A Princess of Mars (with illustrations) by Edgar Rice Burroughs. A Princess of Mars is a science fiction vel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the first of his Barsoom series. It is also Burroughs' first vel, predating his famous Tarzan series. Full of swordplay and daring feats, the vel is considered a classic example of 20th century pulp fiction. It is also a seminal instance of the planetary romance, a genre that became highly popular in the decades following its publication. 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. This vision of Mars was based on the work of the astromer Percival Lowell, whose ideas were widely popularized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Barsoom series inspired a number of well-kwn 20th century science fiction writers, including Ray Bradbury, John Norman, 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, who read A Princess of Mars as a child.
Edgar Rice Burroughs (September 1, 1875 - March 19, 1950) was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.