John Carter in A Princess of Mars

Book excerpt: John Carter, Civil War veteran, is attacked by murderous Apaches whilst prospecting for gold. Taking refuge in a strange cave in the Arizona hills he is transported to the planet Mars, and plunged headlong into the conflicts of a dying world. Upon the strange red soil of 'Barsoom' he must do all that he can to stay alive and uphold the values of his beloved Virginia. Given super strength and agility thanks to the lighter gravity, he soon becomes a renowned warrior among the barbarous green martians. But when a beautiful human Princess falls into their hands he will need more than just muscle power to help her escape. What follows is one of the greatest adventure stories of all time -- featuring vicious sword fights, daring midnight escapes, a passionate romance, and huge battles upon the dry ocean beds of Mars. As captivating as the day it was first published, A Princess of Mars went on to inspire everything from Superman to Star Wars, and remains one of the best examples of science fiction ever written.