This is not the best of the Barsoom books, but like all of them this collection of serial novellas (better named “The Perils of Llana” who takes well after grandmother Dejah Thoris in getting into one scrape after another) it has some fun to offer. So far this is largely in the form of swordfighter trash talking as John Carter winds up getting pitted against the best swordfighter each of the many cultures who hold Llana captive has to offer, each of whom is locally regarded as “The Best Swordsman on Barsoom.” But there can be only one, and it’s John Carter of Helium/Virginia. Kaor!

This book also contains one of the most amusing depictions of the consequences of invisibility, maybe ever.