Skip to main content

john carter - Have there been other humans on Barsoom/Mars?


At the beginning of John Carter: A Princess of Mars, Carter takes refuge in a cave which turns out to be sacred (presumably to the Apaches which he is trying to escape from). His consciousness is mystically transported to Barsoom/Mars.



One of the races he encounters is known as 'The Red Men of Barsoom'.



They are described as being so similar to humans that with nothing but some paint, Carter is able to disguise himself as one.



I've only read the first three books of the series, so this may be explained further in the series.



Is there any more specific evidence either way regarding whether or not there have been other humans on Barsoom or whether or not the Red Men are descendents of Native Americans?

It is important to note/remember that the time Carter spends on Barsoom is much longer than the time which passes on Earth, so it is entirely possible that many more generations have come and gone on Barsoom than on Earth.




Answer



Flat out, there is no evidence of other Earth humans having lived on Mars before John Carter arrived there for the first time. (At least in Edgar Rice Burroughs' books, that is.)



However, there are instances of humans later arriving on Mars in the same way. Specifically, Ulysses Paxton finds himself looking down on his war-torn and half destroyed body and wills himself to Mars, where he finds himself on what is definitely the same planet as John Carter's Barsoom. Other than to say that this is in the 6th book, The Mastermind of Mars, I won't go into any more details so I don't ruin it for you. (Paxton going to Mars happens, of course, in the first few pages of the story.)


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

harry potter - Did Dolores Umbridge Have Any Association with Voldemort (or Death Eaters) before His Return?

I noticed that Dolores Umbridge was born during the first Wizarding War, so it's very likely she wasn't a Death Eater then (but she is pretty evil -- who knows?). After that Voldemort was not around in a way that could affect many people, and most wouldn't know he was planning to rise again. During that time, and up through Voldemort's return (in Goblet of Fire ), did Umbridge have any connection with the Death Eaters or with Voldemort? Was she doing what she did on her own, or was it because of an association with Voldemort or his allies? Answer Dolores Umbridge was definitely not a good person. However, as Sirius points out, "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters". Remember that he also says that he doesn't believe Umbridge to be a Death Eater, but that she's evil enough (or something like that). I think there are two strong reasons to believe that: Umbridge was proud to do everything according to the law, except when she trie...

What is the etymology of Doctor Who?

I recently decided to watch Doctor Who, and started viewing the 2005 version. I have the first two episodes from the first season, and I can't help but wonder what is the etymology of the name "Doctor Who"? And why does the protagonist call himself "the Doctor" (or is it "the doctor")? Answer In the very first episode of Doctor Who (way back in 1963), the Doctor has a granddaughter going by the name "Susan Foreman", and the junkyard where the TARDIS is has the sign "I.M. Foreman". Barbara, who becomes one of the Doctor's companions, calls him "Doctor Foreman" (probably assuming that is his name given his relationship to Susan), and Ian (another early companion) does the same in the second episode, to which the Doctor says: Eh? Doctor who? What's he talking about? "Foreman" is most likely selected as a convenient surname for Susan to use because it happened to be on display near where the TARDIS landed....

story identification - Animation: floating island, flying pests

At least 20 years ago I watched a short animated film which stuck in my mind. The whole thing was wordless, possibly European, and I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine it... It featured a flying island which was inhabited by some creatures who (in my memory) reminded me of the Moomins. The island was frequently bothered by large winged animals who swooped around, although I don't think they did any actual damage. At the end one of the moomin creatures suddenly gets a weird feeling, feels forced to climb to the top of the island and then plunges down a shaft right through the centre - only to emerge at the bottom as one of the flyers. Answer Skywhales from 1983. The story begins with a man warning the tribe of approaching skywhales. The drummers then warn everybody of the hunt as everyone get prepared to set "sail". Except one man is found in his home sleeping as the noise wake him up. He then gets ready and is about to take his weapon as he hesitates then decides ...