A few years ago I got to spend a few hours hanging out with Michael Moorcock watching the John Carter movie and chatting about his appreciation for Edgar Rice Burroughs’ planetary romances. This is the second volume of Moorcock’s own Mars trilogy that is a clear pastiche/homage to those John Carter series of the past. Apparently the whole trilogy was written by Moorcock in just over a week, and that speed contributes to it being a fun, fast, and at times frantic ride. Don’t expect anything too sophisticated or specific insights, these books are just pure adventure. (And this US second edition title makes no sense in relation to the actual story) ( )

Another fast-paced book of Martian adventure, filled with strange creatures, daring espionage, heroic deeds, and flashing swords. Recommended to any sword & planet fan looking to find their way back to Barsoom, er, Vashu ( )

Enjoyable trilogy as an alternative to Burroughs' Barsoom works. ( )

Michael Kane, hero of Old Mars, was happily going about his business and had just laid down for a nap before his wedding when he was ripped back into his own time and back from Mars to Earth. Heartbroken and frustrated to have been taken away from his rightful place in the universe, he tries desperately to find a way back, but his matter transmission team is told that he's mentally unstable and bars him from getting anywhere near the matter transmission equipment again. Then, in a very Oswald Bastable-like way, he runs into a well-to-do young gentleman with much more money than sense who believes his tales of swords and sorcery on Mars. This aristocrat turns out to be the author who not only funds the publication of Kane's stories, but also funds the private construction of another matter transmission unit. And, of course, it just happens to work and sends Kane back to Mars so he can continue to kill hundreds of people in the name of nonviolence - as any good physicist would. ( )

A Martian tale in the style of Burroughs. Very well done for that style of book, though at 12.99, it is overpriced. ( )