine
version, which is the true first edition or appearance of the story, and the
first edition book, as can be found...not all of them are available as
facsimiles.
The first three books are considered the seminal books of
the John Carter/Barsoom series...
A Princess of Mars originally serialized in All-Story magazine in 1912, published as a novel/book in 1917
The Gods of Mars originally serialized in All-Story magazine in 1913, published as a novel/book in 1918
The Warlord of Mars
Thuvia, Maid of Mars
The Chessmen of Mars s
The Master Mind of Mars
A Fighting Man of Mars
Swords of Mars
Synthetic Men of Mars
Llana of Gathol
John Carter and the Giant of Mars (written by Edgar's son, John) originally published as a book in 1940 with the title John Carter of Mars, then expanded and re-published in 1943 as John Carter and the Giant of Mars in Amazing Stories magazine
Skeleton Men of Jupiter originally published in the February 1943 edition of Amazing Stories magazine, this story, along with John Carter and the Giant of Mars were combined and finally published as a book in 1964...14 years after Edgar Burroughs death.
Skeleton Men of Jupiter originally published in the February 1943 edition of Amazing Stories magazine, this story, along with John Carter and the Giant of Mars were combined and finally published as a book in 1964...14 years after Edgar Burroughs death.