The Chessmen of Mars
What is The Chessmen of Mars about?
The Chessmen of Mars, published in 1922, is the fifth novel in Edgar Rice Burroughs's Barsoom series and follows Tara of Helium, the headstrong daughter of John Carter and Dejah Thoris. Caught in a massive Barsoomian storm, Tara is swept far from Helium to the strange land of Bantoom, home to the Kaldanes, a race of disembodied heads that attach themselves to headless humanoid bodies called Rykors. After a harrowing captivity among these grotesque beings, Tara escapes with the aid of Ghek, a sympathetic Kaldane, only to be captured again in the city of Manator, where a cruel jeddak forces prisoners to play jetan, the Martian chess game, using living warriors as pieces in matches that end in real death. Meanwhile, the warrior Gahan of Gathol, who loves Tara, has been tracking her across Barsoom and infiltrates Manator in disguise. The novel's centerpiece is the thrilling jetan match where lives hang in the balance with every move. The Chessmen of Mars showcases Burroughs's most inventive alien creations and offers a unique fusion of chess strategy, romance, and pulse-pounding adventure.
Main themes in The Chessmen of Mars
Games of strategy with lethal stakes
Games of strategy with lethal stakes emerges as a defining element in The Chessmen of Mars, shaping character development.
Mind versus body and what defines humanity
The Chessmen of Mars thoughtfully explores mind versus body and what defines humanity through its central conflicts.
Disguise, deception, and identity
In The Chessmen of Mars, disguise, deception, and identity provides a lens for understanding the story's core message.
Romantic pursuit and proving ones worth
The presence of romantic pursuit and proving ones worth in The Chessmen of Mars connects readers to its enduring relevance.
Why The Chessmen of Mars is still relevant today
The Chessmen of Mars is notable for introducing jetan, the Martian chess game played with living pieces, which became one of the most memorable inventions of the Barsoom series and has been recreated by fans as a playable board game. The novel also features the Kaldanes, among Burroughs's most imaginative alien creations. It demonstrates the author's ability to combine speculative biology, game theory, and romantic adventure. As a public-domain work, it appeals to readers interested in classic science fiction, chess culture, and inventive world-building.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is jetan in The Chessmen of Mars?
Jetan is a Martian chess game invented by Burroughs for the novel. In the story, it is played with living warriors as pieces on a life-sized board, with captured pieces being killed. Fans have since developed jetan as an actual playable board game.
Who is the main character in The Chessmen of Mars?
The main character is Tara of Helium, the daughter of John Carter and Dejah Thoris. She is a strong-willed princess who must survive captivity among alien Kaldanes and in the gladiatorial chess matches of Manator.
What are the Kaldanes?
The Kaldanes are one of Burroughss most unusual alien creations: a race of spider-like heads that control headless humanoid bodies called Rykors. They represent pure intellect separated from physical form.
Is The Chessmen of Mars a standalone novel?
While part of the Barsoom series, The Chessmen of Mars can be read as a standalone adventure since it features new characters and a self-contained plot, though familiarity with the Barsoom setting enriches the experience.