The story in one page
Thuvia of Ptarth is abducted by a scheming Dusarian prince, sparking a high-speed chase across the Martian landscape. Carthoris of Helium, son of the Warlord, pursues the kidnappers, only to find himself trapped in Lothar, a hidden city where the inhabitants maintain a strictly illusory reality through concentrated telepathy. As Carthoris and Thuvia contend with Lothar’s paranoid ruler and warring green Martian tribes, they must rely on their combat skills to survive. The narrative moves from royal gardens to desolate sea-bottoms, eventually securing the princess’s safety through a series of tactical duels.
Who's who
- Thuvia
Princess of Ptarth, prize of a cross-planetary abduction plot.
- Carthoris
Prince of Helium, a warrior determined to rescue the princess.
- Astok
Prince of Dusar who orchestrates the initial kidnapping attempt.
- Tario
The suspicious, isolationist Jeddak of the phantom city Lothar.
- Lothar
A lost city inhabited by people who mentally manifest their armies.
What it's really about
- Telepathic Illusion
- Mental projections serve as the city's primary defense.
- Barsoomian Custom
- Honor codes dictate who holds power over others.
Why it's memorable
- A warrior single-handedly holding his ground against three armed Dusarians.
- A city ruler dismissing guests as mere hallucinations of his rivals.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
After enduring the political machinations of Lothar and the violent impulses of green Martian hordes, Thuvia and Carthoris return to their respective homes. The status quo of the Martian royal houses is restored.
For your book club
- How physical combat interacts with cities built on psychic projection.
- The consequences of kidnapping in a world governed by honor.